Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-06-12
TRAINING IN CITY SCHOOLS.
Mechanics Taught to B~oys-sewiDg and
Cooking for Girls-Lectures.

VI A"A "tEA AA'@~
four months fourteen different schools
the primary, girls or boys departments,
in the same building or same district,
counted as separate schools-were work
ing out the principles established for this
industrial work. The idea originated in
Russia, and some of he features of. 1t
came from the kindergarten methods of
Germany. The committee who first took
up this new feature of education studied
well the work as il was carried on III
technical schools in this and other cities
They have striven 10 leave out all the
weak points as they were discovered u
produce a system that was superior II
possible TO any other in existence.
Whether they have accomplished this
remains 10 be seen They are free to
admit that they are still far from having
a complete knowledge themselves, and
experience is teaching them important
things every day. The schools are nearly
all private where manual training Is
taught outside Of New York, but as the
benefits derived are felt it will undoubt-
edly come into the common possession of
all the institutions Of learning. One
great fear entertained has been that in
establishing il, time would have TO be
taken from other studies. Anything 50
unsatisfactory has not been the result.
Instead OF impeding progress in other
studies, it helps them by changing the
order Of training for the better in every
department. Drawing is the funda-
mental study in industrial training; 1t is
the corner stone Of the entire structure
of manual work as taught in the common
schools. II enters largely into the boys
department Of carpentry, and the girls
classes Of sewing and cooking.
The girls, if they do not know how TO
draw straight lines, will hardly be able
TO sew straight seams, or make proper
hens, and in cooking will not be able 10
know the value Of measurement. Draw
ing has already been taught for some
years, so the three new features added
in the schools are the workshop for boys
and sewing and cooking departments for
girls, and there is promotion IN these
Just as in all the other studies.
Naturally a great variety Of tools and
materials are needed, and eve now the
supplies are not all furnished. The list
for the cooking class is as complete as for
a family setting up housekeeping. The
great difficulty is in finding the proper
teachers for this sort Of training. Of
course, it is easy enough TO procure a
good carpenter, or a good cook, or agood
seamstress % show how TO work in these
departments, but the thing is to find
some Que who can teach these different
branches-a carpenter, for instance, who
not only knows how TO saw a board, but
can explain the reason for saving il, tell
what kind Of wood he Is using. and
where it comes from, besides many other
practical points connected with it,
And so in each Of the other depart
ments. But means will undoubtedly be
found TO meet each want as time goes On.
The children take a great interest ia
manual training, and this is a great in
centiye to teachers. The girls arr allowed
TO have a small repast made of the things
that they have cooked or helped 10 cook,
and this increases their interest in the
performance to 4 vast degree. Then,
too, they are inspired to try experiments
at home, which is, Of course, exactly
what is desired by the founders Of the
work.
The principal Of one Of the best public
schools for girls has made reading aloud
a feature Of her school-not elocution,
but reading in a simple and intelligent
manner. She herself as a reward of
merit reads 10 the girls once q week on
Friday atternoOns-Hot Sunday school
stories or set pieces from school books,
but standard works. In that way she
hopes TO interest the scholars in Literature,
a study 10 which little time is given in
the public schools.
Il has been felt for some time that the
teachers where this nCw manual has been
adopted ought TO have some training,
too. They were assembled by the board
Of education in the hall Of the building
belonging to this body to hear a lecture
on the subject. A second meeting was
presided over 10y DR.. Paul Hoffman, the
assistant superintendent, who has the
manual training in charge. That gentle
man has been a physician, an Arctic ex-
plorer, md is pronounced n man Of
genius-tbe right man in the right place.
He gained the confidence of the teachers
at once by his carnc5tncss in stating that
he knew something more about the sub
ject than they did, but not much. He
was thoroughly interested in il, and
would work day and night IL need be, in
order TO gain knowledge on the subject.
On them is well as himself depended
the success OF the work. lie thought the
way 10 teach manuai training WIS to be-
gin in the most primitive manner and
demonstrate everything In the most
practical way. lie wished O child 20
''know' that n cube was n cube, not ''be.
licyey that il was because he was told 30.
In teaching, the sense Of feeling could be
called largely into play, and tho child
must be taught how 20 see, Dot what 20
see. lie must feel Of a cube, It's edges
and its points, and find cut why il was a
cube.
"ChDdren," he said, ''sre great imi.
tators and believe what you tell them II
you take q block Of wood in your hand
aud say, DO you sec this lump Of ironi
each child will answer 'Ycs, when It Is
as plain as possible that the lump OF iron
Is a block OF wood"
We would have the children taught 4
draw with a free hand, not painfully sn(
carefully by measurement. Tho metho'
Of teaching, writing and shading the let