The Florida agriculturist., 1907-08-28

III use IN this country HOW Tile Dc
ginning, is not adapted to present
conditions A classical education, that
is the study of the dead languages, is
an excellent discipline for the mind.
If supplemented by proper instruc-
ton in other ways, it is no disadvant-
age to any one The great trouble
has been that so-called agricultural
colleges, taught the dead languages
and did not teach agriculture And
the student had it impressed upon
him that it would be a waste of his
education to go back to the farm So
the farmers boys have not been
educated for farming but away from
the farm. Farmers ought to be rep
resented in legislatures and in con-
gress, not by lawyers but by educated
farmers, men who understand their
business and know the needs of their
class Industrial education is begin
ming to be looked upon as important
and something which should be pro-
vided for those who desire it. The
an interesting and valuable contribu
ton to the literature on this subject.
We especially endorse and recon-
mend for your consideration the clos
ing paragraph:
The problem of industrial education,
that is, education in the schools that
will fit the boy to some extent at least
for his work in life, is one Of the big
problems that are now looming up all
over the United States, and more es-
pecially in manufacturing states like
Massachusetts, The problem there is
a very serious one. Children in that
state are required to attend school un-
til they are fourteen years of age.
They are not allowed to work in fac
tories until they are sixteen. In these
intervening two years boys who do not
continue their education in the high
get, which usually are of but little
educational value, and even if they do
not get into lazy or vicious ways, for
get great deal of what they learned
in school.
In these manufacturing centers work
has become so specialized that in
very short time it reduces the artisan
to a mere automatom. He may spend
his whole time, for example, in put
ting the finishing touches on small
part of shoe or the leg of table, or
in finishing off a pin. He simply per-
forms some necessary manipulations
on a machine, which does not think,
but thinks about as much as the man
who tends it. This does not develop
a high type of skill nor a high type
Of citizenship.
The problem confronting educators
in these states is how to establish the
industrial or vocational school cover
ing from two to four years, two in
day school and two in night school,
that will broaden out the intellect of
the boy who is doomed to be an auto
maton, or mere peg Of a very great
machine, the rest Of his life.
In Massachusetts a commission has
been appointed in accordance with the
law, entitled the Commission of Indus
trial Education, and is made up of
some Of the best men in the state.
They are establishing schools in diff
ferent sections, the state and the COM
munity cooperating, and endeavoring
to shape the education in the schools
to the peculiar type of industry car-
ried on in the different sections, and
in the rural schools studies in agri-
culture for the benefit of farm chill
dren.
Following this move in Massachu-
setts National Society for the Pro-
motion of Industrial Education has
been formed, with which the editor
of Wa1laces' Farmer, in connection
with Judge Deemer, Of Red Oak, To-
0111 O4h