The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-16


 existing system of education in this state, which is worthy of considera- will agree with his conclusions upon any point, and there may be widely divided opinion as to the detail of what he proposes. He points out the disparity between those who att tend school between the ages of sev- en and fourteen, and those who at tend between fourteen and sixteen, and the yet smaller number that en- joy educational advantages between sixteen and eighteen years. Yet the years between fourteens and eighteen are the most valuable, perhaps, in the life of the individual, since they in- clude entrance into the period of ado- lescence with it's accompanying in- crease of the imaginative and con- structive faculties. and the risk atten- dant upon a period when character is so rapidly forming.
 At thirteen sixty per cent. of chil-l dren are in school. At fifteen tho number has dropped to 20 per cent. and at Is, to seven per cent. There are in the state 85,000 children be- tween the ages of fourteen and eighs-. cen, who are not equipped for the work of the world. and who tend to drift into unskilled occupations
 Secretary Hine makes these facts the basis of an appeal for a second ary system of trade and technical ed-5 ucation, directed to equipping youth directly for special work in the world. Apparently he has in mind something like the system of second ary education which has been adope- ed in Germany with such marked advantage.
 He regards the Trade schools which have been established in this state as something accomplished, but one would say is not quite satisfied with them.
 This dissatisfaction, if it exists, is wise. The trade schools as they are. too visibly exist to supply manufactur- CTS with a stock of skilled help, and too little for the primary object of the advancement of the individual, the future citizen.
 As result these schools have in cured somewhat the hostility of the Trade organizations, which are all ready powerful in the democracy and are likely to be yet more powerful. These organizations have strictly linn ited the number of apprentices for fear of overstocking the trades and thus reducing wages by excess Of competition for jobs. The trade schools instead of being conducted to allay this fear, are operated upon ex- isting shop conditions, requiring even nine hour day.. when it is already practically determined that the eight hour day is the standard in this coun- try
 Nevertheless system of secondary education. applied to equip its stu dents for their real work, is crying need in Connecticut and every other State Such a system properly con- due.ei would not break wages, but in crease them. The graduates of sucn schools will have the same feeling of esprit du corps that now marks thu graduates of schools of law and med -. s icine. The ability of the workers to cooperate will be increased, precise ly as their skill and education increas- es M t
 There is nothing to fear from pulp lie trade and technical education un- der proper conditions and there is much to gain.
 Tn his analysis of certain failures in elementary education. Secretary .Hine says truly enough. that too little importance is attached to reading and writing, and that those studies are not properly taught unless the student is induced actual ly to read and write. The object of writing isst write. A pupil who leaves the schools with a taste for reading will acquire broad educa- ton, especially if he has learned to express himself clearly and forcibly in writing. All training should have for it's primary object to inculcate the desire for knowledge with the idea that the child shall know how to do something.
 A careful reading of, MT. Hines re- port is recommended to all teachers school authorities, manufacturers la Dor leaders and public spirited citi- zens.
 A GENTLE PHILANTHRoPIsT.
 Geo. E. Baisden, for 3S years dep-