The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-03-06

be away behind the times as mod
ern industrial factor if it purported
to fully equip its graduates for the
battle of life In the case of such an
institution as the latter, there would
be either an overstocking of the labor
market for the simple trades, making
the acquisition of the pupils compar-
atively valueless, or the turning out
of labor supply for complicated
manufactures which would be more
than adequate for few divisions of
a particular industry with none for as
many divisions as are not embraced
in the schools course.
The proper idea of manual train
ing in the school is, therefore, that
described by Mr.. 0leson-to make
young people handy in the use of
tools and versed in general mechan-
ical principles In this age of inven-
tions and powerful motors, the ten
dency of productive industry-yes,
even in the once simple arts of agri-
cultures to make the workman but
little more than a part of the machine
that he tends. Manual training of a
general sort comes in here to prevent
human deterioration resulting from
such condition of things. Men
are to be produced out of the new
departure with mental vision of a
broader scope in relation to the
science of mechanics than the simple
comprehension of the single machine
that each artisan is put to run.
While the manual training school
may not produce master workmen in
particular trades, it is designed to fit
its graduates for easily turning their
hands, in the first place, to those in
dustrial occupations for which they
have developed inclination or apti-
tude, and, in the next place, to enable
them to make shifts when they would
be otherwise helpless in the case of
inability to obtain employment at
their chosen trades.
The value of manual training is,
moreover, not limited to the prelimi-
naries of fitting its subjects for en-
gaging in regular mechanical pur-
suits. 1t imparts habits of industry
which form one of the prime elements
of success in any walk of life. Also
it confers a power for surmounting
difficulties such as may happen to
any man under any circumstances
wherever he may go on the face of
the earth. The handy man is always
Appreciated the army or in the
navy, with the scientific expedition or
on the staff of a great public or pri-
vate undertaking, on the border of
civilization or in the heart of a tenn
ing city. His skill comes in timely
whenever or wherever anything goes
wrong, or breaks down, OF works CON
trarily. Hardness is, besides, not
like some descriptions of genius are
supposed to be-the symbol Of defci-
ency in other respects. Rather is it
the token of competency in the call
ing that is its possessor's reliance in
life. Testimony is strong and plenti
full that while manual training broad
ems the character of contemporaneous
mental training, it does not necessi-
tate the prolongation of the school
day period for the purpose of en-
bracing both together. Therefore,
for all the reasons that have now and
heretofore been presented, it must be
regarded as matter of pride to this
country that it has not Jagged be-
hind the rest of the world in this
matter, so far as making start is con
cerned. Public iberRlity and private
munifcence both share in the honors,
in the latter Kamehameha School, of
which Mr.. Oleson is Principal, being
the crown of enterprise.