The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-23

Professor Albert Barnes, of Clemson
College, South Carolina, has recently con
tributed TO the Charleston News and
Courier a paper on manual training in
schools. which is not only most interest
ing in itself, but corrects some popular
errors with reference to that branch of
study.
Professor Barnes is particularly desir-
Gus that manual training shan be intro
duced into tho public schools Of South
Carolina and made a part Of the system.
with mills rising on every stream, with
industries multiplying. the boys Of South
Carolina. he says. need something more
than a literary education, something more
than proficiency in mathematics and the
languages. Manual training, he adds.
does not seem to dotract from, but rather
to add TO the old education. The good
points Of the old are preserved and man
ual training is added to meet present
needs. Such training, dignifes labor,
and makes 1t as honorable TO forge a bolt
as TO deliver Greek Grafton.
Professor Barnes emphasizes the fact
and 80 correctg a popular impression that
the aim Of manual training school sys-
TEN is not TO teach man a trade simply
but TO educate him, to train the body as
well as the mind. The primary object,
he says. is to obtain healthy physical
as well as mental development, while its
secondary object is to secure general deX-
terity, which is useful i'm every vocation.
The training system for the most part
is perfoi ming certain graded exercises in
tended to give general dexterity. promote
health and strength and at the same time
develop the perceptive faculties, ingenuity
OF construction, concentrated attention
and love Of exactness and artistic taste.
In addition TO the subjects taught in the
high school the manual training school
covers the two subjects Of drawing ana
tool work. and in the opinion of PROBES
sor Barnes 300 educated man can any
more AFFORD TO he without skill I'm draw
ing than he can in penmanship. No
more can ne afford to educate his head
ana ltaNN Ills manu- NiiNA eAlN1Ns
This g. common sense. pure and sim
pie This is practical education. This
is theory put into practice. one of the
greatest lessons to be learned from train
ing Of this character IS the art of OBJ
serving correctly. and we believe that that
is the one phase of popular education tina
is most sadly neglected. When the eye
Is trained in youth to see things as they
are the child is sure 10 get into the
habit OF seeing things correctly. Those
VINO see carelessly are almost sure 10
hear carelossIy. and that IS the reason
why 1t is so difficult 10 get correct
story Men and women do not see and
hear correctly and therefore are incapable
OF giving a correct account OF what they
have seen and heard.
On this subject Professor Barnes says:
In his shop work the student is taught
the names and uses OF tools. taught 10
be neat IL his construction, careful IN his
exercises, accurate in his measurements,
and. above all, TO take an interest IN his
work
lie learns TO manipulate both wood and
iron, to know their structure and their
properties. TO use the bench and the
turning lathe.
Wood turning IS q fine art in which
Judgment and taste arc cultivated. while
the hand is trained. No subject arOuscs
create interest. Look al the student. He
has learned 60 observe. and now notes
with interest forms unseen before. No
pillar, post or balustrade escapes his eye,
He studies their curves and notes q
form. II pleased. he sketches them, and
later produces them IN material form.
And after noting him you must admit
that this work demands and develops not
manual dexterity alone. but attention, OBJ
servation imagination, reasoning and
judgment
And sin iiarly with the other iranches Of
tx,ol work the value OF the training 10 the
mind Is greater than the skl acquired by
the hand. And though the stuaeri never
uses the elements OF mechanics he ac-
ouired. he has obtained habits Of accu-
raey. methods OF observation reasoning.
Judgment and thought that are Invaluable
In every profession.
We have for long time been deeply
interested In this subject OF practical ed
ucation and We haye urged the establish
nsnt Of schools " lsehnoloey throughout