The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-20

the very nature Of the case, be final, for
there can be no such thing as hnalty as
long as human beings continue to de-
yelop. The predominant educational need
from the very age itself in which we
are living Is Industrial training for II
is the conditions OF this age which have
made it so plainly evident 70 every man
who has studied the subject that this is
the chief shortcomings OF our pre-
sent system Of public education.
Kindergarten, manual training, do
mestic science, and commercial depart
mcnts have been introduced into nearly
all the large school systems of the
The latter have, however. in
so far as they have been successful, a
cultured motive.
The need of an Industrial school is
brought about by the demands and con-
ditons 81 the times, and the public school
system must meet these conditions. Pre-
paratory training is necessary TO he
skilled Industrial workman, just much
so as a good academic education is nee
essary 10 a good lawyer or a successful
physician. The old-time apprentice sys-
TEN. in which the master workman
taught the youth. is gradually be-
coming a thing OF the past. l repeat,
the system OF to-day must meet the de-
mand, and it viii take money to do it.
This means an increased cost i'm public
education: but will not the people receive
the benefits Of this increased expenditure?
/ think there can be but one answer TO
this question
Domestic science should be considered
one Of the necessary adjuncts TO every
public school system, and is so recog-
nized by the leading educators of the
country. II is true that il is impossible
TO introduce all these features and many
others not mentioned into the school sys-
time The people must see the needs of
these things before any school board can
establish and successfully conduct the
new departments in their schools. This
is the age OF activity and advancement,
and this should be the motto Of every
school official. not in industrial lines.
but I'm every realm OF human effort. Our
world OF to-day differs from that of yes
terday
The life and the preparation for the
life OF to-day differs from that of yes
terday, because our environments are
constantly changing The telegraph and
the telephone have taken the place OF
the pony express and the carrier pigeon.
The needle has been replaced by the sew
ing machine, and the sickle by the har-
vester. This is an age of machinery.
The mines are worked by machinery; the
farmers crops are harvested by machin-
cry; we travel by means OF machinery;
clothing, furniture, hardware and the
very food we eat and the vehicles in
which we travel all made by ma
chinery.
The various discoveries throughout the
last 100 years concerning the functions
OF the brain and the nervous system have
enabled psychologists to fix some of the
relations between the mind and the
fu has Vnlnt
losophy OF education on a solid founda-
ton.
Schools are organized and supported
by the public for the advancement Of
pupils. and not for schools themselves.
The advantage OF schools must be meas
ured lust in proportion they advance
the Industrial interest of their pupils.
The State wishes TO educate its citizens
not that they may be of so mucn use
to the state, but that they may be OF
use to themselves, thereby becoming
more useful.
The Virginia educational system is IN
a healthy condition, and under the wise
leadership of Dr. J. ID. Egsieston, state
superintendent, who ,has done and Is stu
doing much 20 improve our public schoo
system. we hope for still greater results
In the future
Under Mr.. E;ggiestons administration tins
schools OF Virginia have advanced from
the rank OF thirty-sixth TO eighteenth
IN point of efficiency in the United States
IL is hoped that the Virginia schools VII
take a still higher rank in the near fu
ture II is safe to predict that the Aiex
andria school board Will continue u
Improve its schools i'm every way 1t can
'rhey are sure to be kept in. the from
rank of the schools OF the State