412 TECHNICAL EDUCATION X VI 



Exactly so ; that remark takes us straight to 

 the heart of what I have to say ; which is, that, 

 in my judgment, the preparatory education of 

 the handicraftsman ought to have nothing of 

 what is ordinarily understood by " technical " 

 about it. 



The workshop is the only real school for a 

 ; handicraft. The education which precedes that 

 of the workshop should be entirely devoted to the 

 strengthening of the body, the elevation of the 

 moral faculties, and the cultivation of the intelli- 

 gence ; and, especially, to the imbuing the mind 

 with a broad and clear view of the laws of that 

 natural world with the components of which the 

 handicraftsman will have to deal. And, the earlier 



- the period of life at which the handicraftsman has 

 to enter into actual practice of his craft, the more 

 important is it that he should devote the precious 



> hours of preliminary education to things of the 

 K, mind, which have no direct and immediate bearing 

 ( on his branch of industry, though they lie at the 



foundation of all realities. 



Now let me apply the lessons I have learned 



from my handicraft to yours. If any of you were 



obliged to take an apprentice, I suppose you 



would like to get a good healthy lad, ready and 



I willing to learn, handy, and with his fingers not 



lall thumbs, as the saying goes. You would like 



rthat he should read, write, and cipher well ; and, 



