The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-29
ASKS SCHOOLS FOR
MANUAL TRAINING.
Legislature May p ass Bill To
Use Public Funds For
This Purpose.

CHARLESTON, w. Va, Jan. 20
During the present session OF the leg.
islature a bill will be introduced for
the enactment of law recognizing
on the statutes Of the state the right
Of any community or district to es.
tablish and support with public funds
schools for manual training and in.
dustrial education. This measure
has the sanction and support. OF the
county school superintendent OF the
state, who were recently In session In
this city for the purpose OF consider.
ing legislation for the betterment OF
the schools, and of State Superin.
teDdent Shawkey and members OF the
state board Of education, and its
enactment will have the hearty co.
operation Of the coal operators in the
many mining towns OF the state, as
such training will be Of tho greatest
benefit to the employees Of this in.
dustry.
Mr.. G. A. Prosser, Of the National
Society for the Promotion Of Indus.
trial Education. was in Charleston
while the county superintendent
were in session. having come here at
the request Of State, Superintendent
Shawkey, and addressed them on the
first day Of the session, with the re.
suit that they heartily favor legisla-
ton that would recognize work Of this
character. Mr.. Prosser also ad.
dressed tho members of the house OF
delegates in session. and made most
favorable impression with number
Of the members for the support Of
the work.
The measure in question will give
the board OF education Of any dis.
trict or indeper.aent school the right
to establish m-:lual training, provo.
cational or vocational schools, depart
ments or classes giving instruction
in agricultural, In dustrial, CONNER.
cial, or home economics subjects, in
the same manner as other school, and
maintain the same from the general
school fund. Districts are also au:
thorized to establish and carry on
the same us n part of the course OF
study Of the elementary schools. The
second section deals with theduties
of the state superintendent OF public
instruction in investigating and aid.
ing in the introduction of such
schools, and reporting their progress
at the sessions Of the legislature, with
recommendation concerning their,
further progress and improvement.
Under the provisions OF this law IT,
would be possible for any mining 90
agricultural community In the state
to take up the practical education Of
the children, and meet the expense
out Of the school fund. Educational
work OF every character among the
polyglot populations of the mining
towns has met with the approval Of
the coal men OF this state, and their
cooperation can be depended upon
for any work or system that Will
mean the uplift or social betterment
of their employees, and much has al.
ready been accomplished. and Is un.
der way in West Virginia along this
line. A state enabling act. however,
which will provide for the Industrial
education Of the boy in the particu.
lar line of work he will follow, and
OF home economics for the girl, IN
connection with the regular course
of elementary instruction, would be
OF untold aid, and would be heartily
welcomed In the mining towns, and
us the mining population comprises
about one-fourth of the total popu.
lation OF the state, it is in tho mining
towns where the, greatest results cali
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