The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-08
The AmbachtS-SchOOI at Amsterdam.

Mr.. John MacGregor writes in the School
Board Chronicle: In recent visit to Am
sterdam on board my canoe went to see a
curious school, and much was observed there
which may be of use for imitation in Eng
land. The building specially erected, after
temporary one had been sufficient for some
years occupation, is in quiet, healthy, and
pleasant part of the town suburbs, and it is
not unlike plain industrial school. had no
introduction to the masters or authorities,
but their very kind attentions were a good
augury to me of what they had to show. 1t
is ten years since this school wac started for
the sons of artisans, to teach them technical
handicraft in a thorough and systematic man.
ner. The idea originated with the society for
promoting the interests of the working class
es, or, as they call it in Dutch, '.Maatschap-
py voor den werkenden stand," which itself
was begun in 1854, and has now about 700
members, each subscribing 8s 4d. per an
mum. Division 1. of this society is styled the
''Scavengers' Brigade" and the programme,
given in English, says s:-'On very moderate
terms the public roads and thoroughfares, the
cutters included, are swept and cleaned un-
der her superintendent" &C., where the
idiom reveals the honest Dutchman's trans
lation rather amusingly, ,and our London mud
of the last few weeks, would be all the better,
too, for cher" broom. A benevolent fnnd is
another department, and was informed that
members of the pestilent 'Internationap' are
not allowed to trouble this society. The So
ciety also organizes exhibitions for workmen,
and sends them free to such exhibitions
abroad. Some of its members were thus
sent to the English workmans show at the
agricultural hall last year, which affair." it
may be remembered, had many good wishes,
but was somehow rather failure. The
Dutchmen gained gold medal but l was
grieved and ashamed to hear that the medal
has never been received from the donors. As
in duty bound, 1 have tried to right this
wrong, but hitherto in vain. Perhaps your
notice of the omission may quicken the hon
esty of the managers of our show. Lectures
attended by 1000 persons, and the classes for
needle-women with the sewing machine are
also lines of work for the Amsterdam society
and then comes the school for boys, which
we shall.now look at more particularly. Here
we are in the black-smith's shop, with forges
and vices and benches, all quiet at present,
as the boys are up stairs in light, cheerful,
airy room, with long high desks across, and a
fine set of young fellows, all between thirteen
and sixteen years of age, planning and sketch
ing from models and machines. Their heav-
ier muscular work is done first in the morn
ing, and now they are at finer employments.
Every boy pays for his learning, and every
boy has light, short blouse as his uniform
There are forty-five blacksmiths, sixty-four
carpenters, five sculptors, and in all about 120
intelligent, bright looking lads, as busy as
busy can be, and yet evidently happy with
the pleasure of learning. All of them seem
to be taught something of everything, for
there are eighteen hours per week given to
linear drawing, sixteen to earpenterng, four
teen to the forge, twelve to first principles,
and ten to algebra and mathematics, and the
same to the art of the turner That beauti-
full lathe by the window was presented by the
Queen of Holland, and only prize boy may
work its treadle. Models on the walls
around were the kings wise presents. The
corporation of Amsterdam gives e100 a year,
and the workmen's society half that sum.
Sixteen teachers conduct the classes, and the
hours are in general from eight to twelve and
| two to four every week day. The aim is evi-
IDENTIFY to give every lad good sound teach
ing of eye and hand The carpenters mys-
terry in Holland finds frequent use where
houses are so neat and trim, and so here the
young chiseler learns how to dovetail door
or fit roof-tree. The machinist in iron ha:
plenty to do with railways, steamers, mills
and a thousand canals; and no wonder ht
will get good wages if, at sixteen years of age
as saw one lad doing he can sketch thu
''link motion"o railway engine at ''three.
quarters view". Casts on the walls, anC
more or less feeble limitations of them from
young fingers, show that moulding, if not
sculpture, is in demand; and through the di
vine majesty of art is not just the Dutch
mans line, even in his marvelously attractive
oil paintings, (always sold because always
true,) yet great artists may come out of thi'
school, as undoubtedly many good artifice
have done. Three years is long time tC
spend in learning technical work; but then i
teaches very thoroughly, and the wages of
youth thus. taught will doubtless be high a
once when he works for hire. The teady
plodding Hollander looks on to this highe
wage, and therefore POS boys have complete,
their three years curriculum in this school
and 257 have left it in shorter time.