The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-13
MANUAL TRAINING In THE SCHOOLS.
The Department Begins the Term with Graf
flying Attendance and Interest.

The city High-school has this year added q
new feature to its curriculum that bids fair to
meet with general popularity and benefit. It is
the introduction OF a course Of industrial train
ing, being confined to woodworking and prac.
tical drawing. This has been an ideal within
the hopes Of the school authorities for some
time, and its realization this year is expected to
be a permanent institution. Five years ago a
summer course of industrial instruction was
operated in the old Hieh-schooi building. under
the direction of Professor Goss, then connected
with Purdue University. At that time four
classes OF twelve pupils each were formed, and
the work met the approval Of all who
saw IL. This was only an experiment, howe rer
and it was some time before the matter was
brought to final decision. From the fret Prof.
w. W. Grant has been DESTROYS OF introducing
thu work in the regular high-school courses of
instruction, and this year the attempt will be
made. At High-school No. / rooms we're
fitted up during the past summer with appro-
pirate appliances for wood working. Eight
benches have been placed in . double row, each
being large enough to accommodate two pupils
at the same time With each bench there 10 in
eiuoed Q complete set of carpenters tools,
which are supposed to be kept 10
good working order by the students themselves.
Through the generosity OF Stoughton j.
Fletcher ard George Merritt twelve sets Of
tools have been offered gratuitously, and In ad-
dition 70 these, four sets have been purchased by
the school board. making the requisite number
OF sixteen. 1t was the original plan 70 admit
pupils OF all the four years to the classes in
manual training, but il was found that the de-
mands for admission would exceed the capsei-
ties OF the department.. and the Instruction has
been limited To hrss-ysar pnpils only, of both
OF the higher years have been admitted to make
the classes in numbers The work is
wholly elective, but 1t Is accepted as one years
study toward graduation.
At present the classes number ninety-six pu-
pills. These are divided into six sections OF six
teen EACH and their instruction 10 shop work
and practical drawing 10 given upon alternate
days Each pupil devotes two hours . day TO
the work, and is given the same credit an II they
had ossn spent the Greek Latin rooms.
All OF the shop work and y portion Of the draw
ing 10 superin tended by Prof. w. Ii. Bass. willis
the remainder OF the drawing has been placed
under the direction OF Miss Sellick, OF High
school No !. The work Is finding considerable
favor among the young ladies a. well as
the boys, largo number having Joined
the classes. and every day some are IN the shops
with planes and band-saws. Their work com
pares very favorably with any done In the shop,
the Instructor says, and in many instances they
exhibit natural skill and tact In working far
above that Of their sterner bench companions.
The course of study 10 the workshop 10 d.
vided into six general groups The student ie
hrst explained the use OF all the tools placed at
his control. This includes practical instruction
in squarine, bcveling, guagine. application OF
the chalk-lne. rnles. planes aud saws The first
real work done 10 in iointing with plain joints.
common box is the only required result Of
this series of lessons, but simple as il
may seem, 1t Is ofttimes the most difficult part Of
the entire course to acquire successfully, After
the student las become skilful in jontinR he Is
instructed In splicing, OF which there are some
half dozen varieties. During this instruction he
is required to recite upon the adsptability OF
each variety to certain conditions Mortisiug is
next taken up, including the making OF panels,
after which dove-tailing is explained. In all of
these cases great care is taken With each ndi-
vidual pupil, and no one department is aban-
doped and another taken I'D until the pupil has
become thoroughly conversant with the work.
The final work Of the course will be the con-
struction Of some piece of furniture. BY the
middle OF the year Professor Bass expects to
have lathes in his shops, and instruction in
wood turning and carving will be given as an
advanced course Of study. D.