The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-03-09

qulred. 1t has had marked effect upon
the dlsclpline and attendance while the
boys 90 better work in their studies.
lor, as has been said. 1.-The simple forms
OF manual training have been brought
TO arc use and stimulate. children have
advanced in their power to learn by ex-
esclslng their powers to do it,"
your committee, however, desire to
emphasize the fact, since many mlscon-
ceptlonS have arisen as to the character
OF the work being done In this school,
that 1T is not the design OF your board to
furnish instruction in the details of any
trade, for such is not the function of the
common school. The whole design has
been and is to complete our school cur
riculum SO as to train the hand as well as
the mind and through the nand to reach
the mind OF the pupil.
While tho boys have been absent from
their classes in the manual training
room, the girls have been instructed in
sewing under the direction of their
teachers. This work in sewing, but par
tally fills the gap created by the boys
passing to the manual training room.
Somethi ing more is needed. The sewing
a lso, as at present conducted, is not
wholly satisfactory. The course should
be more systematic. Material should be
supplied by the city and regular teacher
employed If posi- bic. 1T a teacher can
not be obtained, fair work can be done
if the conditions above enumerated are
complied with. s4.s.,g ~
COOKING SCHOOL.
To further fill the gap created by the
boys going to the manual training room,
we would repeat our recommendation of
last year, that cooking school be es-
tablished, which, it has been estimated,
can be done and operated during the
year at an expense of about $120O. In
starting this school the city will not be
experimenting, for such schools are now
no innovation in this country, having
been established in many places. In
Boston vacation school was established
in 1885 by Mrs. H emmenway, which filed
up SO rapidly and was SO successful in
it's work that in 1888 cooking was made
part of the Boston school course More
over, their great utility as educators can
not we'll be dou bted, for the course of
study usually pursued though variable,
is broad. 1t includes making and keep
ing OF fires, care OF stoves, study of drafts
and fuel, care of kitchen and kitchen
utensils, setting of tables, serving at
ia bles, care of dishes and linen, care of
closet s, refrigerators and pantries, selec-
ton of meats and vegetables with refer
ence to health and economy. variety and
adaptation of foods to meet human
wants, the study OF cereals, vegeta bles,
truits. eggs, meats, etc.. with full prac-
tice in the preparation and cooking of
the same. 1t also gives the composition
of the human body its chemical proper
ties, the effect of moist and dry heat AMI
theft relation to the con version eli food
materials into good food. The chemist
of cookery OF common food subtances is
studied, as also the physiology and an
atomy of the digestive organs and pow
ers Of digestion. In all this, like the
manual training for boys, each lesson is
distinctly educational in its aim.
|, ''.. ..s { 1,'s -, H. KINDERGARTEN.
Another addition has also been made
to on school Systematic Kindergarten.
At the beginning OF the school year
Mayor Baxter donated $500 of his salary
for the esta blishment of one kindergar-
ten. The city co-operated with him by
appropriating money for another. Two
of tb esq schools, therefore, in addition
to the one already established at the
Center ST. school have been added, one at
the Chestnut st. Primary, the other at
the North School. The Chestnut ST.
kindergarten being under the charge of
Mrs. abel Sargent, a capable and eff
cient teacher, the North kindergarten
under the charge of Mrs. A lice B. Beck,
for some time past the valued assistant
at the Center ST. kindergarten. Both
rooms were at once filed to their full
capacity and many applicants turned
away for want of room. 1t is urged that
one more at lest be established, and in
the upper part of the city.
SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
The School for the deaf has been very
successful in its work, the number of
pupils having increased from thirty
nine, the nnm Der at the time of the last
report, to sixty-one, the present numh her.
At the opening of the fall term the boys
of the school were given equal privileges
with those in the grammar schools in
the manual training room under Nh.
Babb, who has only words Of com mem
dation for them and the work they are
doing, in fact they average better than
many of the grammar school classes.
owing no doubt to the greater sensibility
of the senses OF sight and touch,
In addition to this practice in the
manual training school system of
direct trade teaching has been COM
menced, an innovation IN the education
of the deaf, which the pupils are taught
trades. This work is accomplished by
placing the pupils for a part of each day
in shops, factories, millinery estal II 'h-
meLts. So far two of the hoYs have
been placed in a blacksmith shop, one in
a paint shop. one in a candy factory, one
is being taught the trade OF a saddler,
three carpentry, two shoemaking, and
one is in a tailor shop. The girls are in
structed in the same manner in dress
making and millinery, and i'll other oc-
equations essential to them. Ali are
proving willing and effective helpers,
while some are drawing small wages.
BY this means it is hoped that these
children, besides getting an education, can
become self supporting men and women
rather than helpless dependents on the
bounty OF the State.
The course OF study in the school has
also been rearranged and systematized
and the pupils clsssed, each teacher hav-
ing been given Dlan OF work W hicb it
is expected will be followed and COM
Nil in narfpjp tinra Tho ,o,,i,:..