The Denver star., 1915-09-25
SUGGESTS CHANCE
IN SCHOOL SYSTEM
C. N. Thomas Shows Need Of
Vocational Training.
BACKS OPINION WITH FACTS

Our People In PhiIadeIphia as an
Example, Professor Thomas Makes
Strong Plea For the Kind Of Educa
tion Which Supplies Individual Needs.
Charles Nj. Thomas, LII. B., in an
Able article which appeared in a recent
issue Of the Philadelphia Ledger dis
cusses at length the need of vocational
training for colored people. Professor
Thomas article in part reads thus:
THE time has come when the color
ed citizens of Philadelphia and every
citizen should talk, discuss. investi-
gate, agitate and enthusiastically sup
port all forms of education which
seek to improve industrial efficiency.
Having passed the period Of expioita.
ton of extensive natural resources.
this country. and especially in its ur
ban centers. is facing an era of con
servation and higher efficiency through
elimination of waste and increased
skill in its operatives preparatory TO
securing the perpetuity of the republic
through unborn generations.
An examination of the occupation
statistics for the last census of the city
of Philadelphia shows 51O,S71 males
and 2OO,29S females engaged In the
fundamental activities of agriculture,
trade, transportation, domestic and per,
sonal service and clerical work. Ot
these persons about 5S in every 1000
are colored males, and 1O6 In every
1000 are. ,colored females. How are
these people employed and in what
ways can public education aid them
and consequently the community in
which they live? For. unlike many of
the foreign born elements of the city.
the colored people spend their earnings
where they make them.
Suffice it to say that these people
have physical wants to be satisfied by
foods, houses. woods, metals. textiles
and clays and drugs, such as all men
have. and they have spiritual aspira
tions to be satisfied by culture from
social contact, travel. amusements, lit
erature, music and art, but they have
aimed to satisfy the more pressing
dh'o anu dspiio otioho thC AACthV'"
at hand, by imitation and, to large
extent, by accepting any and every op
portunity offered by those to whom
they could be of any service.
"A few. through keener insight, better
guidance or more friendly contact and
the equality of opportunity. have blaz
ed ways for their peculiar capacities
to supply the wants and aspirations OF
those more able to secure what their
capital would command. In fact Phil.
adelphia has been renowned anon.
colOred people for the number and fair
ness of it's opportunities to secure iii
versitied employment. and there are.
not a few families among its colOred
population who are beyond immediate
want, If not able to aid others both by
charity and employment. Using the
method Of trial and error. many have
sought to increase their capacity In
satisfy their greater wants by follow
ing the traditional curriculum Of th,
free school system, only to find il,
many instances that such procedure
made them aware of even larger wants
and higher aspirations without pro
portionately increasing their power I"
satisfy them. ,...
What is needed today is such
method of educating each and every
child in this and each other American
community so that he may not only
know how to secure permanent and
positive good in this life. but that he
may know what constitutes such per
manent and positive good in an eco
nomic age such as this now is and bids
fair to remain. Education today must
aim to inculcate character as just and
equitable relations to ones fellows In
all activities, to give training in the
skillful and economic production OF
useful things and in rendering Ell
cient service by maximum output with
minimum expenditure Of time and en-
ergy and to induce loyalty to the state
and activity for its betterment Sucb
an aim can be realized Mt a cost moi
much greater than that now borne for
training largely literary and clerical.
a training which neglects to large
extent the necessity for motor activity
in the formation of the very ideas the
schools claim 10 establish.
"In the vocational schools the vari
Gus activities may be subdivided. and
the special fitness OF students may be
emphasized and provided for. An, ex-
animation Of the figures for colored
males engaged in activities connected
with transportation and the manufac-
turing and mechanical industries show
an additional need for vocational train
ing for them. OF the 43.554 total males
engaged in transportation activities
there are 5.67G colored males so en-
gagged. This number is 20 per cent OF
all colored males reported occupied.
but a quarter Of that number are en-
gagged as iongshoremen and stevetIores