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EVENING INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
Owing to confusion in interpreting the laws relating to the establishment
of industrial schools, to the abolishment of the Massachusetts Commission
on Industrial Education, and to other causes, the expected reimbursement from
the State on account of the evening industrial school has not been made. The
order of the City Council signed June 26, 1909, in effect established a day
industrial school arid re-established the evening industrial school as a department
of the day industrial school. However, no appropriation was made for an evening
industrial school for the season of 1909-10, and consequently this work was
discontinued. I shall recommend a suitable sum to be appropriated for carrying
on this evening work for next year. This evening school reaches a class of
young workmen who could not have the advantages of a day industrial school,
and partially makes up that deficiency and affords them great assistance in
advancing in their trade.
VALUE OF INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION
Our Beverly Industrial School is a source of much pride to me and pleasure
as well inasmuch as it not only gives a practical education to young men,
but tends to make useful citizens of those of whom we have been neglectful
heretofore.
It seems to have been our sole aim prior to this to devote every attention to cultural education. In many cases parents have even denied themselves the necessities of life in order that their sons might get the best advantages for a higher education, that would fit them for positions in a bank, a large mercantile establishment, or for the learned professions of the .law, the ministry and medicine.
We seem to have
forgotten, until now the fact that all are not constituted alike. We need
men trained fully as accurately and carefully in the art of manufacturing
and tilling the soil as in the professions. Today we need men who can do things,
men who can create not only with the brain-and it takes brains to be a good
mechanic or a good farmer in this age-but with skilled hands as well. The
day has passed when the father who was a farmer taught his son, and the village
smith taught his apprentices, and young men in general served time to learn
the different trades. This is all changed in order to meet the different conditions
of life. It seems to me that we who boast our great country and free institutions
should blush with shame when we consider that we are much behind the countries
of Europe.