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"Industrial education"

 
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angryengineer



Joined: 24 Dec 2005
Posts: 29
Location: New Orleans

PostPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 6:07 pm    Post subject: "Industrial education" Reply with quote

I've read through the Tulane charter and by-laws, and while I m not fluent in legal-ese there is a very interesting phrase that comes up again and again throughout. "Industrial Education". I'd say that would be engineering if anything is. It repeatedly says that Tulane has to provide a great university for new orleans providing several types of education, but specifically mentioned in industrial education, and in Paul Tulanes letter citeing his desires for the institution he puts the spotlight on practical education.

Finny how the renewal plan clearly betrays this part of the charter. I think we could probably use that to our advantage... what do you all think?
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cenla alum



Joined: 25 Dec 2005
Posts: 36

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe this will help or confuse even more -

From the original request of Paul Tulane:

1.The gift was to be used "for the promotion and encouragement of intellectual, moral and industrial educaiton among the white young persons in the City of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, and for the advancement of learning and letters the arts and sciences therein [sic] .... By the term education, I mean to foster such a course of intellectual development as shall be useful and of solid worth, and not be merely ornamental or superifical." He further instructed the board that it "should adopt the course, which as wise and good men, would commend itself to you, to being conducive to immediate practical benefit, rather than of theorretical possible advantage."

There were 5 other points of instruction attached to his original gift.

Now, when the board came together to form and decide whether to establish a new institution or take over the failing Univeristy of Louisiana, discussions with Tulane took place between him and the first President of Tulane, Johnston.

To Tulane a technical education was for immediate, practical purposes - get a technical education and then become productive as quickly as possible. To Johnston the matter went deeper than that. A technical education was but one phase of educating the whole man, inseparable from the development of his other parts.

Prior to 1900 the foundations for the school of engineering were laid in the creation of the College of Technology - one of the 3 professional schools which were in existence in Tulane's early history. The other two were Law and Medicine. When engineering was separated from A&S into the College of Technology students could concentrate in one of four areas - mechanical and electrical; chemical - the first in the south; civil or architecture. In 1897 sugar chemistry was added but then dropped. And YES, you read that correctly, architecture was in the College of Technology and did not exist as a separate school.

The early engineering faculty members served as consultants on buildings and construction, foundations of buildings, street design and construction, bridge construction, electric street cars, telephone communications and other projects as the City grew. They also helped developed new buildings materials and determine the best use of new materials. I guess Cowen doesn't understand that concept in the 21st century.

One other key note about the establishment of Tulane - the whole reason Tulane agreed to take over the failing Univ of LA was their test case on tax-exemption failed for the proposed new school. The ONLY way they could get their tax-exempt status was to assume responsibility for the failing university and through an Act of the Legislature - the famed Act 43. This act also allowed the political strings to be cut from the University all together. If you read point 6 of the Act - the board waived alllegal claim for any appropriation from the State Treasury - something future president's fail to comprehend.
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angryengineer



Joined: 24 Dec 2005
Posts: 29
Location: New Orleans

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 4:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Indeed. Outdated racism aside, the original wishes of Tulane's founder are being discarded.

And of course architecture used to be part of engineering, civil engineering is by and large architecture of a broader scope, and not as aesthetically focused. (No disrespect to either group of people intended).
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cenla alum



Joined: 25 Dec 2005
Posts: 36

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 5:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In the 1890's the combination of civil and architecture did produce aesthetically pleasing buildings while concentrating on the mechanical form as well. Through using the engineering theory and the development of new materials, most of those buildings have been able to survive almost anything. I believe the point back then was you can't have one without the other and the two were interated.

As far as the owner's racism - you have to consider the era in which the donation was made. Mrs. Newcomb also had similar language in her bequest.
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angryengineer



Joined: 24 Dec 2005
Posts: 29
Location: New Orleans

PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Of course, while socially/chronologically understandable, still regrettable.
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cenla alum



Joined: 25 Dec 2005
Posts: 36

PostPosted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 12:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I definitely agree, especially since New Orleans was a more advanced society in that respect so to speak. What's amazing is that Fortier was a creole and became a distinguished professor at Tulane before integration took place decades later.
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