The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-09


. might be included. No elaborate and
9 expensive outfit is necessary In the
I lowest primary grades paper, card.
9 board and other simple materials ma,
be used, chiefly on the side of repre-.
sentation and of calling to the atten.
ton of the children the life around
them, thus Helping to give an appre-
cation of this life and developing
unconsciously taste for 1t.
In the upper grammar grades a
! simple outfit of tools could be pro.
, vided at small expense, with which
, the use OF familiar tools of the home
and farm may be taught. and famil-
iarity and dexterty In certain pro-
cesses OF Immediate practical value
may be acquired. as repairing furni-
ture and implements, mendng liar-
ness. painting and glazing. sewing,
cleaning house and preparing food.
In consolidated schools of several
teachers some one of the teachers
may make speciality of this work;
4 and where school buildings are to be
erected. suitable special room may
be provided at slight extra cost, but
this Is not indispensable.
In addition to the regular rural ele-
mentary schols, IL the demand seems
to Justify 1t, primary schools OF agri-
culture may be established. where
practical work may be distinctly en-
phasized and given a larger share of
| the time. IT.
The present rural high schols should
include the elements of agriculture,
domestic science and other lines of
practical manual work. according to
local demands and conditions.
| In addition to the regular rural hig'
schools there may be established agri
cultural high schools where the best
methods of farming may be taught
and where the applications of science
and improved mechanical devices to
farming may be shown. The work
| should be so arranged as to be fairly
complete in itself and also SO as to
lead up to the work of the agricul-
tural colleges. Such schools as this
| have been started in number of
places already, notably in Alabama.
Tho Federal Government seems ready
and eager to help such enterprises in
every way 1t can. Where such schools
are established 1t should be the en-
deavor to make them in every way a
! centre for the social life of the 81
rounding community. as In this way
adults as we'll as children will be in
fluenced for agricultural and social
betterment. At such schools citizens
, meetings may be held, at which vari-
Gus experiments may be observed and
explained and Interesting topics dis
cussed. Here the teachers of the pri-
mary schools may meet to get new
funds of information and inspiration
for carrying on their own work, es-
pecially in agriculture. To further
interest the young people in agricul-
;, ture and farm life clubs of pupils
y may be organized to take up all man
!, ner of interesting and useful work, In
= reading, discussion. experimenting. etc.
y In our cities we should extend the
. manual training work we are now do
=, ing, should seek to make it lead more
" directly toward industrial life. and
;, should establish such schools as may
., be necessary for direct training for
= the industries of the city. We should
=, seek some provision for that great
. class of young people who drop out
of the schools before completing the
high school or even the grammar
: school course. and who are too young
:, or too unprepared to enter the indus
y tries. For such persons should be
), established schools. or courses in ex-
- listing schools. which shall train for
=. entrance to the important industries
- apprentice schools" perhaps they may
: be called. II sufficient number OF
- persons can attend such schools regu-
, larlv in the daytime, they may be
= given short intensive courses il
a others can attend a halliday or on GER
. tain days in the week and not on
- others. then halliday" or "part-time'
- courses should be provided; and. since
II there are nearly always a great many
- who can attend school only at night
= evening schools of trades and tech
p nology should be provided. In sucl
schools two classes of individuals
should be provided for, namely. a
those who are already at work at TIL.
trades, and (2) those who are de.
,s sirous of entering the trades.
For the negroes in our States we
should provide suitable opportunitie:
10 become productive units in society
ia In our public schools, both elementar,
~ and secondary for colored children we
"a should introduce large amount OF
handwork, and it should be of a more
~ vocational character than the old-line
, courses of "Sloyd." In such courses
:, should be included instruction In such
:" useful. practical processes as chair.
Gaming, practical upholstery, repair.
work shoemaking, practical carpentry
sewing, cooking and laundry work. We
in should extend the provisions for prac
tical training by establishing school.
on the order of Hampton and Tuske
gee, which are now doing such ex
e cellent work.
Mt To provide teachers properly eouip
" ped for our schools of elementar,
s and secondary grade we must loo]
largely to our own normal school.
re hence we should see to it that thes
a Institutions pay sufficient attention 1
ne the training of their students in man
IN ual and Industrial occupations, includ
ing agriculture and the domestic sci
Ter ences.
N In order to establish and to main
tain these institutions and courses Z
Ne instruction 1t is necessary that on
nd state Legislatures make liberal an
preparations; hence one of the pre-
ch requisites TO success is that sufficien
-. influence be brought TO bear on on
- legislators that the proper legisla
no ton and allowance Of funds may b
est secured To this end it is importar
ey TO arouse the people at large to
w realization of tho demand and nee
,ss along this line. We should seek I
in have an industrial agent, or an indus
~ trial education commission. appointe
TN TO investigate conditions and needs an
IN to inform the public by means {
On public lectures throughout the Stat
* meetings for discussion Of tho situf
I'd, ton, printed circulars. publications