, 1888-03-14

A novel system of manual training, the
adoption Of which earnest men have agitat-
ed for several years, and which is expected
to revolutionize public school education, went
into operation on an experimental scale to-
day.
The schools selected for the first ~illustra-
ton of the new method were Grammar
School No. l and Primary school Nos. l
2 and IA, in the Fourth Ward, and Gram
MAI School No. 43, in the Twelfth Ward.
The Board of Education caused a printed
code of Instructions to be supplied to each
teacher several days ago. The boys and
girls, knowing what was going to happen,
were in the liveIiest state OF excitement and
pIeasurable anticipation.
The new system, 1t is explained, must not
be COMPOUNDED with that of industrial work,
which is also being agitated. In the lower
grades it consists of a few simple helps to the
children, causing them to use their hands
and eyes in the ordinary studies hitherto
taught.
In the study Of geography, for instance,
they will be supplied with flour and water
and taught to make chains Of mountains
in paste with rivers of real water between
them. In arithmetic and geometry the
innovations consist of the use Of clay IN
forming curves and triangles and actual
blocks of wood to prove their geometrcal
theorems.
The boys will not be made carpenters or
plumbers or iron-workers, nor the girls
taught the complete art of dressmaklng or
cooking, but tool-shops and cooking rooms
will be provided and much valuable lnstruc-
ton given in the theory of those arts.
The use of the knife, grlndstone and jack
plane will be taught to the boys III the lowest
grade during two hours Of each week, and
the older pupils will in time be initiated
into the mysteries of the saw, the wise, the
hammer and nails and the plane. The prn-
ciples of d0vetailing and making Joints will
be explained by special teachers, and IN the
highest grades finished boxes will be con
structed, properly sand-papered and polished.
Two hours per week are set apart Tor
instruction to the girls IN sewing and hem
ming, measuring, cutting paper patterns,
and fitting. Two hours weekly are allotted
to the theory Of cooking, especial attention
being given to instruction IN the wholesome
ness and degree of nutrition in the various
articles of food, the care and use OF tin, IRON
and copper utensils, the precautions neces-
sary to prevent verdlgrls, the principles OF
economy in purchasing food, the means OF de-
termining the wholesomeness or unwhole'
someness and the names of the various kinds
of poultry and the joints OF meat.
Ample provision has been made Tor the
necessary supplies Of materials. Each COOK.
ing-room will have a range and set OF
utensils costing $500 and $3.50 will be APP
propriated for putting up and supplying each
workshop with tools.
Calico and muslin, scissors, needles, pat
terms, &c, will be supplied on requisltlon,
to the teachers in the dressmaklng classes.
An Evening World reporter called at
Grammar School No. /, in Vandewater street,
this morning, where he found carpenters
busily engaged fitting up special rooms for
the toolmaking and cooking classes. 1t Will
be several days before the tools are supplied
and everything is in full working order, but
a beginning has been made IN the theoretical
teaching of the new plan.
Henry P. O'Neil and Mrs. Mary j. Conk.
lin, the principals of the boys and girls
of this school, have been among
the most prominent advocates OF the new
They spoke very enthusiastically
as to it's future. 49,
"Our object" said Mr.. O'Neil, lis not SO
much to create new studies as to infuse new
interest in the teaching of the old studies
Manual training is to education what the
telephone and telegraph have been IN the
business of life. IL Ss.8..41
..By building ranges of mountains on