Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-30
The Little S,oedish Teacher.

pupils; or it may be the fascination of the
work or a combination of all three;
but, that the earnestness and inter-
est is felt by both teacher and
pupil is fully demonstrated, each and every
| day, and with all grades of students, from
the tiny tot, who is not allowed to handle a
knife for fear of cutting the little fingers
instead of'the wood, up to the maiden OF
more advanced age, who, with all conf
fdence, whittles out ruler or pointer with
sharp-edged knife.
The male students are Just as much en-
crossed in the study-and in the teacher,
judging from the numerous questions they
find it necessary to ask her and the many
times a consultation is required before an
advanced step in the manufacture of the ar
ticle can be taken-as are the young ladies;
but it does not seem as odd to
see them handling knife, saw
and little girls. The study seems more ap-
propriate for them, as from the time boy
discards his rattle-box he pines for a nail
and hammer, and ST. Nicholas always re-
members him with tool box, with the con-
tents of which he mars and mutilates every
thing within his reach, but Miss Esselius
affirms that they do not accomplish any
more or better results from their supposed
adaptation to the tools than their sisters do.
And the superior patronizing smile with
which the youth was wont to favor the fe-
male sex when successfully manipulating a
knife and stick is never seen in the little
carpentering shop in California.
WHO THE TEACHER is.
The teacher, Miss Esselius, is a native of
Liveden. and graduate of the famous
Sloyd schools that furnish the most killed
workmen of any schools of the kind in the
L., III.
perfectly rounded form, a charmingly frank
ple1ion and the golden hair for which the
Swedish nation is noted. She has only been
i'll America one year, and has spent most of
the time in the Normal school, having been
engaged by DR.. Theodore Moss, the Presi
dent of the college, conditionally. but re-
tanned by him Internationally, as the con-
ditIons referred to the success of the expert
ment, and it has been wonderfully success
full. In TACT, it is now very important
feature of the institution.
Apropos of Miss Esseiius, Superintendent
George Luckey told of her first interview
with him the other day, and while it was
not intended for publication, there certainly
is no harm in reproducing it. The lady,
Immediately upon her arrival in Pittsburg,
called upon Mr.. Luckey and applied Tor a
position in the Pittsburg schools. Mr..
Luckey, while-he hopes ultimately to intro
duce the industrial training speciality into
the public schools, was not prepared to take
the step at that time, but realizing the i'm
portance of the work, and being much
pIeased with the little Swedish girl, he
suggested the adyisability Of her seeing
DR.. Moss, but advised Miss Esselius to as
sumo a more Americanized garb before do
ing so, as she at that time wore a short
nd har hair hroi od har hoo
and consequently looked about Is years of
age, although she was 20 years old. The
young lady accepted Mr.. Luckey's advice,
for it was given in kindly spirit, and she
returned to his office in her long gown for
his approval before going up to California.
A COMPLETE SUCCESS.
AS before stated she was at once engaged,
and has spent the year in teaching the
young idea how to sew and file and hammer
and plane and whittle and sand paper.
The course is divided into two parts-the
first, or little Sloyd, as the teacher calls it.
is naturally designed for the beginner, and
necessitates only the use of the more harm
less-looking tools. The very first step is
learning to saw straight; then the pupils
are taught to saw across the wood, and
although they are not instructed to saw
crooked, great many of them do so. After
far also, and then they are taught a more
difficult feat-that of saving or filing round;
OF course, in all of the following patterns
which they are taught to draw themselves. |
The preliminary steps learned, the more |
interesting features are reached where the |
real manufacturing business commences. |
Miniature garden implements of all kinds |
are manufactured, palettes. rolling pins,
hammer handles, penholders, tiny sleds, |
towel racks, butter paddles, and ever so
many pretty things that are made as &C.
curately as possible, and finished with sand
paper and vanished in excellent style.
A more interesting scene cannot be i'm
agined than the little worshop when filled |
with class, whether from the model school,
consisting of pupils from to 8 years of age,
who, with their little faces all animation,
struggle with a piece Of wood and some
kind of tool, or with the more mature
young ladies and gentlemen who, with none
the less animated countenances, bend heads
low over their work. DR.. Moss says it is