The Springfield herald., 1909-07-09
EDUCATORS OPEN
BIG CONVENTION
NATIONAL EDUCATION ASsoClA,
TioN CROWDS THE GREAT
DENVER AUDITORIUM.
SEVEN THOUSAND MEET
PRESIDENT HARvEY's ADDRESS
URGES NECESSITY OF IN.
pUsTRIAL EDUCATION.

Denver.-Seyen Thousand educators,
representing every state in the Union,
crowded the main floor of the auditori-
UNI Monday night at the opening
meeting of the general session of the
National Education Association.
Educators OF national and interna-
tional repute sat upon the platform
and with them the governor of Colo
rado. In the audience were hundreds
of men and thousands of women,
many of no less distinction than
those on the platform.
The love for their work and the
vision of its relation to the welfare
of the nation was evident. as the en-
tire assembly gave way to its enthu-
siasm in the singing of the national
air, America"
The address of welcome, by Gov
ernor Shafroth rang with sincere cor
diality, as he greeted the n. L. A. to
Colorado. Superintendent Edgar H.
Mark of Louisville, KY, responded for
the visiting educators. He was fol-
lowed by the annual address of Pres
ident Lorenzo d. Harvey upon THE
Need, Scope and Character of Indus
trial Education in the Public School
System"
President Harvey's address was a
forceful presentation of the defects OF
present methods of training boys and
girls for life. He declared that the
ideal present methods seemed rather
to prepare the children for higher in
stitutions of learning to which the
majority of them could never go. and
which would not fit them for their fu-
ture work If they did attend.
within recent years there has
sprung up a widespread demand for
Industrial education,' said the speak
er. 1t comes from all parts of the
United States and from all classes OF
people.
ITO the farmer industrial education
means education that will fit the boy
to become more effective farmer
and that will present inducements to
him to remain upon the farm; to the
manufacturer it means training that
will give him skilled workmen and
more efficient foremen and superin-
tendents; and to some of them 1t
means the kind OF scientific training
which fits one for the research work
for the discovery of new or improved
industrial processes. To the profes-
sional man it means rather indefi-
mite broadening of educational oppor-
tunities; to the student of education
it may mean any one or all of these,
and very much more.
Except very limited opportunities
for instruction leading to skill in in
dustral processes, practically nothing
has been done in this country for the
development of industrial education
outside the college or university.
"In the larger cities trade schools
and continuation schools of various
types must be organized. In rural
communities secondary schools in
which the study of agriculture and re-
lated lines of work is the dominant
purpose must be organized.
For the great mass of those need
ing industrial education the existing
public schools. elementary and Sec
ondary, must furnish the facilities.
They must recognize that the great
majority of their pupils must earn
their living by their hands, and they
must undertake to give definite in
struction and training for at least the
beginning of Industrial efficiency.
This broadening of purpose may
find its realization through an extern
sion and modification of the manual
training work in the public schools.
industrial education Is important
for girls as well as for boys; not only
for the girls who are engaged in in
dustrial pursuits outside the home,
but for the girls who find their work
in the home. The woman is the side
partner with the man in the home as
business organization. He furnishes
the funds for carrying on that organi-
zation; she disburses them and must
be trained for efficiency in their pro-
per use.
mo development of industrial edu-
cation will be adequate that does not
make as large provisions for special
training for girls as it does for boys.