The Washington herald., 1909-08-29
GIVES ITS PUPILS
A START In LIFE
Columbus, Ga, Has Efficient
Technical School.
FINDS JOBS FOR GRADUATES
Southern City Leads Dixie I'm Indus
trial observation-disclosures, Mechan-
icnl TrHdea, Textiles, and Domestic
Science Thoroughly TauEht-Iins
Unique Closing ExerciAes.
by s. A. ARMSTRONG.


What would you think Of the public
school which not only prepared your boy
and girl 20 follow any occupation they
may choose as a means OF support. but
which secured for them positions at
wages paid for trained and experienced
labor and so gave them their start in life?
During the past ten years, while indus
trial education in America has been in
the stage OF fascinating experiment. a
Georgia city has built and equipped an
Institution which is one Of the most ad-
vanced trade schools established in
America as part Of public school sys-
TEN.
Columbus. Ca, is a city OF about 25.000
inhabitants. In addition 70 the 10000
cotton spindles, which make II one Of the
largest cotton mill centers in the South,
II possesses other extensive Industrial in
terests. Is pre-eminently an Industrial
city. The aim OF the trade school OF Co
lumbus IS to prepare girls and boys. at
the cost OF not penny TO themselves. 10
follow any trade or industry by which
they may desire TO become self-support-
for its graduates positions in some busi-
ness or industry at excellent wages.
How the school Operates.
The trade school OF Columbus Is open
70 boys and girls above the age Of four
teen years. and operates eleven months
out OF twelve and for six days Of the
week. The school hours are from s in
the morning untn In the afternoon.
Lunch for the students is prepared daily
by the girls OF the cooking class. and IS
furnished az the exact cost OF materials.
Thus a menu card viii read; Soup. 3
cents: bread and butter. 3 cents; salad, 4
cents; chocolate, 3 cents"
The equipment OF the Industrial depart-
ment makes OF the school a miniature In
dustrial world The Industrial depart
ment provides for girls three full years
experience IN cooking. care OF the home,
decorative arts. dressmaking. millinery.
and machine sewing, and for boys pat
tern-maklng lathe and machine work,
and cotton mill work
In the department OF textiles for both
boys and girls we see the evolution OF
raw cotton 10 cloth OF various beautiful
patterns. designed IN the pattern-making
department. In the carpentry shop the
boys turn out salahle articles of furni-
ture, and the products OF forge and foun-
dry are seen in the simplest OF imple-
ments as well as IN the most expensive
and intricate designs OF wrought iron.
The business department gives 70 both
sexes the training and experience de-
manded IN daily business life. In addi-
ton 10 these branches. the high school
essentials OF mathematics. English his
tory. and science are taught. the aim OF
these being. 10 quote C. B. Gibson. the
superintendent. Ito give that intelligence
and mental acumen which carry the
skilled mechanic or trained accountant
on TO unlimited earning power"
Sets the Town AgOE.
The most unique commencement exer-
cises which ever set a town agog with
excitement were those held a. the trade
school in Columbus last year. The music
and flowers. always attendant on such
occasions. were conspicuous by their ab-
sence. The graduates appeared on the
stage IN their working clothes. the pro-
gramme opening with a simple state
ment OF the aims and ideals Of the school
made by one OF the boys. Then instead
OF reading essays, three girls cut and
made a dress designed from cloth woven
In the school. and one Of them received
her diploma wearing this dress. Another
group cooked and served a luncheon on
the stage. explaining, while the audience
gasped az the novelty OF the occasion, the
composition OF foods and laws OF hygien-
ic diet. The boys gave practical exam
pies OF carpentry, machine work, and
other industries. Graduates OF the busi-
ness department, with the speed and pre-
cision OF experts. took down dictation
from citizens in the audience, turned on
neatly typewriter letters, and made the
most accurate business calculations. For
three months before receiving his d.
ploma the student OF the Columbus trade
school fills a position in one OF the city's
business houses or industrial establish
ments. the manager OF which makes a
daily report OF his efficiency to tho prin-
cipal OF the school.
Awarded his diploma on Friday. this
student goes back TO HIS work on Sat
urday morning. his position secured and
his efficiency and experience commanding
a good wage. The demand OF Columbus
firms for graduates OF the school exceeds
the supply and proves the need felt for
trained labor.
How School Is Maintained.
And how does Columbus do it7'' is al
ways asked Mr.. Gibson. the man who has
worked out in the face OF overwhelming
difficulties what is one Of the most ad-
vanced public school systems in America.
The equipment OF the trade school repre-
sents over 10000, and It IS a significant
fact that several manufacturers and cap
tains OF industry place on trained labor
a value which led them to donate the
greater part OF the equipment necessary
In the creation OF such an institution.
The school was built. by careful and
economical management, without the issue
OF bonds or any very unusual apprOprIa-
ton from the city. and has been main
tanned, as are all other city schools by
the public funds. The generosity and IN
terest OF G. Gunby Jordan, OF Columbus,
one OF the South's leading educators and
fnanciers and president Of the board of
education in Columbus. have been large
factors IN the success OF the public school
system Of the city.
In the industrial education OF It's negro
boys and girls Columbus is also doing
wonderful work and ore which has
marked an epoch in the educational prog
ress OF the South since the war.
New Iron Company Forms.
The Pigeon Mountain Iron Company has