10 



by the hundreds for places behind the counter. It wrmld 

 be an interesting question to know how many of these or- 

 namental and not useful graduates find their way to our 

 prisons, reformatoiies, and alms-houses." I have taken 

 these last few paragraphs from a published article on igno- 

 rance and education, i)ecause they bear somewhat forcibly 

 upon my present point. In answer to the inference which 

 might be drawn from them, I think a public school train- 

 ing in one or more branches of industrial pursuits would 

 mitigate the evil influences implied. 



It is no doubt necessary to the safety of a republic that 

 its voters should have the rudiments of education, to be 

 able to read, write, and think for themselves. Beyond 

 these rudiments the masses of the people will not go. But 

 for those who have the desire and ability to go further it 

 is of the greatest importance that means should be provid- 

 ed by the State or Nation. What the nature of that la- 

 ter training should be is the question we are considering. 

 For some the College and University will always be at- 

 tractive, and for them a proper preparation is necessary. 

 But for others some kind of manual labor will be their 

 chosen task. Why should not a course of preparation and 

 training in our public schools be given, the results of 

 which will more than repay the State for its expenditure ? 



As to the details of such a course experience and cir- 

 cumstances must decide. In many towns only one trade 

 could perhaps be taught. In others a greater number, 

 according to the means appropriated. The particular in- 

 dustries of any city or town would determine the question 

 in that place, while i» others the demand would indicate 

 what would be most necessary. In answer to the objec- 

 tion that industrial training would require additional teach- 

 ers and enlarged accomodations, as well as sfreater facili- 

 ties for shop-practice than what our present system re- 

 quires, I would say, would not the results be worth the 



