The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-04

Taught How to Handle Saws, Knives
and Jack Planes, in the Normal College
in New York City-Good Training.
In the Normal college the latest add
ton to the curriculum-the Slojd class
Is pronounced a great success by the girls
who avail themselves Of the opportunity
to learn how TO deity handle saw, knife
and plane aid other tools. 1t is a care
fully graded system of manual training
educational carpenteung" one might call
it. By it pupils are taught how to use their
hands skillfully and usefully and how to
make measurements by the eye. InciGen
tally, too, it inculcates thorou ghness. care.
industry and perseverance, by means of
which only can the highest success be
achieved.
The SloJd idea was conceived n Sweden
and has proved wonderfully successful!
there. IN fact, so enthusiastic are the
Swedes as to the benefits TO be derived
from course in Slojd that a wealthy gen
tleman named Abrahamson has devoted
his own charming villa and estate at Mas
near Gothenburg, TO be used as Slojd
academy.
Teachers from points as far separated as
Holland, Iceland, Chill and the United
States here meet during the summer
months to learn for themselves the merits
Of the system. Among the first to go from
this city in 1887, and at her own expense
was DR.. Emily Ida Conant, professor of
pedagogy at the Normal college. After q
course of six weeks, during which she
worked for six hours every day at the
bench and listened TO lectures on the
orr, she returned to America thorough,
imbued with the merits of the Slojd sys-
tenn as an educational factor in the devel-
opment of children.
Another trip TO Sweden confirmed the
first impression, and after several confer
ences with a committee from the board Of
education it was decided to establish
such class in the Normal college for such
of the graduates as could secure a scholar
ship.
Twelve young women have attained the
proud distinction, and now the Misses
Baum, Beattie, Bole, Burlinson, Gilbert,
Kornman, Levine, Meehan, Moore,
Rhoades, Silberburg and Wittkowski are
fitting themselves to teach manual train
ing when the long coveted trade schools
shall be established as part of the public
school system.
IN THE woRKRooM.
spent delightful morning with these
young women recently, and found them
very proficient in dovetailing doweling
and all the other ordinary operations of
carpentering.
Each girl wore large gingham apron
and began operations by arranging the
tools on the framework in front of her.
neatly hanging the cross, rip and back
saws TO the left and the jack and smooth
planes to the right, while the divider. file,
ruler, knife and marking gauge were safely
stored in the lower rack. The place Of
honor was given TO the drawing board
upon which was safely secured the draw
ing of the model under consideration.
These drawings are made in pen and ink
from the object itself by accurate measure
ment and serve as working diagrams.
One-half the class was completing the ham
die OF a knife sharpener OF soft, white wood;
the other had started upon hydrometer.
which is designed to measure the hydraulic
pressure of liquids. both designs being en-
tirely utilitarian in character, all articles
of luxury being excluded from the course.
Passing from one bench to another no
ticed with pleasure the rare grace and real
dexterity displayed in the manipulation of
the tools. | wouldn't be SO rash as to say
that the girls worked more effectively than
the boys would have done. but | am very
sure that they worked much more prettily.
There was no clUmsiness displayed any
where. No girl cut her finger, or scraped
the skin off or hit her thumb with a ham
mer instead of nail and used naughty
words to relieve her feelings, o. did any OF
the awkward things that boys would have
done under similar circumstances. And
neatness and tidiness prevailed everywhere.
1t was evident that the girls took genuine
delight in the work, and what people, big
or little, like they generally do we'll
After porting over books and storing the
with as many dry facts as it will
hold, this carpenteying must form a de-
hghtful relaxation For that reason. if
for no other | should think that it ought
to be encouraged. But in addition TO that
it has a genuine educational value. 1t
brings into play the very faculties that are
too much neglected in the routine work Of
the educational treadmill
GOOD TRAINING.
DR.. Conant, when being asked his views as
to the direct value of a course in Slo;d upon
q child, said: 1t undoubtedly implants a
respect and love for work even of the
coarser kind 1t fosters order, cleanliness
and care and encourages attention, indus
try and perseverance. One principle Of
Slojd insists that the pupil must do the
work alone, the teacher simply leading
and controlling, and hence this training
must have marked influence on char
acter."
Presently the gong sounded and the hour
was over. Each model was carefully put
away, and the music OF saw and plane was
drowned in the hum of voices and ripping
laughter
During the few minutes Of recreation
that ensued the fair carpenters were full OF
and many jest and pm was
tossed to and fro The sharp edges OF the
tools had not blunted their wits nor their
appetites, as was shown by the sandwiches
they consumed.
Doffng aprons and sleeves they crossed
.he hallway and entered the bright little |
kitchen fully equipped for the connecting |
of toOthsome edibles. Mrs. Hope, tutor Of !
he culinary department, welcomed them,
and each girl doomed a fetching white cap
md apron aud oemurely listened TO a
treatise on the merits Of cooking rice IN
he double boiler" written by member
u the class. That concluded they followed (
'ut the instructions OF Mrs Hope and pre-
Jared for the broil.ng OF chops and sCram- /
bling Of eggs, and the making OF chocolate
Verify the world moves Here we're girls /
who, besides absorbing more or less valu- (
able knowledge concerning all the ecUca-
loral 'ologies' and '-isus, were actually
earning how 10 DO useful vvork with their
lauds-and cook
Won't some OF them make regular jewels