The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-12-29


forces and forms of nature. Who can
doubt that the pupil who has learned to
pc exact in his work, and withal, in
dustrious, has begun to lay the founda-
tlons Tor future moral attaiments? Many
instances might be cited to support the
moral effect of Manual Training upon
boys of low moral character
Ihe physical benefit, too, is conspicu-
GUS. The hand becomes apt, the eye ac-
curate, and the muscles of the body firm
and strong and finally an air of self reli-
ance will often be observed to have
taken the place of timidity and hesita-
tion.
The theory of equality finds great favor
with Americans, as a theory, but some
of us, though we speak of it as some
thing essential in a Repu bile, often draw
absurd lines of social distinction between
ourselves and others, and our children
are reared to speak of trades people and
artisans in patronizing way. How
beneficial to such children is Manual
Training; quite as beneficial. it will be
seen, as to those whom they have been
taught to regard as their interiors in the
social scale. Said prominent teacher
of Manal Training in Boston, have
been surprised to see what an obliterator
of social udlceManual Training is. and
to notice how the sentiments of a certain
class Of people have changed towards
quired the use of the square and the fore
plane"
To DR.. Runkle of the Institute of Tech
nology in Boston belongs the honor of
Introducing Manual Training into the
United States. This system of education
as been in operation in Portland but a
few months, yet long enough to COM
mend itself to the good opinion of all
who have given it attention. One Of our
best teachers said: "The manual work
acts AS kind of diversion to the boys,
and they return to. their regular work
with more zest and are able to accom-
pl1sh more than enough to make up for
lost time.
So much for the Manual Training
school in Portland Though established
but few months it is no longer an ex-
pertinent 1t is however circumscribed
in its efficiency, and should he extended.
| do rot, however, plead for it's extern
sion in Portland. plead for it's extern
sion over the State, nay more, over the
entire Union, America wants whole
men. men with brains and heads and
hands trained to efficient service. Let
the churches teach creeds. Neither Pro-
testantism nor Catholicism, Buddhism
nor lslamism, Judism nor Agnosticism,
nor any of the perplexing multiplicity of
1sms, W hich have learned all mysteries,
must have q place in our American
l. u oDilC CCuOOl. UcllcVCs however,, UucU
the Ten Commandments and the beati-
tudes should be read in the school
and the Lora's prayer repeated
daily, and that great benefit
to the pupils would result from thor
ough knowledge of them. Those who do
not admit them to be of divine origin.
must admit that they are good oral
precepts, and certainly there is no church
calling itself Christian which does not
regard them as of vital Importance to
mankind, and if this be SO, they cannot
object to having them taught to their
children in the public school. If am
mistaken in this, 1 should have to say,
SO much worse for such a church. In
our American pub blic school no foreigner
should find a place, it should be for
Americans alone. Every child when he
enters this school though his par
entage be Russian, Jewish, French,
Irish, German, Italian or anything else,
becomes an American. and should be
taught to value the title Let us then
have school in which the whole man
can be trained, and so realize the dream
of Bacon and Froebel.
After an intermission OF five minutes
there was brief discussion of manual
training methods, and Mr.. Schuertz, the
manual teacher of Portland was called
upon to make few informal remarks in
regard to the work and progress of the
students in his department. The ques-
tion was asked, "Why can't girls take
the course?" Mr.. Schuertz replied that
he thought their time could be better
occupied, in learning cooking and sew
ing.
Mrs. Burlington, president of the W..
CT. U., of Belfast, followed, giving a
brief and interesting address on women
in Industrial Education"
After paper on Reading in the
Public Schools" by Miss Laughton of
Worcester, Mass, the meeting adjourned.