The morning call., 1893-12-30
TALKS ON SLOYD.
San Francisco Educators
Interested.
Mr.. Gustaf LARSON of Boston and the
New Manual Training-Adopted
by the Boys Club.

T., Gustaf LARSON, the Boston teacher who is
now Interesting the educators and people of
this city In the theories and methods OF the
sloyds system of manual training. made two
talks yesterday, one al O'Clock at the home Of
Mrs. w. b. Bourns. 2O20 Broadway, and an
other in the evening at the art rooms of w. j.
Vickery on Post street.
Mr.. LARSON told CALL reporter last even
ing that the interest and enthusiasm with which
his work had been received on this coast were
entirely unexpected.
although" said he, sir has been raining
during most OF the time have been here, the
sunshine OF the people has more than made up
forit- My visit In this city, IN Oakland and in
Stockton has been delight TO me 20 degree
which l cannot adequately express. AT the
head of my schO oil in Boston is Mrs. Quincy A
Shaw, a daughter of AGassiz Miss Blake Of
Santa Barbara has established slOyd i'll the
public school system at Santa Barbara at her
own expense. / am out here at her instance 10
Inspect and criticize the work there. l Will
spend next week at santa Barbara, going then
TO Pasadena an back to Boston"
The teacher was asked the best method OF
introducing sloyd and also the cost.
''Sloyd is now in all the Boston and Phila-
delphla schools and has just been adopted by
Chicago. would first establish in this city a
tfainins-school for twenty teachers. The
equipment complete OF such room with tools
ana apparatus would be S495. Tie cost of
bringing out competent Instructor for year
would raise Ibis sum TO $1,000. estimate
that it would cost San Francisco TO have our
system in all OF the public schools about $4,000.
"ln England and Swed-n especially sOyd
Is In general practice. The result is seen
everywhere, even III the humblest peasants
cottage, where the beautiful wood Ornamental
tons which surprise the stranger are really the
expression OF the incubation OF sloyd
"a word about our methods: We use thirty
seven tools and the course extends over three
years at the rae OF two hours week. To
prevent STOPPING the child works standing up.
he hrst spends three-fourths of an hour draw
piece of wood and with his knife
produces wedge. This is the first
exercise. From that by easy gradations useful
ana beautiful articles are completed. There is
constant appeal made 10 the MIND OF the
enid. The variety keeps him always lne
ested. Not infrequenty classes of boys will
come aud ask that they may have lesson on a
holiday.
Il wish to emphasize very strongly that Just
so long as the criticism of the completed object
forms the basis of judgment there will be as
many systems as there are persons 10 make
new models, and the educational value OF
motive and the significance of the progression
OF exercises is understood can the value of any
system OF work be estimated"
DIR. L. X. Brown and Mrs. W. B. BOurns are
Mr.. Larsson's sponsors in This city. President
Hyde and Directors Synmes. Ames and Dem
man OF the school board were among the inter-
ested auditors, and II is safe TO predict Greet
results here.
These results will first be manifested through
The Harris0n-str Boys Club, which has pur-
chased complete outfit OF tools and models.
ana Is now endeavoring TO raise 5000, m order
10 nave class In sloyd at the MiGwnter Fair.
This Will be the best possible way 10 bring this
coast 10 The immediate adoption OF sloyd.
Mr.. Larson leaves for the south to-day. He
VIII return next fall as a normal teacher, If it
IS decided 10 introduce the system into The pub.
Tic schools OF San Francisco.