Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

The following editorial. entitled IAN
Indictment Of Our System of Educa-
| tion," appears in The Star of FEBRUARY
10. 1879. in relation to an address made
rS~4:, before the National
GuucatlOnal Education Associa-
Shortcomings. s sion during wSIcS the s Sss
lately been held In this CITY:
AS matter Of general public in
tsrest we give space elsewhere today to
the leading points of the incisiye address
OF Prof. Walter Smith of MASSACHUSETTS
before the late educational congress- in
this city. Prof. Smith was formerly
connected with the successful technical
schools OF industrial art at South Ken
sington, England, and was engaged at
large salary to come over and intro
ouce the same training in the schools
OF Massachusetts. From his wide reuu-
tation and remarkable success his ad-
oress was one Of the leading features of
the meeting. He asserts that the safety.
the wealth and indirectly the happi-
ness OF a nation depends upon the tech
meal knowledge and skill It possesses.
any scneme OF education which does
not from the nrSt make provision for
the gradual requirement of such techni-
and impractical, he maintains. And for
the reason that our schemes of edl,ca- :
Cion nave been found thus deficient and
impractical, the whole subject Of general
eoucation Is now under trial. The lite
rary part OF education Is kept I'D. but
no ample provision has been made for
the technical knowledge and skill re-
CURED IN vast majority Of the people
engaged In trades and manufactures.
Inc remedy. he advises, is to intro
ouce the elements of industrial skill
INTO every grade of the public schools
IN such manner that it will assist
ana not obstruct general education.
Inc agencies are already abundant for
tne education of professional men; pro-
VISION should now be made for the edu-
all. the mechanics. Taking the fact
mat the Eastern, Mi Western
STATES expended last ySar s.. 1ty mill
non dollars for public educa, On. he
argues tnat no adequate results have
neen received for the money in fine
way OF real education, which Is the AT.
tlng OF youth for the occupations of
aouit lie and the duties of good citi-
zensnlp. 1t is, in fact, iifficult. he
says 1or educators to defend the pres
ent system OF education, particularly
against the charge of its want of prac-
Ilcai character In any way that COM
lts explicitness and clearness Tn THE
connection the professor induloes in
some quiet but effective sarcasm in re-
garo 70 the eSthetic mist of fine phrases
IA Wnlcn the direct and simple object
VI eoucatlon has become enyeloped. the
suffering generalities about 'deyeloninv
tne mental and moral faculties ~
YOUTH, the broadening of the intel
iectual powers etc., and the manner
In which the virtues of such vao,,a
processes as disciplinary studies .cmi-
s suIe stuoles, ETC.. are enlarged upon
want OF practically on the one hand
ana UNDUE expensiveness on the other
are are specineo as the defects of the pres
Ts . senool system. 1t is pointed out
s;S a. siie enormous importations of for
explains why good many of our ma
i've workmen are out of employment
anu why the present condition of labor
Is IruitieSs and Improbable. n is in
.ne interest OF good citizenship that the
wage earning capacity of our worknen
SHOULD De raised by teaching them nv
skill and taste how they NAV comnets
WIN the skilled labor of the Old world
IN conclusion Prof Smith urged with
lorce tnat not only should the national
system OF education be made To in
cIuoe TINS kind Of training, but that
uie Nauonal Government should es-
OF great Central Technical School ~
industrial Arts at Washington. This
was essential as an example to the
whole country, and in order that the
extensive treasures of material now ex-
Stlng mere may be utilized"