Plainfield High School - Milestone Yearbook (Plainfield, NJ)

Page 15 text:

THE ORACLE 153 duced into the public schools of Boston. In Man hattan, industrial training will form one of the main features of the curriculum this fall. To go across the sea—this same work is going on in Ireland, and it is thought that it will greatly benefit the Irish nation. These arts have also been introduced into the schools of England with remarkable results. But far away from either of these two countries, we find this work carried on. In India we see the value of this discipline among the orphans and others made wretched by famine. In Turkey the industrial training is bring- ing forth good fruit among Armenian women and children left destitute by the massacres of eight years ago. To understand what this work is accomplishing, it may be well to give the testimonial of one who stands in a position to know the fruits of the industrial work in education. The Rev. James Smith of India, in an article devoted to this subject, says in substance: . “T believe in Industrial Training because for nine years I have tried it, and found that in general my most intelligent and resourceful pupils are those who have had a simple course in manual training in addition to their other work; because it fits my boys and girls for life; because it seems to develop faithfulness and truthfulness better than arithmetic and spelling, and other forms of mere book-work in which cramming and whispering make deception and superficiality so easy; because it makes my boys more self-reliant ; because it makes them more manly; and lastly, because working men and boys must have education suited to their future.” In speaking of the economic and educational value of hand industry, we are at once reminded of the grand work that is being done at Hampton and Tuskegee institutes. In both schools the manual arts are taught with admirable results. In both schools are found dress-making, tailoring, weav- ing, blacksmithing, millinery and other industries. As great stress is laid on these trades as on arithmetic and English. For it has been observed that this training teaches the students to think and to develop originality; it teaches them the beauty, dignity and honor of labor. It may be said here that industrial education alone will not bring about desired results among the colored people. Education of the head as well as that of the hand is necessary. One with the exclusion of the other is not sufficient. Let those who are capable and who wish, pursue the higher education, that they may become wise, intelligent leaders and teachers fitted to lead their people aright. Although this is so, it cannot be denied that industrial education has been and is the most potent factor in elevating the masses. It enables them to gain a better living. It helps to develop the

Page 14 text:

152 THE ORACLE handicrafts, and this interest has led to a great demand for hand-made ar- ticles. Again, the place that this new industry is taking in our national life is due not only to the realization of the intrinsic value of hand work, but also to the understanding of the educational discipline and economic value of the hand arts. In the first place, men have begun to realize that works of the hand are truly productions of art and have a peculiar value that no machine-made goods can possess. The work that is being done in Deerfield, Mass., fur- nishes a striking example of this revived interest in hand work. Hand in- dustry gives very pleasant employment to many of the inhabitants. The women sew, embroider, weave baskets, make carpets. The men make and carve furniture, as has been said, “with the nicety of a Chinese puzzle.” A personal achievement is that of Mrs. Wynne. She invented various ways of decorating copper and silver with enamel, and has lately embellished it with semi-precious stones, opals, and even pretty pebbles. The demand for the articles made in Deerfield by these deft fingers is always in advance of supply. Again, we might devote an entire essay to the work of the Indians. Many have become interested in these semi-barbarous tribes, and are eager to possess their work. The blankets, pottery, and lace made by these peo- ple are sold almost as fast as they are made. The finely woven baskets are especially highly prized. They are delicate in weave, beautiful in design. They give evidence of patience and endurance, and almost constitute an In- dian literature. Old myths, religious beliefs, and even the lives of some designers are woven into the baskets. Aside from the interest felt in hand-made work—an interest which shows that now men appreciate the superiority of hand-made articles to those made by machine—lies the far most important reason for the revival of interest in industrial work. This is the realization of the value of the manual arts in developing character and mind and in training for life, the true aim of all education. The value o f the work of the hand was first realized in the South where it began to bring about wonderful results among the colored people. This work has proved so valuable that it has extended to all sections of our land and even to lands across the sea. In Georgia a Massachusetts model school was started not long ago for the benefit of the poor whites of that State. In the highlands of Tennessee, industrial training is bringing about a marvelous change among the natives. The industrial arts have been intro-

Page 16 text:

154 THE ORACLE all-around manhood and womanhood by calling forth skill of hand as well as power of head. These results are known to be true. Students who go to Hampton and Tuskegee from log cabins leave school no longer content to live as be- fore, but desirous of entering the world with higher aspirations and nobler ideals. They build good homes and earn their living through some skilled trade which they learned at school. The officials of such institutions as Hampton and Tuskegee keep a careful record of all who leave their schools, and it is found that these students lead pure, noble lives, and that they live up to the high moral standard which they followed in school. These are some of the advantages of hand industry. And are these not valuable? It would certainly mean peace and happiness among all citi- zens, if, while we are striving to wipe out all illiteracy, we should, at the same time, prepare every future citizen for life. When we consider that the dominant tendency in the world to-day is toward industrialism, when we consider that a large share of the prosperity and progress of our nation depend upon the efficiency and intelligence of our workmen, we can see the necessity of promoting these arts and can realize the value of this new phase of education. There is no man perhaps who has done more to emphasize the value of manual training than has Mr. Booker T. Washington. He has given himself up wholly to the work which he believes to be the salvation of his people. His is a life of unselfishness and of love for his fellow-men, for his country. From the life of one who has done so much, surely something may be learned. Even as Mr. Washington has served and is serving his race, his country, may we, too, as we enter upon our greater work, live a life of unselfishness and happiness in the service of others round about us. For that is the secret of true living. Some one has rightly said, “That man may last, but never lives, Who much receives, but nothing gives.” ANNA FRANCES BRODNAX. Jones—‘“I am a near neighbor of yours now. I have taken a house by the river.” Mrs. Golightly—‘‘Oh! I hope you will drop in some day.” “Fifty miles an hour,” yelled the chauffeur, “are you brave?’ “Yes, I’m full of grit,” replied the pretty girl as she swallowed another pint of dust—Ex.