The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-07-14
Manual Training,

Specimens of the work of the manua
training department of the public school
have been on exhibition at the Contra
high school building for several days. Tn,
exhibit is an exceedingly interesting one
and has attracted great deal Of attention
There has been but one verdict with regart
to it, says the Minneapolis Journal, ant
that one verdict of approval. No new
departure In elementary educational meta
DDS ever met with more general indorsmen
! from the public AS we'll rs from educators
themselves The results exhibited NJ the
| high school building show remarkable
progress. This Is the first year that in
struction in mechanical drawing has beer
put Into practice in the Minneapolis schools
In the actual execution of mechalical de-
signs, but II Is only fair 20 say that the
completed work of the pupils is of very
superior order. IL Is the product of hand:
only II to l6 years old, but no one whit
has seen their work would hesitate e
prounce them trained and skillful hands.
The need of special schools of the
mechanic arts is generally admitted. The
wisdom of trying 20 incorporate manual
traiieng into the public school system has
been disputed. The experiment has been
tried, however, and the opposition among
educators has been almost entirely re-
moved by the results secured. IL was
feared that II would prove 10 be a digres.
sion, and that II would injure the high
degree of efficiency now attained In public
schools. But experience has demonstrated
that this fear was groundless. On the
contrary II Is the testimony of teachers
who have had experience that the time
and attention given TO It adds TO the gener-
al excellence of all school work. However
true or fanciful may be the Idea that the
training of the hand has beneficial effect
upon the training of the intellect by reason
of the subtle connection between the brain
aud Its most serviceable instrument, the
hand, II Is not difficult TO understand how a
boy may learn accuracy and patient atten-
ton to detail In all his mental operations
from course of instruction whose first
essential requirement Is accuracy An
advocate OF the system asks whether II Is
likely that a young man VINO Is taught TO
labor with the most painstaking care for
weeks to make pair of surface plates fit
the one upon the other like film of oil to
either, or who must work a fitting true TO
the thousandth part OF an inch, or make
an edge that Is as near 70 the material
realization of mathematical line as NOR.
tails can come, will be as likely, If his mind
be directed TO reasOnings In economy,
philosophy, morals, or statecraft, 10 dismiss
the points carelessly OF satisfy himself with
off-hand congratulations as one who has
never learned patience and accuracy where
both are essential. Perhaps this may
suggest an answer TO the inquiry often
raised as to where the workingmen, the
skilled craftsman, have acquired their
ability to reason accurately on the ques
tions affecting their interests
The working men of the country have
reason to think well Of the manual training
in elementary public education. II is to be
one of the greatest forces in elevating
labor to the dignity 1t should wear. The
sons of the rich, who learn by experience
10 appreciate even in part the difficulties
that skilled workman must overcome can
never fail afterwards t. take a deeper
interest in and entertain a greater respect
for that skilled workman when he comes
to employ him in his mandatory. The
tendency of things Is all in the direction of
making machines or parts of ma hines of
workingmen and lowering the dignity and
independence of labor. 1t is an evil
tendency which the working people them
selves are more interested in counteracting
than any other class. 1t certainly appears
as If the introduction of manual training
In the public schools were 70 be the power.
full agency needed to restore the proper
equilibrium, maintain the dignity OF
intelligent labor, and develop In higher
degree the inventive genius and executive
skill of the men who labor with their haLds
as we'll as their brains.