Idaho semi-weekly world., 1893-12-05
GIRL CARPENTERS.
YOUNG WOMAN STUDENTS LEARN
HOW TO DRIVE NAILS.

The sioid Class, In which Giris Ar
Taurht How to Handle Saws, Knive
and Jack Planes. In the Normal COLLEGE
In New York City-Good Training.
In the Normal college the latest add
tion to the curriculum-the Slo]d Glass
a pronounced great success by the girls
who aynil themselves OF the opportunity
40 learn how to deftly handle saw, knife
and plune ard other tools. 1t is care
fully graded system of manual training
educational carpentering" one might call
IL. By II pupils are taught how to use their
hands skilifuIly and usefully and how to
make measurements by the eye. Inciden
tally, too, it inculcates thoroughness, care,
industry and perseverance, by means oil
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 rs 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 u 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
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
imbueu with the merits of the Slojd sys
tenn as an educational factor in the devel
opment Of children.
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 a 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
ing when the long coveted trade schools
shall be established as a part Of the public
school system.
IN THE woRKROOM.
Ispent delightful morning with these
young women recently and found them
very proficient in dovetailing, doweling
and all the other ordinary operations OF
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
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
lie of knife sharpener of soft, white wood,
;he other had started upon hydrometer,
which is designed to measure the hydraulic |
pressure of liquids, both designs being en-
lreiy utilltarian in character, all articles
II luxury being excluded from the course
Passing from one bench to another no.
iced with pleasure the rare grace and real
lexterity displayed in the manipulation of
ne tools. wouldn't be so rash as to say
hat the girls worked more etfectiv civ than
he boys would have done but | am very
ure that they worked much more prettily.
There was no clumsiness displayed any
where. No girl cut her finger, or scraped
ne skin of, or hit her thumb with a ham
ner instead of nail and used naughty
words to relieve her feelings, o. did any Of
ne awkward things that boys would have
one under similar circumstances. And
eatness and tidiness prevailed everywhere.
was evident that the girls took genuine
enght IN the work, and what people. big
ilttie, like they generally do we'll.
AI1er porlng over books and storing the
memory with as many dry facts as it will
oiu' tnls carpentering must form de {
ghtful relaxation. For that reason. IL
Or no other, | should think that it ouybt
be encouraged. But in addition to thu,
mas a genuine educational value. II
rings into play the very faculties that are
30 much neglected in the routine work of
ne educational treadmill. &
GOOD TRAINING.
u Conant. when being asked his yiewsas 8
the dlrect value of course in Slojd upon
chiia' SAID; 1T undoubtedly impapts =,
'spect and love for work even of the ,
'arser KIND 1t fosters order, cleanliness
~ oaie anu encourages attention, indus y
y ana perseverance,. One principle of Y
loJu insists that the pupil must do the l.
olk alone, the teacher simply leading
iu controlling, and hence this trainip1 h
lusC nave marked influence ON char 4
reseholy the gong sounded and the bour =,
as over. Each model was carefullv mn
way, and the music of saw and plane was p
,owneu IN The hum of voices and ripnIiny
ughter 'pp'iig
Durns the lew minutes of recreation
ao ensued the fair carpenters were fuI, of
.ioh' ana many jest and pun was K
ssed TO and fro. The sharp edges Of the ey
ois naa not blunted their wits nor tha;r III
petites as was shown by the sandwicba. 90
ey consumed. ''nos oe
Dolnng aprons and sleeves they crosso,,
hallway and entered the bright it'll Oh
'chen fully equipped for the concooti''s &C
q nsoine ",',;. edibles. Mrs. Hope, tutor Of IN
\ y ary Ill department, welcomed them ae
4 4 'en 49,. s'rl aonned fetching white CAP al
u apron and demurely listened to y ay
; Ie ..Je,'h, 1h 'he merits of cooking rice in pt
= - uouole boiler" written by member -, ~
II tbs eiass' i.s That concluded they followed y
rad sue en Instructions of Mrs. Hope and pre .
,eu LOT The broiling of chops and scran, @ Z
II, .eeS' ana the making of chocolate IL,
" er.iy t tne world moves. Here were pirlu biz
~ ~ besides absorbing more or less yaln of
,e n,H HHnowiedge ng concerning all the ednca VIC
n"i 10; oiogies' and ''isms," were actnalIv "a,
cook. WIN 'neir slS
w;nas En some some OF them make regular iewe,s cic
wives some day?-New York HaraId pol