The Washington herald., 1907-12-17
TRAINNEGRO'SHANDS
Senator Newlands Proposes
Change in Schools.
AN EXAMPLE FOR THE SOUTH
wants Model System of Training
Inferior Race Established Here
SOuth's Efforts to solve Problem.
No Intrusion, but Cooperation.

Senator Newlands. OF Nevada, who viii
be one OF the new Democratic members
Of the Senate Committee on the District
OF Columbia. has plan for the improve
ment Of the District schools as regards
the teaching OF colored pupils.
He would readjust the curriculum of
those schools which are devoted TO the in
struction Of the negro youth so as 70
train pupils of that race for the partIcu-
lar branches Of activity into which alone
they are admitted, as a rule. upon the
present social plane OF their race, and
10 which he believes their mental calibre
predestines them.
Senator Newlands yesterday outlined his
views on this subject as follows:
My idea Is that the District OF Colum-
bia should furnish a model system 10 all
the Southern States for the training or
colored children. II should be, not a
fanciful system. but n practical one.
What the colored race requires is self
control and self-control can only be
secured through discipline and training.
Substitute Ee.- Plantations.
1T is a well-known fact that the color
ed servants Of to-day are rot as well
trained as were the servants Of slavery
times. Under the old system Of slavery
every plantation was training school, In
which discipline was maintained. The
eolored race has lost this training. and
no adequate training has been substituted
for II.
The best training for an inferior race
| is the training Of the hands in industrial
| pursuits and in the trades II this is
( taken care OF. the head will take care OF
I itself We should institute In the District
/ OF Columbia practical training schools for
the colored children which, with their
/ present intelligence, viii mt them for the
vocations for which they are suited. And
I II such model system Is adopted here,
II VIII doubtless be followed throughout
( the Southern States.
acknowledgements a FriIure.
I'VE could. through our Agricultural
Department. extend a system Of national
aid to State schools. such as we have
I given 10 State agricultural colleges. and
/ thus further the useful and practical de-
velopment OF race which ought 10 have
been regarded, after emancipation. as the
wards of the nation The elective fran
/ chise. intended as a benefit. has proved
10 be their undoing II IS time 70 start
( over again. and IL is time for the nation
/ % come to the assistance OF the Southern
\ States I'm the solution Of what should
/ from the start have been regarded as the
nations problem.
Il do not mean by this that national
/ action in the South should be intrusive
or independent OF state control. 1t should
/ largely be auxiliary-the agencies chosen
should be the State agencies for educa-
. tion now existing II the Agricultural De-
/ partment could have sufficient appropria-
| tons for this purpose, and could use its
/ States in aiding the State authorities in
/ this great work. the nation could De help
/ ful without being intrusive
Make start in Washington.
we should commence. however. in
Washington. which. with its large coIored
population. could be made the starting
point OF a general system OF training for
colored children, such as I have sug-
/ gested.
And. in speaking OF manual training.
mean to include farming and other such
pursuits, as well as the mechanical voca-
tions.
] Il should Ike 20 see named a COM
mission. composed OF such men as Presi-
dent Pritchett late Of the Massachusetts
/ Institute OF Technology. 10 examine the
/ school system Of the District OF Columbia,
and make recommendations as to desir-
able changes l am sure that President
! Roosevelt. IL the power were given 20
/ him by Congress. would appoint an ex-
cellent commission for this purpose.
Would Initiate Germany.
Regarding the public school system of
Washington, my belief is that we should
do something 20 initiate the industrial
training noS pursued In Germany. There
they have al kinds OF Industrial and trade
schools. and their system is producing
men who are thoroughly fitted for their
vacations. This has been one reason for
the great industrial advance made by Ger
many OF late years.