The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-22

othef nationalitips, simply because
manual training has existed longer i'm
Germany than here Attention. obser-
Fation accuracy, ncatncss. patience
ana perseverance, can he much more
;tbly taught these children through
manual raining than through any text
DOCK, rs III me latter Instance il Is dii
licuit for both teacher and pupil to
know anything of the degree OF a;:cu-
ton given. But if told la do some
thing accurately, the attention must bc
perfect. and the result tells both teach
cr and pupil where IL was at fault
thereby cuitivating critical observation
ms wei. And in no instance does the
teacher show them how 10 ia the. work,
nut stands ut Il blackboard or a canva.
III tail frame and explains with :rcat-
est accuracy. how ii is - be- done. which
requires special discipline in the art Of
expression. and ii rarely. happens when
she goes around To inspect tho work
Tat amy child has failed 10 produce
something They are all very earnest in
trying, as failure To do SO argues n
lack of power.
TIE NEW SYSTEM
There are six grades i'll this "Systc-
matte Sewing" and the whole course
REQUIRES six years. One teacher
teaches only one stitch. and when a
child does this perfectly she is gradu-
atcd into the next class
The first stitch in the course is run
taught just whore it is proper to us,.
tn" running stitch. Canvas with col
ored wool Is first used. as il gives the
direction. length and distance Of
stitches. The first work on muslin
must be on Very coarse quality, so that
they can count the threads Just as
far as possible each pupil must cut
ana prepare her own work, as doing so
gives her q lesson in economy. jlidg-
mcnt and invention. They are taught
10 always thread a needle with the end
from the spool as ii works more
smoothly and is less likely to snarl.
They are always shown perfect models
50 that they will have high ideal. and
The standard must never be lowered.
No Imperfect stitches are allowed to re-
main in their work. and perfect clcanli-
ness is insisted Upon.
rs reward of merit n funny figure
or their initials may be drawn in their
work which they can do in this same
running stitch. The children are most
happy ana Interested in this work 4
great point is made of having them
comfortably seated. and each has n lit
tie box with all necessary Implements
ihimblc. needles. cotton. emery, etc.
and little bag of scraps. and the sell
ing OF these scraps keeps them in nee
dies.
TRAINING THE MIND.
As the brain is particularly receptive
when the hands are employed, while
the children are sewing the teacher
talks or reads io them about the in
vention and manufacture OF needles
thimhlcs. different kinds Of cloths, the
locality OF these materials and gradu-
ally interests them In all the worlds
great industries. She shows them flax.
cotton, hemp from the time they are i'm
flower. through all the various tagcs OF
growth and manufacture. She has
pictures to show them of the negroes
working in the cotton fields and fasci-
mating pictures OF the Japanese peel
ing. weaving ana folding silk. Then
there are pearl buttons In every pro
cess of manufacture and the various
implements for making Snspenders. n
loom for weaving and some of the chill
drcn learn to weave; so that They can't
but imbibc an enthusiastic interest i'm
many of the great industries, and there
is not "a child among them who docs
not understand the terms, warp and
wool, etc.
BOY SEAMSTRESSES.
Miss Woolman, who is the originator
LOT this whole system. and who has done