Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-03
MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOLS.
How Boys are Better Treated Than Girls
in Educational Matters.


A writer in Harper's Bazaar. discussing
the introduction of manual training in the
public schools and the progress that has
been made In giving boys a practical edu-
cation, asks what has been done in the
same direction for girls, and answers the
question by saying:
The plain fact is that in this, as in most
other provisions for general education,
boys get their share first and girls follow
afterward.
In some respects, no doubt, girls have
already gained by the new methods. Draw
ing and natural history, for instance, have
been taught to them side by side with boys
But when we look at the actual manual
instruction, and particularly the indus
trial preparation, 1t has come thus far
mainly to the brothers. A few sewing or
cooking schools by no means balance the
appliances, already large, which are being
provided for the boys who are to learn
carpentry and blacksmithing. The pres
ent writer, for instance, happens to be one
of the experimenting committee of a
manual training high school which is this
autumn to take new class of seventy
boys, with no provision whatever for the
girls. Yet it is the general testimony that
so far as the educational value of such
teaching is concerned, girls need it quite as
much as boys; while for the industrial value
need it yet more. Hard as it is, since the
decline of the apprentice system, to get a
boy thoroughly taught IN any trade, it is
harder yet for his sisters. A lady who
has had great experience In benevolent
organizations writes to me: ''1 GU may
not happen to know how almost impossible
it is for woman to thoroughly learn any
sort of trade. If, for instance, a dress
maker consents to take an apprentice, the
girl is likely to be kept for the first year
hemming trifes, the next, perhaps max
ing sleeves, etc. etc; and not until Q week
or so before her dismissal is che allowed to
see the inside of the fitting room We
cannot blame the employer, who must
guard her own interest, and who fears
that so soon as her neophyte has got the idea
of fitting she will leave her to begin fresh
on raw hands The need of amanual train
ing day school which shall take those who,
having left the grammar school, must pre-
pare as soon as possible to support them
selves is felt everywhere. For boys this
provision is being made by public endowed
schools but for girls it is hardly yet even
attempted. The number of women who
have to earn their own living III Phlla-
delphia is estimated at 100000 and there
Is no reason to suppose that the proportion
is larger there than In other cities. 1t is
of no use 70 say that this fact is all wrong;
that women are not naturally meant for
self-suppOrt, that some man ought to be
supporting them If this imaginary man
were at hand In each case it might be very
convenient, although In practice 1T might
4la
other side. But If the man is not at hand,
how is a woman helped to obtain food and
lodging for tomorrow by the knowledge
that he ought to be there? She is con-
fronted mot by theory but by sltua-
ton, what she needs is bread, and in
order to obtain it she needs to be trained
In something And not only the average
condition of women, but their maximum
of favorable condition, will be greatly
helped by more exact training. For wo
men, even more than for men. the profit
able positions are to be found higher up,
and the vast mob of ignorant and under
paid women keep down the rates Of all wo-
mems labor. The state labor commission
er of Maine. who has recently investigated
through an agent the condition of women S
wages in that state, reports that women
are there occupied In fifteen different DUR
suits, including those of artists, physicians
and clergymen, but that the highest amount
earned by any woman is $1,000 a year.
When we compare this income with that
of the washerwoman it may seem relatively
large, but when we consider the large
number of men in Maine who must earn
twice the amount or more, it gives a
graphic illustration of the industrial dis
ADVANTAGES of women