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Life of Isaiah V. Williamson

not been sufficiently educated before their admission, be thoroughly instructed and grounded in the rudiments of a good common-school English education, embracing spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, history, particularly of the United States, and also such of the natural and physical sciences and lower mathematics as in the opinion of the Trustees it may be important for them to acquire, to fit themselves for the trades they are to learn. In describing this course of English education I do not intend to make it obligatory that all the branches I have named shall be taught, or that those not named shall be excluded, nor do I intend that any one fixed or established course shall be taken by all the scholars, I leave all this to the discretion of the Trustees, but I request that they shall at all times bear in mind the fact that the main object I have in view is to train young men to mechanical trades, so that they may earn their own living, and that while the acquisition of any branches of an English education which may be of aid to them in their several trades is necessary and important, any higher or advanced knowledge which might render them dissatisfied with or unfit for their employments is unnecessary and may be disadvantageous. I expressly direct that each and every scholar shall be compelled to learn and be thoroughly instructed in one good mechanical trade, so that when they leave the School on the completion of their indentures they may be able to support themselves by the labor of their own hands.

"I leave to the discretion of the Trustees the selection of the several kinds of mechanical trades to be taught, and the determination of the particular one that shall be taught to and acquired by each scholar, but I particularly desire that the taste, capacity, intelligence, and adaptability of