Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-04-30

inc in clay or putty. stick laying paper
rufting and folding. tablet LAYING, bead
strincinr. weaving with mats and
frinces. corn or pea work, embroidery
cards. sc As may be perceived we nave
taken manual training 20 include many
kinds of manual work. Such as writing
drawing modelling. painting, cutting, cary
inc. Sc We begin this work m our low
est grades. believing that this primary KIN
derrarten work lies az the foundation OF all
/ true perception. believing that clear per
cepti0u is the basis OF correct reasoning
and that this accurate perception IS most
quickly obtained by handling and by max
inr This early training. properly gwen
must induce keenness of perception. quick
ness of thought. be an aid 20 memory ana
develop Judgment and reason, oy develop
ing the power 70 analyze, 10 disciiIninai
and 20 classify. The School FAIR IS there
fore the outcome of this beginning pa ma. nan.
ual training Have we not observed that
among the earliest iuclinations of a young
child is the inclination 10 destroy.
tO pull 20 pieces TO lelr
down aud 20 break up inns
faculty seems 90 be innate rather than ac-
Quired and needs no development. As the
child crows there is slowly developed an
opposite tendency. tendency % rebuild,
90 construct ard 10 create. Some have too
much of the destructive talent; OF the con
structive never enough One OF the oulects
then of this manual training is % encourage
and 20 foster a love for constructive and
creative work. On account Of their invent
i've genius. the Americans have been called
"a nation of inventors. There is no douOt
that much of our progress has been due 70
the Frauklins. the Morscs the hoWes' tn'N
Whtuevs. the Erricsous aud the Edlsons.
But If We would continue 20 lead the world
loo the mechanic arts We must develop ana
foster the spirit of invention and discovery.
Buckle. the historian says Tine most
valuable additions made 20 legislation nave
been euactmeuts destructive OF pending
legislation. and the best laws which nave
been passed have been those IN Whicn
some former laws have been repeated
But this caustic sentence does not apply 10
the works of the mechanics aud inventors
OF This county or of any other. The 'acts
of the inventor may be amended, OUT theF
are never repealed.
The proper education of the children IN
our schools is of vast and vital interest 10
the State 90 parents, 20 ALL Acts repeated
make habits. and habits make character
Now. education consists mostly ln the ue-
velonmtut of powo, and iu the formation
of habits 10 mo- longer means learning or
knowledge nor does 10 only mean poWeror
ability to DO.
The crucial test that the world requires
the student 90 pass is.-What Is he, ana
what can he po. What is hc as TO his
character. that is. what are his habits.
Has he formed habits of industry, of accuI-
acv. of ueatncSs. of rupiditv. of puuctuallty,
of truthfuluess. Of fidelity and of temper
ance. The educated man of to-day cannot
stop with "a knowledge of books only. He
must Doe able wisely and ehciciently To- app
plv his knowledge The times demand mo-
latent force. but "a sensible, active one; not
potential energy simply but Nneuc to
prove that there is potential and 90 accom-
nush something The true education OF
man consists in his development INTO the
highest BEiNG and most efficient DOING ol
which he is capable. The value of am edu-
cation lies i'm BEING and DOING, not in seem
ing and dreaming.
-Tru- worth Is boz being. mot >remiu-
Iu doing each dan H- DO goes Pos
~.m- little good. mot iu urrluiu-
OBJ great things to do by and o,
We have made this beginning in manual
uainug-its but q beginning both for its
educati0ual value and for It's practical
utility. 10 gives the pupil things instead
of their symbols; IL affords him other very
forcible means of expressing thought; 10
iiguifies labor. 10 gives mental discipline.
and renders all more versatile and fertile
iu resources.
We send this circular 90 our friends, and
most cordially invite them to visit our t.alr.
Hoping THAT we shall see You, we remain.
Yours most respectfully,
l.. s. FLEMING, Supt
GRAFTON, o.. &c.. April ~, 1900.