The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1894-01-17
THE sLoYD SYSTEM.
Graded Manual Training New Idea
Struck the Coast.

SCruck tne Ooust'
In a late San Francisco paper is
some description Of an educational
notion, new in the United States
but which has been in vogue twenty
years in Sweden. 1t is called the
"Sloyd System" and its advent ON
the Coast is due to a visit from Gus
tat LARSON, principal Of the Sloyd
Training School OF Boston. He
came to Oakland at the instance OF
Miss Blake, who proposes to incor-
porate his ideas into her school.
Mr.. Larson in q lecture at the
Oakland High School, delivered at
the instance Of Mrs. Charles Webb
Howard, explained to the interested
audience his methods and how his
system differs from what is known
and practiced in San Francisco and
Oakland as manual training. The
idea Of industrial training, carpen-
try, or, as the so-called practical
man says, "learning a trade" is what
is attempted in these cities, and all
this, he says, is furthest from the
idea Of sloyd.
The sloyd system has its origin in
Sweden, where IL has been practiced
for over twenty years. This word
sloyd means manual training for the
sake OF general development, physi-
cal, mental and moral, and II also
means q kind of hand work which
will best stimulate the right kind Of
head work.
The methods are based on the fol.
lowing ideas: The exercises should
follow in a progressive order from
the simple to the complex without
an injurious break. There should
be the greatest possible variety,
avoiding too great mental tension,
confusion or physical strain. Some
useful and complete article should
be the result sought at the very out
set. Beauty Of form and proportion
should DO united to utility. A begin.
ming is made with children Just out
Of the kindergarten. Drawing from
models is the first step. The knife
is the first and fundamental tool
Sloyd demands a carefully trained
teacher.
The report in the Call, from which
the foregoing is culled, concludes a.
follows:
This is the point which the Oak
land reformers FIRST propose to win
The Oakland School Depart men,
has an adequate sum Of money which
II intends to devote to manual train
ing.
There seems little doubt that Ia,
Oakland schools will be the first /,
incorporate the Sloyd system. Sup
erintendent McClymonds and Prin
cipM McChesney took Mr.. LARSON I,
the educational convention nj Stock
ton on Friday evening. Mr.. Larsso,
will meet the Berkeley, Palo Alt,
and local educators in the artroom
OF Mr.. Vickery, POI Post street.
Letters from Senator George G
Q Perkins and Francis A. Walker, pre-
: sident OF the Massachusetts 1nsti
tute OF Technology, have addet
much to the enthusiasm Of the re-
formers. General Walker in hi
" letter to Mrs. Howard says char
enthusiastically:
"While there is much extrava
gance aud some folly in tho utter
ances OF those who strongly favo
this kind Of instruction l ON con
WINGED that IL Is to bring almost in
calculable blessings, social, educa
tional, personal, to the next genera
tion.'
After referring her to publication
7 on the subject he says:
81 have one other utterance yet /,
make. When that will come l d.
not know, but my mind has bee
dwelling lately on the value OF man
r ual training as means OF strength
ening weak cords and tendon,
Strengthening crooked limbs an,
z twisted joints, aud correcting Il,
y formities and infrmities general
in the mind. When wa go to a
orthopedic hospital We arc shocke
and disheartened, but We consol
ourselves by saying, We'll, IL is bu
one child in a thousand who come
q here We go to schoolroom an
v look about on room full (too full
OF course) Of children with prett,
bright faces, who can answer lots {
questions too many, in fact) and d
lots OF things, and We do not inspeG
" the existence OF mental defects {
4 one kind or another. 1t is my belle
that manual training is coming in
correct, straighten aud strengthe
. minds OF the children much as til
. orthopedic surgery does their d,
formed feet. / don't believe tn.
with a generation OF men trained
:, the mechanic arts there would
: one railroad accident where thel
- are now fve."
These are also the sentiments {
Mrs. Howard and her disciples. I'll
present head OF the manual trainin
!, department Of Oakland calls all tn
y bosh. Which argument will preva
with the School Directors will SOC
DO known, and the educational hui
bub will then subside to the owe
tnnnr nf .ra.