New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-28
Induafrial Kducnfinn.

| Since Boston in 1910 founded Harvard
College she has always kept little ahead
! in educational matters. At the last election
she put proportion of women on her
| school board. In the girls schools she
| aims to teach something besides the three
Rs. Some years since Miss May Gertrude
Ladd, the head assistant, introduced in
struction in the use Of the needle in her class
in the Winthrop School, Maryland. Mr.
Swan, the principal, became enthusiastic on
the subject, and the school superintendent
made that school the scene of a systematic
experiment. The result is told in the fol-
lowing extract from the Boston DAILY Ad-
rertiser: -
Yesterday was an interesting day for
those who have at heart the advancement
of Industrial education in our public
schools. For several years sewing has been
partially taught in our grammar schools for
girls, but not until this year has the expert
ment been tried of making it thoroughly
systematic study, it having previously been
taught only in the lower grades Of the
schools. The Winthrop school, on fremont
street, was the one selected for the trial.
No school could be more favorably adapted
tor the experiment, it being one of the
oldest and largest in the city, numbering
the centre of a respectable and intelligent
population. On the first of October the
study of sewing was begun in all Of the
classes in the school, a sewing teacher, Miss
Isabella Cummings, being engaged to de-
vote her entire time to the school, each one
of the eighteen classes giving two hours q
week to the study. The children are re-
quested to bring some article from home
to work on, and to keep it to work On in
school, such as towel, handkerchief,
napkin, or some simple article of ap-
parel, thus combining utility with their
study. 1t was at first thought that the two
hours could be we'll spared from the regular
studies but the result shows that the chill
dren have their lessons even better than be.
fore, the occupation of their hands giving
needed rest to their minds. But as only
their hands are occupied in their work, the
teachers fill the time by reading aloud to
the children something valuable and in
structive, and at the same time entertaining.
In the four upper Glasses, besides simple
sewing, cutting and fitting are taught, there
being in the exhibition hall table and i'm
PIGMENTS for the purpose. In this remark
able progress has been made. The patterns
are given from designs on the blackboard.
In this the use Of the study of drawing, as
puTStieu III inc DO5IOn puUllC SCHOOLS, re-
ceives a practical application. for the pupils
would be hardly able to receive their in
struction in cutting were it not for their
knowledge of industrial drawing. The pat
terms are drawn from dictation and geo.
metrical drawing. The pupils thus not
only receive benefit from an industrial
standpoint, but their perception is quick
ened and an impetus is given to other
studies, for, as the teachers say. sit is prac-
teal arithmetic and geometry to them" A
number OF the girls in the upper classes
have already become accomplished cutters
and filters, and are of much assis lance in
teaching the others. One of the misses
bright and modest appearing young girl, |
had on a dress which she had cut and made |
herself in the school, the first instance of !
the kind. The dress fitted perfectly, and !
gave evidence of neat and careful work |
She was an object of much attention from |
visitors present Mr.. Swan. the master,
hopes before long to have all the girls of his |
upper classes thus attired in dresses of their |
own making. Yesterday afternoon was set |
apart TOR the exhibition of the progress |
made, and sewing was in progress in all the |
rooms. There was large attendance OF !
visitors, including teachers from other |
schools. prominent citizens and many inter |
ested in educational matters. all of whom |
appeared highly gratifed with what they
saw. --.H |