Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-07
THE TEACHERS, CONVENTION.
interesting Papers Read and Discussed
at TO-day's Session.

interesting Papers Read and Discussed
at TO-day's Session.
THE QUESTION OF MANUAL TRAINING IN THE PUB
Lie SCHOOLS RECEIVES CAREFUL ATTENTION
THREE PAPERS ON THE SUBJECT ARE READ
AND DIscussED-oTHxR TOPICS TREATED
The second days session Of the Department
OF superintendent was resumed this morning
at the National Museum. President Campbell
presided, and before proceeding in the regular
order W. E. Sheldon was authorized to wait
upon Senator Blair, the chairman of the COM
mittee on education and labor, and invite him
to address the department on Friday evening
Mr.. Sheldon subsequently replied that he had
seen Senator Blair, and that he had consented
to address the department at that time. The
first paper was on 1.-THE Psychology Of Manual
Training" by William T. Harris, of Concord
Mass. This paper was q scholarly discussion
OF the subject, and was followed with close at
tention by the large audience. Prof. Harris is
the leading writer in this country on educa-
tional topics, and his ideas on subject which
is receiving SO much attention for educators
at this time had more than usual significance
IN THE COURSE OF HIS PAPER PROF. HARRIS SAID,
''To make box requires special application
Of knowledge of a special kind, measurement,
adaptation, dividing with the saw, the use of
the hammer and nails. 1t is special, and there
is something learned regarding the texture Of
woods and nails, some skill or knack requised
in the mending Of tools, some pieasurable feel
ing of self ut the consciousness of what he can
accomplish by his labor. In this study Of
mathematics there is an immeasurably higher
feeling Of self in the perception of the power
OF the intellect, not merely to know passively,
lint Ey,ax
small portion of the universe presented to its
immediate senses, but to know the conditions
OF existence Of all matters near and remote,
now, and in the past, and in all
future time. What a glimpse of the
dignity and commanding eminence of mind
The three angles of any triangle are equal to
two right angles-the pupil need never meas
ure one real triangle to know this. On the
basis OF the ratios Of the sides Of the right
angled triangles to one another. Man pro-
ceeds to measure all things inaccessible to
manual measurement-he measures the dis
lance OF the sun, OF the fixed stars, compares
the period Of self-hood gained by the soul in
the latter case with that Of the former.
I'm learning arithmetic the boy learns to
quantity and measure all things numerically
1t is not coordinate with the knowledge of
carpentry, but it underlies it, at least there can
be no use of the carpenters rule without some
knowledge Of arithmetic
PROF. ALIENS PAPER.
The theme OF suggestive paper by Prof.
Jerome Allen, of the University of New York
city, was ITO what extent and how can manual
training be introduced into ungraded schools?''
Prof. Allen said that manual training is
thought-expression by other means than ges-
ture or verbal language. Do pupils in our I'M
graded schools need this training? This ques-
ton requires that the elements of good edu-
nAf oh r,II h.
means OF receiving knowledge except by the
senses, nor have we any means of indicating
knowledge excepting by the same avenues.
The training of the senses. then, is essential to
the getting and giving of information, and this
process OF getting and giving rapidly and cor
rectly constitutes the first element in good edu-
cation. In order to enlarge the mind all of the
senses must be trained by doing things and by
thinking. The true teacher aims to develop
the whole child, and this cannot better be COM
menced than by means of hand eye and ear
work.
The success of the kindergarten shows that
its gifts, games and songs, and above all its
heart culture, make it the best physical, mental
and moral gymnasium ever devised for young
children. We need the enlarging and uplifting
power Of the kindergarten engrafted upon our
ungraded district schools. 1t is said that the
ordinary country boy has better opportunities
for getting manual training than the city boy;
and he has in many respects, but he does not
improve them. An all-sided physical training
is exactly what the country boy and girl needs
to prepare them to take their places in the
world with success. The object of education
is to fit for future citizenship, and it must be
admitted that the average country boy is not
fitted for this important position as much
as he would be if he had more all-sided edu-
cation.
The statement is made that we have no room
for manual training exercises as the various
has
occupy all of the time. Mr. A. E. Frye says that
fully three-fourths of the time spent in
school work is thrown away. Mr.. Martin.
state agent of the Massachusetts board of
education, thinks that much time is wasted in
doing useless work on grammar. There
would be plenty of time in all our schools for
sensible manual training exercSes if useless
work now permitted would be taken out of
them.
The beneficial effects of manual training are
now subjects of record. Several New York
principals have introduced these exercises into
their schools with the most beneficial results.
Especial reference is made to Principals Henry
P. and Hugh O'Neil. But how can our district
schools be furnished with better class of
teachers? Normal schools do not touch the
ungraded district schools. The remedy is in
the establishment Of institutes in which meth
DDS and practice can be taught, and where some
of the fundamental elements of the philosophy
OF education, psychology and methodology can
be learned. We need something that will show
the rural school teacher what real teaching is
and lead her to understand that character in
cludes the possession of the true spirit of life,
promptness, justice, virtue honor and faithful
ness. In uplifting the teacher we uplift the
pupils. The work must commence here The
points made in this paper may be summarized
as follows:
/. The correct definition Of manual training.
g What kind of manual training our district
school pupils need.
8. kindergarten methods are universally
commended; these should be introduced.
g. All studies in our schools receive their
greatest impulse from the manual training ex-
ercises connected with them.
6. The elements of good education center
around knowledge of things.
2. Time may be gained for better methods,
by leaving out from school programs the use
less materials in them.
g. Manual training exercises have proved
highly successful.
s. Our ungraded school teachers can be
trained by bringing the right kind of normal
school instruction within their reach.
After the discussion which followed the read
ing of this paper the department adjourned for
lunch.
At the Afternoon Session
a paper was read py Edwin p. Seaver, superin-
tendent Of schools, Boston, on "To what ex-
tent and how can manual training be intro
duced into graded public schools" He said
that the discussion of this question has been
heretofore largely theoretical, but now this is
actual experience. During the last ten years
have been organized schools and departments
nf m VII ipip hach <o