Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-29

in New York City-Good Training.
In the Normal college the latest addi
ton to the curriculum-the Sloid class
Is pronounced Il great success by the GirlN
who avail themselves of the opportunity
TO learn how to deity handle saw, knife
and plane and other tools. II is Il cast
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 TO
make measurements by the eye. lnciden
tally too, it inculcates thoroughness, care.
industry and perseverance, by means OF
which only can the highest success be
achieved
The Sloid 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 wealthy gen
tleman named AbrahamsOn has devoted
his own charming villa and estate at Mas
near Gothenburg, to be used as Il 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 a
course of six weeks, during which she
worked for six hours every day at the
bench and listened to lectures on the the
Dry, she returned to America thoroughly
imbued with the merits of the Slojd syS
TEN 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 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 Il part of the public
school system.
IN THE woRKRoOM
spent delightful morning with these
young women recently, and found them
very proficient in dovetailing, doweiug
and all the other ordinary operations of
carpentering.
Each girl wore large Bingham apron
and began operations by arranging the
tools Oh 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 han
die of Il knife sharpener of soft, white wood.
the other had started upon Il 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 rea.
deXterity displayed in the manipulation of
the tools. | wouldn't he 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 a ham
mer instead Of a 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 peopIe. his,
or little, like they generally do we'll
After porting over books and storing the
with as many dry facts AS If will
hold, this carpenterng must form q do
lightful relaxation. For that reason if
for no other, should think that it ouoht
to be encouraged. But in addition To thai
1t has IA genuine educational value. II
brings into play the very faculties that are
too much neglected in the routine work Of
The educational treadmll.
GOOD TRAINING.
DIR. Conant. when being asked his viavs .s
to the direct value of a course in Sloid nnon
child, said: ut undoubtedly impIants a
respect and love for work even of tbe
'oarser kind, 1t fosters order, cleanliness
ina care and encourages attention. indus
Try and perseverance, One princinIa of
oloJd insists that the pupil must do
work alone, the teacher simnlv laaIin,,
IND controlling, and hence this trainin,,
must have marked influence on char
lcter." 0' ''''r
Presently the gong sounded and the borr
vas over. Each model was carefully nmt
away, and the music of saw and nlan. r.,',
drowned in the hum of voices and rinr,linI,
aughter tr''S
During the few minutes of racre,tio,
hat ensued the fair carpenters were fn 'I Of
and many Il lest and nm ,ro.
ossed to and fro The sharp edges of rho g
ools had not blunted their wits nor than +
ppetltes, as was shown by the sandwicha. g
hey consumed 'e''e'
Doffing aprons and sleeves they cro,,od
ne hallway and entered the bright IittIa U
ltchen fully equipped for the concoctin,, C
| toothsome edibles. Mrs. Hone tutor nf il
he culinary department, welcomed tHan, a
nd each girl donned "A fetching white c,,n a
nd apron and demurely listened to n
reatlse on the merits of cooking rico i,
ne double boiler" written by memhar
the class. That concluded they foIIou.ai :
Ut the Instructions of Mrs. Hone and nro
ared Tor the broiling of chops and scr,n, u
ing OF eggs, and the making of cboco,nta II
verify the world moves. Here wera ,r;rr. h
mo- besides absorbing more or less vaim O
pie knowledge concerning all the educ, "
onal "ologies" and ''isms," were actnaIt'- a.
earning how to do useful work with thai, =;
ands-and cook. '''''r 81
won't some of them make reyuI.r io,s, &
wives some day?-New York Herald p
M
EDWARD Waldo Emerson, the !ecturer 10
son OF Ralph Waldo Emerson tha -. "