The Portland daily press., 1893-11-09
MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOL.
A Most valuable Addition to the Schools
of Portland.

Yesterday afternoon, Mayor Baxter,
Aldermen MCGOWAN and Tolman. ex-
Mayors Libby and Melcher. Superintend-
ent Lord and number of other gentle
men visited the new manual training
school now in full operation in the base
ment of the Butler school building. The
party was received by Mr.. Andrews,
principal of the Butler school, and by
Mr.. Schuerch, principal of the training
school.
When Mr.. Baxter, in his message, an
nounced his intention of devoting his
salary to this object, the establishment
of school where every boy could learn
trade that would enable him to get his
living if necessity required, he conferred
great blessing on the growth of this
city. In Germany, every child, even the
son of the Kaiser, has to learn trade,
as we'll as some musical instrument, so
that whatever befalls him there is no
need of his becoming a tax upon the
town in which he lives unless disauali-
fed by sickness.
There are two Of these schools in Port
land, one at the North School and the
one visited yesterday in the basement of
Butler school. There are twelve classes
of 80 boys each, or 800 boys in all. The
pupils of the first and second classes in
all the grammar schools are instructed
in manual training. Those in the West,
Butler and jackson schools have their
instruction in the Butler school house.
and those in the Smaller, North and Gen.
tire street schools in the North school
house. Each pupil spends three hours a
week in the shop, except the first classes
of the West, Butler. and Jackson schools,
the pupils of which 60 there but once in
two weeks. 1t was found impossible to
attend to all the pupils in the first and
second classes once a week. Each pupil
wears white apron, and is furnished
small carpenters bench, provided with
all the common tools used by carpen-
ter. There are cases of pigeon holes in
which the boys keep their work, each
pupil having box of his own, in which
nothing is deposited except what he has
himself made. There are blackboards
for the teachers use. on which instruc-
tions and dimensions are written and
kept in view of the whole class.
The exercise with the marking guage
was the first one given to the pupils at
the opening of the term several weeks
ago. Later they were taught how to
use the saw, the hammer and other
tools. The work yesterday afternoon
was the manufacture of boxes having
three compartme First, the board,
planed to the proper thickness, but hav-
ing rough edges, was given them. The
dimensions to which it must be worked
were put on the blackboard, say 10 inch
es long by 8 1-2 inches wide. Each boy
was expected to make his board measure
exactly like this each way, and to have it
square by testing with the try square.
Two Of these boards formed the sides of
the box. After they were finished in
exact counterpart, the ends were made
in the same way. Then the bottom was
shaped, and the partings between the
compartments. Then the teacher ex-
planned to the lads what the parts were
for and how they were to be nailed to-
gether, and the pupils for the first time
knew what they were making.
Each session Of the manual training
school is three hours, forenoon and after
noon. The first two hours are devoted
to the carpenter work described above
The last hour is given to instruction in
mechanical drawing. The success of
the training in the schools is so obvious
at the present time, and it's benefits to
the pupils are so apparent that there can
be no doubt of Its permanently The
training room has this year been made
part of the regular work, and pupils who
take it are required to be as punctual
and continuous in their attendance as
upon their other school exercises.
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