New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-24
ALL-AROUND EDUCATION.
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF MANUAL
TRAINING IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MISS GRACE H. DODGE URGES THE EXTENSION
OF THE SYSTEM IN THIS CITY.
Now that there seems to be good prospect Of
revising the government of the public schools in
this city. a number Of people prominent IN euuca-
tonal circles have given expression TO their views
as TO how the system should be remodeIed Many
of these suggestions have been embodied in Dill
in course of preparation by the committee oil tne
Good Government clubs and it seems likely mat
this bill as finally presented to the Legislature VIII
become law. One of the people most ianihiai VIII"
the needs of the public schools IN this city Is MISS
Grace III. Dodge. Her views in general harmonic Win
the Good Government CLUB bill, which was outlined
recently by The Tribune. OF one branch OF pubic
school education, however. she is strong advocate
and that is the extension OF manual training she
believes that il should be more widely introduced
In the school system. To a Tribune reporter she
explained her ideas the subject as follows:
For many years have been deeply interested
In practical education and it is pleasant TO report
that the Board of Education was most ready 10
education" had the pleasure of sitting with COM
mittee which adopted the manual training course
snch as cooking. carpentry sewing. etc. should be
made integral part Of the school work ana
those where rooms could be assigned i9r q
carpenters shop cooking laboratory Inc schooi
course was modified for these schools and distinct ,
one adopted, and the work has proved l peueav,
have told how helpful the work has been in inter;
esting boys and girls, DEVELOPING stupid mnds' anu
zach wear the experiment has become more sue
cessful and other schools have taken up the work.
with wood work female grammar schools
with cooking and sewing and two mixed d Schools Schools
IS taught in work Urinary
ec'. is found now in nearly all the schools. well
regular kinderTartens, but others will be started
The time ha. passed when manual training i IS
and the only problem is how can II be extensively
introduced Inventions for reducing the
and making work more practical nave mu.Iipneu'
and now the matter can be urged as never dd o rho
social conditions and needs OF modern lfe which
claim that every boy or girl shall learn TO use
as well as to sew. cook and TO take responsibilities
at home the other. which is more important the
requires at every stage of its development the prac-
teal exercises afforded by contact with clay paper
cloth. wood and iron in the various processes OF
modelling. drawing and construction in its various
A college president defines the value Of this edu-
cation follows: I'm manual training there are re
no rote work The pupil deceive neither himself
nor his teacher. His work. not his words. is the
needs no proof if false. d is false on its face. This
training In exactness. order precision; framing IN
truth and honesty with self-this is manual train,
attention has been paid TO the one side. which in
feaeaTes private Schools have long since
this side OF the work and we nave nov he scno3r
simply day instruction, for in them the hand; the
eye and body developed. as well as the mind
1t is worthy of note that the mind also develops
more rapidly when practical work is undertaken;
and that those who enter our colleges from manual
training schools are better prepared than other
young people 1t should not mean overcrowdng.
either studies adapted to the needs and teach-
ers testify that school work so easy as
since the adoption of the new educational theories
Childhood is being studied as never before;
and all realizing that education IN It's broad
meaning begin too early. and that there-
fore kndergartens are necessary. No words or
mine can tell what Froebe has done for the child
rem of the world and surely all want TO urge
that the little ones of city be considered by the
city and that kndergartens should multiply.
| am not member OF the Educationa Commit
OF the Good Government clubs and knew MOTH
ing OF it's formation until three weeks ago. am
glad. however that ii asks for more extern
sve application of the great educational advantages
provided for already in the course OF study, . pat
available thus far to few. am especially glad that
the Good Government committee passed at It's last
meeting the following resolution: whereas the
Board Of Education has accepted the kindergarten
and manual training work for certain schools. be
II resolved that apply for more universal APP
plication Of the in other parts of the city.
All people interested in the welfare OF the pub
lie schools should uphold the committee In pre-
senting the claims of this necessary education. The
great difficulty has been in getting sufficient appro-
prations. The Board Of Estimate and Apporton-
ment should be urged TO grant more money for this