Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-15
MANUAL TRAINING.

MANUAL TRAINING.
How 1t IL Being Conducted in the Public
/ IT COMMENCED IN A SMALL WAY, But HAS PRO-
aREssEp RAPIDLY DURING THE PAST FIVE
YEARs-rHE MANY BRANCHES OF INDUSTRY
THAT ARE COVERED By fNsTRUcrroy-THE Ex-
HIBITIoS TOMORROW.
There is no city in the land in which a more
thoroughly rounded out education is to be had
than in Washington. From the time the child
enters school he receives systematic develop
ment in the use Of his eyes, his head and his
hands
Manual training, as understood by educators
Of the present day. includes every branch in
the course of study in which the hand does a
part. 1t includes clay modelling. paper cutting
and folding In the lower grades; paper model
making, sewing, cooking and carpentry in the
upper grades; cooking, free hand and mechani-
cal drawing, molding, forging and machine
work in wood and metal and work in the
science laboratories Of the high school and free
hand drawing in all schools.
ORIGIN OF MANUAL TRAINING HERE.
But it is Of manual training in its more gen.
orally accepted term that 3 STAR reporter
wishes to tell, and especially Of the progress
made in that branch in the Warrington schools
during the last five years. At the opening Of
the high school in the fall Of 1885 steps were
taken toward the establishment Of workshop
in which the boys might gain a rudimentary
knowledge Of the use OF common tools. Com
missioner Webb. upon visiting the school, be-
came much interested in the plan and through
his effort the shop was made ready for use
March l, 1885. The equipment, which was
originally for woodwork only, consisted Of two
cabinet work benches. sets Of tools for twelve
bows lathe and twelve-inch circular saw,
and was set up in the southwest room of the
High School basement. The power required
was furnished by an engine Of eight horse
power, which was also used for running the
ventilating fan.
THE FIRST INSTRUCTOR.
Prof. c. Herschel koyl. who was then instruc-
tor in physics, undertook the care Of this new
branch and following his direction the sixty
boys who had been chosen from the second and
third year classes on account of excellent con-
duct obtained creditable knowledge Of the ham,
mer saw. brace and bit and planes. They util-
lied this knowledge in making modelling boards
for the drawing room and stands for the physi-
cal laboratory. In September, 1886, MIR. Walter
G. Wesson was appointed instructor in manual
training and from that time the branch has
made great progress. The first day that Mr..
Wesson appeared he had several boys to assist
him in planning the work benches and fitting
the shop for the regular classes. From the
time of Mr.. NELSON'S appointment every boy
in the High School who has so desired has
ceived two hours instruction each week in
manual training.
THE FIRST REAL APPROPRIATION.
For the school year 1888 %, 900 were ap-
propriated for providing the necessary tools
and apparatus for establishing a manual train
ing and cooking school, and in September,
1887. building opposite the High School was
rented and fitted for q manual training school,
and the same year schools were also established
in the Peabody annex building on Capitol Hill
and in the baseme mt of the Jefferson building
in South Washington.
By these additions it was possible 10 give in
struction in carpentry to the seventh and eighth
grade bors. The High School boys who had
already had carpentry began work on the lathes
and in the latter part Of the year instruction in
forging was also given to the advanced High
School classes. With the additional shops
since established, the whole number being now
thirteen. boys are enabled to begin wood work
in the seventh grade. so that they now COM
plete the course in wood in the first year OF the
High School and have forging in the second
year and machine-shop work in iron and steel
in the third year.
THE MONEY NOW AVAILABLE
The sum Of $4,000 was appropriated to fur
nish the equipment for this years manual
training. This amount covered the cost in both
white and colored schools Of tools for boys
shops, utensils in cooking schools, cooking
supplies for all the classes and equipment for
sewing schools. When it can be said that the
whole cost Of supplies for this grand work is SO
small an amount it is certain that no objection
can be raised against continuing 1t.
The teachers who are in charge Of the manual
training are Mr.. J. A. Chamberlain, director;
Mr.. A. J. Gardner, instructor in metal work.
ing and wood turning.
There will be an exhibition of the work done
in the schools tomorrow, which will be open to
the public, and the instructors and those in
terested in this branch Of education hope that
all parents will attend in order to zee for them
selves something of the work that is being