Arizona weekly citizen., 1888-04-14
HAND WORK IN SWEDEN,
How the Use of Implements I. Taurb. t,
 the Scandinavian p.,,r.,,

the Scandinavian Peninsula.
 Siold, or hand work, is the art of usinp oruhAry lmplements-sucha as a knife a saw hammer or a paint brush Mir
 Sfufers seems to have had some shadcyyy hotiOh oi this system. 'C-l-e-a-n. clean. "l-h-u-e-r, window; now go and clean il. v selu 'hat practical person. SlOjd teachingis uo technlcal instruction what a liberal ed
 ucation Is to professional training If is
 valued, not only as the first sten toward learning trade, but also as a training for lhe Iacultles. Appreciation of form. A proper value of time and method neat ness Of manipulation and habits of indu.- try and self reliance are some of in, bless- ings with which it is credited. Enthusj
 asts, moreover, hope that by including manual work among ordinary school sub. lects bodily labor may in time be raised rom the low esteem where it too often lies.
 Slojd was invented by one Tho Cyc- neus, Fin, who, after qualifying in sey- eral handicrafts, became a scho0lnaster and was commissioned to draw up re port, on which the Finnish system of gov ernment schools is based In Sweden his system was copied some fifteen years ago. and 1t has there spread so rapidly that i'm many Of the common schools slnid forms part of the regular course Those who view hand work merely ag a training for the faculties coDfine their teaching to simple work in wood But those who value 1t also as subsidiary to technical in- struction teach slojd in many branches ana carry It beyond the use of the sim Plest tools. Bookbinding. tinkering, smiths work, painting, basket making shoehiaklhe and tailoring are among their subjects, and they spare no efforts to make the system attractive to pupils and parents. At some schools pupils are aI- lowed to keep what they nave made. or to ouy it cheaply; or, to secure continuous attendance, they are credited with deferred pay. which they forfeit by leaving before stipulated course has been completed on completion of the course tho puuil is presented with a bank book representing his accumulated earnings and receives "A parting counsel tO increase them.
 The parents sympathy k also ancled Tor. At a school in a laboring district it IS a rule that pupils shall be taught 10 make and use such common implements as are most seryiceable to working people -rakes, spades, aN handles and the like. Assiduous young tinkerS, tailOrs and shoe makers are allowed the Use of school i'm plements to make the family repairs. and thus exists in Sweden the phenomenon If a self repairing boy, who mends his own raiment and cobbles his own shoes
 In Sweden, in Norway and in Fin land the system has proved most success ful. There seems no reason why it should not be introduced and become equally successful here. The taste among non lab0ring classes for using implements IS universal Too often, however, the hands that guide the implements are rather Jealous than skillful But if schools taught slojd, these manual short cOmncs would be remedied. The tool chest, now a Pandora's box of evil, bring ing terror to paternal bosoms and impre- cations on the donor, would become a blessing. Instead Of amputating chair legs or studding the furniture with tin Jacks, its skilled possesSOr would do the family's odd jobs. The penknife found in the pocket of every schOolboy but Macan- lays would whittle and carve, under due supervision, to the advantage of the fit tings and its owners fingers Adults | would cease to slice their faces in vain at tempts tO shave themselves; and 10 the l ndcpt in slojd, the opening of meat tin | oI ssirdine box would net mean lock jaw II | to the Use of ordinary tOols some crafts like | boJ JEhndinS were added. brain workers would grow up with a recreative hobby | ready Ia~le. Even a course Of alarming and button sewing might not come amiss | to youths intended for professions. where, | according to the registrar generals re- | 'Urils. they will be condemned to bachler | hood til S0.-l.ondon Saturday Review