The Washington herald., 1907-06-03
MONDAY. JUNE 8, 1901
Industrial training in the schools.


Some time ago the Archdeaconry Of
Washington appointed a commission 10
inquire into the physical, moral, and spir-
itual conditions Of the colored popula-
tion Of this city. Rev. Dr. Roland Cotton
Smith. chairman Of the commission, has
lately made a preliminary report in
which it is stated, among other things,
that there is little real training to equip
the negro for industrial pursuits and do
mcstic service. the public school empha-
sizing entirely too much the training of
the head rather than OF the hand"
The criticism here made of our public
school system, as it concerns one element
OF our population only applies with equal
force TO our whole scheme Of popular edu-
cation. Much emphasis has been laid by
students Of the so-Called negro problem
on the necessity Of industrial training
for the youth Of that race, but is not the
necessity as great for the industrial train
ing Of all our youth? Are there not mil
lions Of white children Of both sexes who
would be better fitted for life's struggle
il they could have the advantages which
Booker Washington's great institution at
Tuskegee gives to the youth Of but a
single race? The widespread influence Of
that school is of so useful and beneficent
an order as 10 justify the complaint
sometimes heard in the South, that the
negroes are getting all the best Of it in
the matter Of education which really fits
them 10 perform the duties Of the station
in which nature has placed them.
President Roosevelt had some excellent
observations on the deficiencies OF popu-
lar education in his Lansing address.
"Our school system" he said has
hitherto been well-nigh wholly lacking on
the side Of industrial training, Of the
training which fits a man for the shop and
the farm. This is a serious lack. for no
one can look at the peoples Of mankind as
they stand at present without realizing
that industrial training is one Of the most
potent factors IN national development"
And again: Too often our schools train
away from the shop and the forge" be
cause I'VE have tended 10 regard educa-
ton as a matter Of the head only, and the
result is that a great many Of our people.
themselves the sons OF men who worked
with their hands. seem TO think that they
rise in the world II they get into a posi-
ton where they do no hard manual work
whatever" Mr.. Roosevelt points out that,
in some way, industrial training must be
co-ordinated with the public school sys-
TEN. and that the great majority OF our
youths must be fitted for other than pure
~ mental labor
An excellent beginning has been made
In the establishment of industrial train
ing by the public school authorities Of
Washington. The manual training schools
are unable 10 accommodate all those who
apply for admission, and their courses
have proved attractive as well as useful
For girls. courses IN domestic science. in
cluding such eminently practical matters
- cooking. washing. ironing. dressmaking
and millinery, have been provided. II
We may accept the criticism Of Dr. Smith
as correct, there is opportunity for the
wider extension Of such training as Is
provided by these courses, so that they
may be practically obligatory. at least up
10 a certain point in the curriculum. Nor
IS there any reason for adapting the idea
10 but one race. The object Of public
school education should be. above all, 70
fl youth for economic usefulness as well
as good citizenship and this maxim ap-
plies to all colors and conditions Of men.
Many Of those trained for the humber
functions Of our existence may rise to
higher things in the normal course Of
events, but it is worse than folly 70 train
all the children away from the ordi-
nary aspirations Of life. and deliberately
TO plant the seeds Of dissatisfaction with
that labor Of the hands which is the
fundamental requirement Of human exist
enCe