The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-08
Young Woman Students Learn How
to Drive Nails.
THEIR SUCCESSFUL TRAINING.
The sIojd Class, in Which Girls are Taught
How to Handle Saws, Knives and
Jack Planes, In the Normal College in
New York City.

and plane and other tools. Ii Is care
fully graded system Of manual training
educational carpentering" one might call
It, BY it pupils are taught how TO use their
hands skillfully and usefully and how 10
make measurements by the eye. inciden
tally, too, it inculcates thoroughness. care,
industry and perseverance, by means OF
which only can the highest success be
achieved.
The Slojd idea was conceived in 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 n wealthy gen
tleman named Abrahamson has devoted
his own charming villa and estate at Mas.
near Gothenburg. to be used as a Slojd
academy.
Teachers from points rs 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 DIR. Emily Ida Conant, professor Of
pedagogy at the Normal college After a
course Of six weeks, during which she
worked for six hours every day AT the
bench and listened to lectures on the the
ory, she returned to America thoroughly
imbued with the merits OF the Slojd sys
tenn as an educational factor in the devel
opment of children.
IA Another trip TO Sweden confirmed the
first impression, and after several confer
ences with 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 a 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
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 han
die of n 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 utilitsrian 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, nut | 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 n 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 well.
After poring over books and storing the
memory with as many dry facts as it will
hold, this carpentering must form de
hghtful relaxation. For that reason. If
for no other, should think that it ought
to be encouraged. But in addition 10 that
It has 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 course in Sloid upon
child, said; ut undoubtedly impants a
respect and love for work even of the
coarser kind IL 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
animation, and many jest and pun was
tossed TO and fro, The sharp edges Of the
tools had not bluntcd their wits nor their
appetites, "a was shown by the sandwiches
they consumed.
Dolling aprons and sleeves they crossed
the hallway aud entered the bright little
kitchen fully equipped for the concocting
of toothsome edibles. Mrs. Hope, tutor Of
the culinary department, welcomed them
and each girl donned fetching white cap
and apron aud denurely listened to "a
treatise on the merits OF cooking rice in
the double b)iler," written by "A member
Of the class That concluded they followed
out the itstru tions of Mrs Hope and pre-
pared for the proiing Of chops and scram
bling Of eggs, and the making of chocolate.
Verify the world moves Here were girls
who, besides absorbing more or less valu
able knowledge concerning all the educa
tional 'olOgies' aud "isms," were actually
learning how todo useful work with their
hnnds-and cook
Won't some u them make regular jewels
II