Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1883-06-21
MANUAL TRAINING.

rear useful men and women, possess
ed Of well developed and well poised
physical and intellectual powers un-
prejudiced against labor, and filled
with that love for exertion, which is
the highest joy of existence. Every
educator understands this, and il
parents would early inform those to
whom they commit their children OF
what it is their design to make them,
the outcome of their instruction would
be better, and the questions would
not be so constantly asked, TWhai
has become of our graduates? What
superiority have they manifested over
their supposed less fortunate asso.
ciates?' ''a'' e ''''''. -.
The physical, as well as the mental
wants Of youth ought to be attended
to. knowledge Of the use of tools
and habits of industry are Of inesti
mable value to boys, and girls profit
from nothing mere than from instruc.
ton in what will be helpful in domes.
tic life. Such information acquired
and such habits formed in early lift
make prosperous husbands and faith
full wives in maturer days, happy and
confident in the possession of tina
which, upon unforeseen emergency
can be readily converted into actua
means Of independence. Besides
this, there is no other way in whicl
similar preeiseness Of thought anc
action can be developed. AS rule
no classes are as ready and desirou'
Of illustrating their ideas, as those o
the mechanical departments of insti
tutions in which they have been es
tabEshed.
Where manual training has no
been resorted to, parents are more t.
be blamed for its absence than educa
tors. To great extent they mani
fest little interest in the progress o
their children until examination day
and then they are mainly taken u
with the personal and mental displa,
their darlings are about to make; an,
as teachers, like shop-keepers, under
stand the effect of judicious exhibition
in making their goods. marketable, VIII
can blame them for admlnisterin,
such stimulants to vanity as are il
almost universal demand? But
would be fortunate for families if tn
mimic rostrums and stages of moder1
examinations and commencement
were looked upon publicly as .practi
cal failures, exciting sympathy 70
the unsuccessful, and causing con
Germ for those elleiting applause.
Such timely and common sense sug
gestions may not be popular on thes
strawberry and creamy days of socia
and scholastic congratulations; bu
they will commend themselves to oh
Servant parents looking to the highes
welfare of their children. There
enough Of the superficial and useles
to be had everywhere for nothing an
|it is not the part of wisdom to max
special outlay for their attainment
OF what possible practical use in lif
except to those that make profession
of them, are music, as it is taught
and the so-called fine arts. What ar
they compared to ability to read tn
commonest newspaper article correct
ly and intelligently in the family cir
Gle, to construct needed mechanism
or sing sweetly and unaffectedly
simple song. Much might also b
said about scholastic stage dress; bu
space enough has been taken up. !
word to the wise is sufficient, an
criticism here might excite indigns
ton. 5- --s ~ =z@5t a'z
What ought to be emphasized
that parents can introduce manu-.
training and remove whatever is OF
jectionable in education wheneve
they see fit. a 2zlT s's q