Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-04
y - 80 - ~ =
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
John o. Daniel Would Teach Nav'ga
ton to CoIored Youth.


John o. Daniel of Brunswick, Ga, prin-
cipal of the Brunswick Industrial NaViga-
tior Academy and an educator or colored
youth of some note, spoke Wednesday
evening at the Baptist church to small
but appreciative audience, outlining his
future plans for the school Of which he
is at the head and also presenting his
personal ideas in regard to the education
of colored youth. Mr.. Daniel proved
very interesting speaker and deVeioped
some ideas that We're decidedly original
He began his remarks by telling OF his
birth in the island of st. Christopher OF
the Lesser Antilles and his early lie IN
the West Indies. He ridiculed some OF
his own nationality who always spoke OF
the negro as colored man, ana sald:
am a Negro and a black one at that.
He alluded to the compulsory education
OF the blacks in the West Indies and
the system of prizes offered there, giving
a vivid description of classes of youth at
work in competition for these prizes.
The speaker then went on to relate his
experiences as a sailor and then came
down to his work as teacher in Bruins
wick, Ga, first in charge of private
school, then at the head of the colored
schools of the county and lastly as prln-
cipal of the Brunswick Industrial NaVi-
cation Academy. This school, he stated
at the present time has DOB pupils but is
closed temporarily while he is travelling
about soliciting funds for fuller develop
ment of the work of the school. The
in iS
ing, but his ambition is to enlarge its
scope and make it an instrument for more
good in the community and enable it to
send out young men and women who
would benefit society,". industry and COM
merce. The work carried on in the school
at the present time is the instructinS of
Negroes in the art of navigation, the in
struction of women and children in ordi-
nary household work and children in the
branches of education from the list to the
10th grades.
Mr. Daniel criticized strongly the idea
prevalent in some portions of the South
that all the Negro is fit for is to till the
ground. Farming requires more capital
than the average Negro possesses and the
wages paid the colored man on the farm
are very small, from 60 cents to 81 per
Gay being considered all that he is worth.
The thrusting of the higher education
upon those who did not appreciate it was
also condemned by the educator 1T is
no use to force the higher education upon
Il boy or girl unless he or she has a mo-
tive" said the speaker. He advocated
teaching the Negro boys and girls some
thing that would help them to get-a liv-
ing.
Mr.. Daniel in conclusion made strong
plea for teaching navigation to the col
ored youth in such a form as to make of
them good sailors. He pointed out the adj
vantage which this employment offers and
&he present demand for sailors. "Of
course the boys cannot be taught so that
once, but they can be taught at an early
age the practical matters connected with
navigation" -
Mr. Daniel will address a union meet
ing at the Unitarian church at 4.30 Sun
day afternoon, which, now that he has
made his first appearance before an Au-
gusta audience and the. ice has been
broken, so to speak,, ought to be largely
attended. At $50 Monday morning he
will speak at Cony High school and at $3.50
next Wednesday afternoon at the Smith
Grammar school, giving the school chill
dren an opportunity to hear how the col
ored children of the South are being ed
ucated. Wednesday evening of next week
Mr. Daniel will address meeting at the
Penney Memorial church.