The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-11
FOR WORK OF HANDS.
An Industrial System for the
High School.
BOYS MUST WORK AT THE BENCH
Board Of Education Appropriates $3.50
for Purchase of Tools and Lumber
--Other Matters.

At special meeting of the school board
last night, at which ali the members of the
board were present, the sum of $3.50 was
appropriated for the purpose of purchasing
tools and materials for a system of man.
ual training to be established in connection
with the High school.
The question of manual training was
brought before the board by Professor John
w. Heston, principal Of the High school.
It was his plan TO purchase twelve sets of
carpenters tools and 500 feet of lumber and
to set apart the basement of the High
school as workroom, that work benches
be made, and everything done to establish
first-class carpenters workshop. He
did not think it necessary that the board
should employ an instructor, as one of the
professors could spare at least two hours
each day in which to form drawings on
paper for the boys to reproduce in wood,
and remain in the workroom to see that
everything went along smoothly, and that
the boys did their work. That it should
be required of every male student in the
school TO do certain amount of work in
the carpenter shop each day, and no one
would be excused, unless he should have a
written message from his parents stating
their objection to their boy performing the
work. He thought that the boys, since
all boys have constructive nature, would
be deeply interested in the feature, and it
would not be required to force them to the
bench.
Superintendent Barnard of the CITY
schools heartily endorsed Professor Hes
tons suggestions as did also several other
teachers of city schools who were present
Taking up Professor Heston's argument
the superintendent urged the appropria-
ton on the ground that boys hands
must be trained as we'll as his mind. When
sthe boy is able to reproduce with his
hands that which his mind conceives, he
has much clearer conception of the SUBJ
ject. Next year the small carpentering
shop - the commencement of a
great manual training department of the
Seattle city schools-will be enlarged and
machinery will be purchased and set up
and boys will take the next branch of
training, that of doing light machinist's
work in iron, and blacksmith's work in
forging. The superintendent gloried in
the thought that at the coming Worlds
fair at Chicago Seattle might have an at
tractive corner, showing the splendid work
of students in the Seattle industrial depart
ment of the city schools. The superintend-
ent read reports from principals of schools
all over the United States, and his argu-
ment was exhaustive in support of manual
training. The board, which had in the
meantime gone into committee of the
whole, convened and unanimously made
the appropriation.
Thomas Prosch submitted the following
resolutions to the board:
Be it resolved by the board of education, that
hereafter none but citizens OF the state shall be
engaged to teach in the public schools.
Be II further resolved, that in the EMPLOYMENT
of teachers, Qualification of candidacy being
otherwise equal preference shall be given to
graduates OF the Seattle High school, University
OF Washington and other state institutions of
higher learning.
w. Spencer objected to the first para
graph of the resolution, on the ground
that it might sometime become an absolute
necessity to send away from home to secure
a thoroughly competent teacher He
moved that the hrst paragraph be stricken
out and the last one be adopted. The
amendment was adopted.
QUESTION OF REcEssEs
The question of dispensing with recesses
in the city schools was brought up, and
Professor Twitmyer, of the Minor school,
Atkinson, South school. Jones, Denny
school, Richardson, Market school,
Brown, Rainier school, and Pagan,
OF Mercer school, presented their views.
ne professors uIuereu on the SUBJECT
different schools in different locations
seeming to create diversity of opinion.
The matter was placed in the hands of
Superintendent Barnard, with instructions
to confer with the professors and report TO
the board.
OTHER MATTERS.
The superintendent reported that the
"dry" closets in the Minor, Mercer and
| Rainier schools were in bad condition.
The building committee were instructed
to notify the Clark Steam Heating Com
pany that they must either repair the
closets or take them out.
Thomas Prosch reported that the
grounds and sidewalk in the vicinity of
the South school were in bad condition
covered with mud. 1t was agreed that the
responsible party shall be notined to clean
the mud off the sidewalks. and to-day
shade trees will be planted just outside the
grounds.
The blinds for the windows in the Mar
| ket street schoolhouse viii be taken out of
storage, and the secretary was instructed
TO draw q warrant for $50 TO pay the stor-
age. The blinds will be put in immedi-
ateiy.
On motion of Superintendent Barnard
the secretary was instructed to draw war
rants for the payment of three weeks sal
airy TO teachers, on the 10Th inst. Christ
| mas drawing near the board appreciated
the need of the extra money by the various
teachers.
The secretary was directed to draw a
warrant for 1862 to pay the city and
county taxes on the Bush street school
ground.
The secretary was instructed to draw a
warrant for 500 in favor of d. E. Blaine to
pay the interest on the Comstock block.