The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-09
UTILITY ITS MAIN IDEA
Some Radical Tuition at the
New PotrerO Grammar
School.
PUPILS FITTED FOR TRADES.
PRINCIPAL Faulkner Talks OF the
System of Manual Train
Ing There.

When the new Potrero Grammar School
is completed another era in the educa-
tional progress of that practical suburb
will be marked. Contractor Olsen's force
of men is making good progress. The
large wooden structure is of simple
colonial style of architecture, no attempts
at elaborate decoration having been made
by Architect Welsh. The school will en-
brace one of the most thorough systems OF
manual training, the main object being to
fit in practical way its pupils for future
trades and ayocations most useful to
society and beneficial to themselves. In
this particular respect the school will oc-
cupy unique position, and may be said to
be somewhat in advance of the times.
All that is scientific in school construc-
ton seems to have been brought into
requlsltlon - light, ventilation, arrange
ment OF classrooms, opportunities for rec
reatlon, hire escapes and needful accommo
tlons are cared for with view to the very
best results. The old building has been
made to serve the purpose of valuable
annex, the necessary alteration being ra&-
cal enough to satisfy the demands of utility
in instruction.
The principal, Richard D. Faulkner, is
an enthusiast in educational work, and
appreciates the value of manual training
in high degree. He has found fattering
encouragement from many sources, too,
President Henry T. Scott of the Union
Iron Works coming forward with the offer
OF position in the draughting department.
OF his big concern as prize to the boy
who, by the end of the school term, June
Z, shall have succeeded best in the branch
of mechanical drawing.
Mr.. Faulkner counts much upon the
r,1fA u
MesSrs. j. M. StOckman and r. Il. Ell
bridge. Miss Smith is product of San
Francisco training. She is a graduate of
the Cogswell Polytechnic College, class of
SO, and the normal school, class "a. Pro-
lessor Eldridge came here from Worcester,
Mass.
The school is located on lot having
frontage of $50 feet on Minnesota street
and depth of 200 feet, extending to Ten
Sierra streets. In 1877 an eight-class room
building was erected On the Minnesota
frontage of this lot. At that time it was
more than ample to accommodate the
children living near enough to attend it.
With the growth of the City, however, all
the rooms were not only needed, but addi-
tional ones were required. These were
provided from time to time as needed,
first by the erection of a two-room shed
building at the south end of the main
building, and later by another two-room
shed building at the east side, to which
was subsequently attached an additional
shed room.
AT the time of the erection of this main
building the street was not graded on one
frontage nor cut through on the other. AS
the lot itself was ungraded the Minnesota
street frontage was considerably below the
street grade on that side, where it was es-
tablished, while the Tennessee street side
was left high above and necessitated an
uusightly bulkhead, made still more
unsightly by the rough shed standing
upon it.
The work of improvement included the
replacing of the old rotten planking by
bitumen. It's entire yard is now of btu
men and is the first one of its kind in the
City. An iron fence will be run along the
Minnesota street side, contributing some
what Of the esthetic to the general appear
ance.
1.-THE introduction of manual training
means distinct advance in the education
of the City," said Principal Faulkner yes
terday afternoon, which rather radical OBJ
servation he explained in detail as follows:
1t is well known that the Potrero is dis
tinctive section of the City. Here are located
some OF the most important industrial enter
prises not only OF this City, but of this coast,
among them the Union Iron Works, Atlas Iron
Works and Western Sugar Refinery, and other
big manufactures.
A large. percentage of the residents in the
pursuit OF their various trades are thus in the
employ of these establishments, and represent
every shade of skilled and unskilled labor. OF
course the children inherit, or their environ
ment gives them, taste for mechanical pur-
suits.
1t has, therefore, been my aim since assum-
ing charge OF the school in January, 1898, to
take advantage OF the natural aptitude of the
pupils and to give to their instruction practi-
cal character. By so doing we not only fit
them in the ordinary branches for high
school or technical course, but enable them to
avail themselves OF lucrative opportunities in
the trades. After going through system of
manual training scholar can make a ready
and promising Apprenticeship knows some
thing of tools.
The first introduction of manual training
into the school was the taking up of sewing in
the four highest grades, shortly after the open
regular teachers, | taking her class when she
was thus engaged. The work was carried on
under this plan until the March vacation of
this year. was so we'll satisfied with the re-
suits of this teachers work, not only as to the
actual work accomplished but in its refining
tnfence upon the girls, that had Director
ton Committee, inspect it, with view toward
the appointment OF special teacher of this
branch and the extension of it to the
fifth grade. found Director Stone not
only interested in sewing but in the whole
subject OF manual training, and on his present.
alton OF the matter to the Board of Education
MISS Ellie Il. Smith, member of the day sub
stitute class, was appointed as special teacher
OF this branch. In addition to teaching sew
ing am specializing Miss Smith in another
line of manual training work, namely, knife
work with the boys. In fact Miss Smith will
give general supervision to all the manual
training work done in the school, except the
cooking and the elementary woodwork done
with full complement of tools. She is well
fitted for the task, as she combines technical
skill! and education with the professional
ability of a teacher.
The manual training work for primary
grades, both for boys and girls, is pretty well
systematized. There is also substantial agree
ment as to the work for girls in the grammar
grades; that is, that sewing should begin in
the fifth grade and be continued in the sixth
and SEVENTH followed by cooking in the eighth
and ninth. But the work for boys is not so
well systematized, especially in the fifth and
sixth grades. 1t IS in these grades that the
"knife work" have spoken of is being taken
up. 1t is line of work not heretofore at
tempted in the public schools of this City; in
fact it is advanced work in this country. 1t
has, however, been taken up in the Boys
Club under the instruction of Mr.. T. G. Bur-
CESS. The manual training for boys in these
grades is termed 'knife work" and the knife
is the only cutting tool used. 1t is designed to
be preliminary to the elementary woodwork
with full complement of tools, which is taken
up in the seventh, eighth and ninth grades.
The school is already fairly equipped for
the woodworking and other branches al
lrQed To hy Mr. Eaulkuer Tn mo room lie