Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1908-02-28

iNlCNb VI ~. my ONh az w.
favorable to It than I have been able
to state. Very truly yours,
PETER J. SHIELDS"
Mr.. Davis has been investigating
some Of the few objections suggested
against the bill, and particularly those
wherein It is claimed Federal appro-
lpriations would lead 70 national own.
ership OF the contemplated schools,
and also that these appropriations
would relieve the States from the
sense OF responsibility. In answer
thereto, he quotes from letter writ
ten by the Hon. f. r. Brown, United
States Commissioner OF Education. as
follows;
"The recent effect Of the national
appropriations under that act 1S62)
has been TO stimulate greatly the sup
port Of the Immigrant colleges by the
States In which they are situated.
Ten years ago the amount which these
institutions received from their sew
eral States was $2,21S,1OO, while in
1906 this amount was 1851, 500. show
ING al'increase OF about 24O per cent.
In iyt6 these institutions received, the
country over, 20 per cent Of their sup
port from the National Government.
Ten years later. in 1905, owing to the
increase OF State appropriations, the
grants from the national treasury COW
cred only 1914 per cent Of their total
support"
These figures Mr.. Davis contends
are altogether encouraging as showing
that national appropriations have not
tended to relieve the States Of the
sense Of responsibility. but have in
fact Quickened the sense OF RESPONSE
bllity in the States which are bene-
fited. The schools provided for in this
measure are OF exactly the same class
as those inaugurated under ne Nor
rill Act OF 1862. and like them will
strengthen the States directly d the
Federal Government indirectly. AS
there State colleges have remained
ubder State control, so will the
schools Of agriculture and the
schools Of mechanic arts provided
for in this bill remain under State
control, hence no cause for alarm
from Capitalization. Instead OF de.
stroying the unity of our school sys-
tenn, this measure bridges the gap
between the education Of the school
house and the education of the home,
the farm and the shop. Heretofore
our education has lacked unity. II has
been too much conferred about the
literary, the non.industrial; It's forms
and substances have been too little
co-ordinated with the training Of the
lone, Of the SnOp, OF the farm and Of
the great outdoors. Through technical
training Il will keep our youth out Of
a peasant or submerged class; and
by encouraging the States to expend
more money for education 1t will
greatly increase general as wen as
technical education.
In substance Mr.. Davis bin makes
II possible for every State to have
district agricultural schools. As
these schools are to be located
throughout the various districts of the
State II brings an Industrial education
nearer 10 the homes Of the people
who need II. In these secondary
schools domestic science would also
be taught. This V q branch OF learn
Ing that all OF our young women ought
to understand thoroughly, The lady
who has to manage a house needs
to understand domestic science as full.
~ and as thoroughly as the lady Who
las too look after the details OF max.
ing the house comfortable and the
meals palatable.
Georgia and Alabama already have
district agricultural schools. The
good eject OF these schools win be
much more Immediately noticeable
than was the good effect Of the agrE
cultural colleges and experiment sta
tlons. as these district agricultural
snhpnla no right home 10 their patrons.