Maryland Industrial and Agricultural Institute for Colored Youths facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maryland Industrial and Agricultural Institute for Colored Youths |
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| Location | |
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20723
United States
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| Information | |
| Other name | Laurel Colored Agricultural and Industrial School |
| Established | 1901 |
| Founder | Ernest Lyon |
| Closed | unknown |
| Principal | R.J. Pollard |
The Maryland Industrial and Agricultural Institute for Colored Youths was a special school in North Laurel, Maryland. It opened in 1901. Ernest Lyon started it to help African-American students learn important skills. This school aimed to give young people a strong education for their future.
Contents
A School for Learning and Growth
This school was also known as the "Laurel Colored Agricultural and Industrial School." It focused on teaching students practical skills. The goal was to prepare them for jobs in farming and other trades.
How the School Started
In 1901, Ernest Lyon bought a large piece of land. It was about 87 acres, near Laurel, Maryland. Lyon was a pastor in Baltimore, Maryland. He also taught at Morgan College. He wanted to create a school for African-American students.
Lyon was inspired by Booker T. Washington. Washington believed in "industrial education." This meant teaching hands-on skills. R.J. Pollard became the school's principal. He said they wanted to build a school like Hampton or Tuskegee in Maryland. These were famous schools that taught practical skills.
Learning About the School Today
The school later joined with Bowie Normal School. In 2010, the Laurel Historical Society gave a talk about the school. They called it "unraveling one of Laurel's great mysteries." This shows that the school's history is still being explored.
What Students Learned
The Maryland Industrial and Agricultural Institute taught many useful subjects. Students learned English, which was very important. They also learned practical skills for life and work.
Funding and Support
At first, the school found it hard to get enough money. The Maryland State Legislature did not give much support. So, the school relied on private donations. By 1909, it was seen as a great example of industrial education. The Maryland State Commission of Education praised it.
Daily Life and Studies
Students learned many different subjects. These included carpentry and mechanical drawing. They also learned farming, cooking, and dressmaking. Other skills taught were laundering and housekeeping.
The students grew crops on the school's farm. These crops helped feed everyone at the school. They also cared for animals. The first class had eight students. They lived at the school, which was called boarding on campus.
