The Washington bee., 1910-06-25
OUR SCHOOLS.
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it will rise or fall.
The race must no longer expect
others TO carry its burdens. In this
strictly commercial age. when men
and nations are struggling TO reach
the top with all the ability, cunning
and energy at their command, there
is very little time for sentiment; and
the weaker brother must develoU
strength or go to the wall.
The law of the survival of the
httest sounds harsh and cruel, but il
IS logical and just The other race
in this country has its own burdens;
and we should not expect its men,
beTs to assume those belonging to us
that we ourselves should carry. A
race IS made strong by bearing its
own burdens and solving its own
great problems.
In the present generation we must
lay the foundation for the character
wealth. culture and happiness of the
generations that will follow. We must
sow the seed of the morality and the
purity that we would have them reap
In order to accomplish this we must
have due regard for the sanctity OF
the home; we must guard our women
with Jealous eye and give protec-
ton to them; for no race can rise
higher than the moral tone of its
women; and the women of every race
must be protected by the men of that
race.
We must exercise great care and
sound judgment in the education OF
our children. We should study dill
gently their moral, physical and in
telleCtual being, the strong and weak
points IN their character. their talents
and their tastes After thorough
analysis of the child and careful study
of his surroundings, we should seek
to educate him along the lines best
suited to the whole situation, himself
and his station in life
Whenever found that industrial edu-
cation will develop the child to his
highest point of usefulness in the
world, industrial training should be
given.
This form of education is the most
practical for the masses of every race,
and is especially adapted 10 the train
ing of race struggling with the disas-
trOuS effects of centuries of bondage,
effects that can be COunteraCted only
by centuries of the most careful and
thorough training. No better foun-
datlOn for the upbuilding of a race
can be laid than that furnished by
intelligent industrial work done by the
masses; and no race can rise very
high or remain up very long handi-
capped by millions of ignorant labor
ing people, half doing the work for
which they receive pay.
1t is essential to be educated in the
industrial arts and science as it is tc
be trained along higher lines Of
thought. In the aggregation consti-
tutlng the progress of a race there are
many elements necessary to its sue.
cessful development; and no element
contributes more to the success of a
race than the work of the great
masses who must depend upon ordi-
nary labor. the trades and domestic
sciences for a livelihood. These
classes form the bulwark of every
race.
March 8, 1852, the lamented Doug
lass, the greatest man the race has yet
produced, addressed a letter to Mrs.
Harriet Beecher Stowe, advocating
and urging the establishment of an in
dustrial college in the city of Roches-
ter, New York, for members of his
race. where they could be trained in
the industrial arts and sciences.
This suggestion antedated, by many
years, the birth of Hampton and Tus-
kegee, thus, while his race was vet
chained as bOndmen to the soil. the
master mind of Douglass fOreSaw the
vast possibilities this type of educa-
ton opened up to his people. The
wisdom of this sage pointed out the
necessity for our boys to be able to
build houses as we'll as to live in
them; to construct bridges as we'll as
cross them; to make shoes as well as
to black them, He foresaw the need
Of an education that would find ready
with ample remuneration
n return for the service rendered
The boy or girl of any race that
starts in life with educated hands and
IN intelligent mind is almost certain
to succeed, and, after all. success is
he standard by which not only men
Out nations are measured.
The vast numbers of colored people
living in the rural districts of the
South as well as those residing in the
arge cities. must be reached through
some educational channel best fitted
.Or their intellectual and moral up
ift along all lines of racial progress.
If we cannot educate a boy or girl
n the arts and sciences. we NAV be
able. through the channel of indus
rial training. to develop him or her
ntO an industrious and useful citizen.
That industrial education in the past
hirty years has exerted a mar
7ellously uplifting influence in the
progress Of the COlored race, there
IAN be no doubt. Hampton and TINS
legee are beacon lights of progress
or advancement of education among
he colOred people and will continue
% be in the future, as they have been
n the past, mighty factors in the
progress Of the race.
Industrial education should 90 hand