The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-04
Fine Programme of Vocal Music
During the Afternoon
Session.
NEXT MEETING AT SAN JOSE.
Officers Elected for the Ensuing Year
Lecture by Dr.. LIE Conte of
the University.

Crowds of teachers. old and young,
some fair and some wise, filled the audi
forum of the Oakland High School yes
terday forenoon at the opening of the
second days session of the California
Teachers Associations twenty-ninth an
nuaI meeting. The first paper read was
the report of the committee on manual
training. Among other things mentioned
in the report was the theory, frequently re-
peated in different words, that manual
training is not merely the training of the
hand, nor even the training of the mind
through the hand, but rather cultivation
of the character through constructive
activity. Girls receive forms of manual
training different from those given to
boys. This distinction by sex is justified
and contrasted with teaching a special
avocation.
Manual training is not, as is commonly
supposed, something new. Its status IN
American schools is shown. 1t has been
applied as a subject of study in elementary
schools for the past 200 years. Most OF
the historic educational writer's have given
favorable utteranCe regarding 1t. In the
sixteenth century direct reference was made
10 its value as factor in the training OF
boys. The history of manual training
threads the history of pedagogy. In the
infancy of the race the teacher, nature,
used manual training as almost her sole
device for evolving the creature who
thinks. Manual training, therefore, ante
dates every other means of education.
CLAY modelling and drawing assuredly
are manual training. The Swedish AMI
Russian systems-these the dual founda-
ton of American manual training-are
explained. Their contrasting character
istics are shown. The Swedish sloyd prin-
ciple is best adapted ITO the elementary
school"
The report concludes by making the fol-
lowing recommendations:
The teacher of elementary manual training
must also be available as the teacher OF the
common school.
The special teachers and supervisors of
manual training in other elementary, second
airy and normal schools must get their training
in specialized institutions.
This opportunity for the preparation of
teachers must be provided before the best
manual training will come TO be a common
thing.
Until the coming of this day none but teach
ers IN the truest sense of the word shall be ad-
mitted to the manual trGining-rooms.
Finally, for the Inauguration of work in
manual training, teachers OF special skill and
wisdom are demanded.
Next on the programme came an address
by Walter }. Kenyon of Stockton on
What Has Been Done in California
in Elementary, Secondary and Spe-
cial Schools ?" Among other things
the able essayist said that the
differentiation OF the boys faculties
puts weapon IN his hand which makes
him greater criminal than he would have
been. In the language of Professor Bailey,
the boy whose mind is unduly educated
will become forger instead of stealing a
LOAF OF bread. This intellectual training
should be counterbalanced by physical
training.
ITO schoolmen," continued the report
manual training has an added meaning
We might consider it as intellectual train
ing through the hand. We come. then
to another definition of manual training
1t is character culture through constructive
activity. 1t is this meaning OF the term
that gives manual training a right to be a
factor in the course of study.
Girls receive as a rule different man
ual training from that given to the boys.
The former having sewing, Woodworking
and cooking; the latter the bench work
and the woodshop. This difference is of
importance, as it teaches the distinction
between manual training and trade teach
ing. Cooking and sewing are almost uni
verSal functions in the women's world.
1t is then but Just that girls should be ed
ucated in these branches. In teaching a
girl this we make her q typical woman. In
teaching carpentry i is different. The
mum Der OF carpenters is a small portion of
the laboring class. 1t is the same in
other branches of trade.
How is it then that bench work is the
most popular branch OF manual training ?
The only reason is that this work is more
easily adapted to the powers of the stu