Evening star., 1925-04-26
PRESIDENT PRAISES
COLORED SCHOOLS
Cites Advantages of Training
System at Hampton
and TuSkegee.

American education has taken no
more important step forward than
the introduction of the principle of
learning by doing" through manual
training and domestic science. which
has been developed to a high degree
at the Hampton and Tuskegee insti-
tutions. President Coolidge declared in
a statement praising the work of the
schools.
Herbert Hoover. Secretary of Com
merce, also has issued a statement in
support of the campaign to raise an
endowment of $5,000,000 to extend the
work of the two institutions, a large
portion of which has already been
raised.
Tracing the development of the
project theory. President Coolidge
said:
Gen. Armstrong originated at
Hampton Institute a philosophy of
education which cryStaliZes some of
the soundest thought and experience
of that pioneer Americanism from
which he sprung, 1t is the philosophy
of learning by doing 1t recognizes
that out of the capacity to do bigger
things honestly and well grows the
capacity to do bigger things better.
1t teaches that efficiency has moral
q
stepping stone not only to success, but
to Character-that as a man works
so is he 1t is the gospel of lifting
work into worship and showing faith
by works
Praises Rural Training
''Tuskegee Institute was founded"
President Coolidge continued, by
Booker T. Washington. Gen. Arm
strong's first great disciple, upon
these same principles; and it is chiefly
there and at Hampton and at certain
Government institutions, that the
Armstrong methods have been proved
and their results acclaimed.
But the Armstrong philosophy,
which is in its essence the American
philosophy, has a far wider applica-
ton. American education has taken
no more important step forward than
the introduction, in recent years, of
these methods of teaching into our
rural country training schools and,
through manual training and home
economic departments. into our city
grammar schools. Today some would
have us believe that we as a people
can attain, by wishing or by passing
laws or by joining movements, results
which men never have achieved nor
can achieve except through hard in
telligent labor. At this time particu-
larly, therefore, we must reaffirm
strongly and widely this principle that
as man works so is he'-that as a
nation does so will it prosper"
Secretary Hoover pointed out that
the Hampton-Tuskege idea had been
indorSed by the u Presidents since
Grant, and that in addition, President
Garfield was a trustee of Hampton,
President Coolidge a trustee of Tus-
EpOnp TnS To ,,rI,i IL
President, was a trustee of Hampton,
and is now chairman of its board of
directors.
Studied by Foreign Nations.
The spread of the educational idea
employed at these two institutions TO
other nations was described by Sec
retary Hoover.
The influence of the Hampton
Tuskegee idea on the education of the
American negro has been a pro-
nounced success" he said. "It is so
universally recognized and approved
that there is little any Individual opin-
ion can now add or subtract. In all
parts of the world where the problem
of the education of backward races
is acute this idea is being almost
universally adopted as the basis for
native educational systems.
Many foreign governments. he said.
have sent commissions to this coun-
try to study the systems in use at
these institutions with the idea of
introducing them in their colonial and
native educational systems. This has
been done by the British Parliamen-
tary Commission appointed to study
means of providing adequate educa-
tional facilities for the natives of
India, and by the Chinese Educa-
uonal Commission, composed of Brit
ish, American and Chinese educators.
Mr.. Hoover said.
President =. Elias Gales of Mexico.
in one of his first official acts after
assuming the office, sent a commits
sion to Hampton and Tuskegee to
make an intensive study of their op-
GRAFTON. Following the receipt of
their report, he said: II hope before
long to see Mexico have it's Hampton
and Tuskegee also
Hampton and Tuskegee are now
engaged in a great national campaign
TO secure joint endowment fund of
$4,000, 900, in order to permit them to
enlarge their field of influence and
the scope of their work." Mr.. Hoover
added, and it is the obligation of
every American citizen interested in
the advancement of education in this
country to contribute their support