The Portland daily press., 1897-10-23

MIR. Babb Opens the Day With q Valuable
tic. History and the Higher Branches
Considered.
There was hum OF conversation in
the Assembly Room of the High School
on Friday morning when the hour ar
rived for the meeting of the Cumberland
County Teachers Association. There
were many ladies present, most of them
young in years, and few men, indica-
ting that the gentler sex are the princi-
nal educators here as elsewhere.
After President Daniel H. Dole, of
Portland had called the meeting to order,
Rev. John Carroll Perkins, of the First
Parish church, offered prayer.
The following committees were then
appointed:
Nominations-Supt o. NJ Lord, of
Miss v. NJ. White, of Gorham Normal
School
Relationships. f. E. G. Robbins,
OF Deering and WestErook; W. f. Rus
sell, of Gorham Normal School; Grace
L. Dolley of Freeport.
The first topic of discussion was 'tMan-
ual Training the discussion opening
with aper by Geo. h. Babb, Prin opal
of the Portland Manual Training School.
Mr. Babb began with story illustrating
the greater confidence which manual
training gives to the youth. A boy
who had had the advantage of
this training, in seeking employ
ment, answered the question as to what
he could do by saying, II can do any
thing" This remark caused him to be
employed, and now he is at the head of
his department.
Mr.. Babb then went on to describe
briefly what would be seen by
VISITOR TO A MANUAL TRAINING
SCHOOL
In Portland. On entering he would see
80 benches equipped with modern first
GLASS stools, than which there are none
better in use anywhere. At these benches
are 80 boys, all working with interest,
not listless one among them. The
worst behaved boy in the school may be
trusted implicitly. Of these boys some
are making working drawings; some
have finished their drawings and are fig
uring on the stock required. Others are
at work on the articles, while still others
may be oiling and caring for the tools,
for the pupils are taught to take care of
as well as use the tools.
Now this room is not carpenter shop.
Mr.. Babb said he resented such term.
for the object of the school was not to
is pre-eminently mental exercise. No
blow is struck without thought and will
first. It is prominently school Of men
tai training. The boy soon learns that in
acouracys ruinsS his work, that neglect to
care for the tools hampers him at every
step, that wrong use of the chisel CT
saw defeats the object Of the work. In
short, that faithfulness and care are nec-
essary.
Thus the manual training school is a
training in morals, for it teaches accu-
racy and hence rectitude, prudence and
faithfulness.
Working with tools under proper super.
NlclOu Will CdrO dlQ is q
good preparation for an honest life.
The manual training room also gives
the boy an idea of realities, and Of the
meaning of the words which express
them. The language of the manual train
ing room is definite. accurate and simple.
A wrong line is Immediately punished
with defective joint or mortice; the pu-
pills errors Immediately come back upon
him to condemn him. He soon learns
that honesty and accuracy are the first
essentials
After speaking of the inaptitude of city
pupils for small mechanical processes,
Mr.. Babb went on to query whether the
ordinary schools were not far behind the
time in giving certain practical and nee
essary training on which depends the
character of the pupil. The country boy
brought up amidst material objects and
in touch with a variety of minor indus
trial processes, gets a DEVELOPMENT in
practically, realities, observation and ap-
plication that the city boy does not get.
Now the trend of population is towards
the cities, where the youth gets little de-
velopment in practical affairs at the same
time that modern Industrial life is de-
manding in a greater degree those devel-
opments Of intellect and character which
city life does not give to proper extent.
and which our school system seems to be
behind the times in not furnishing.
MR.. JOHN E. WARREN.
of Cumberland Mills next gave a bust
ness mans view OF manual training. In
the first place the manual training school
should not be considered d trade school,
although its tendency might be to turn
the young towards mechanical and tech
n;cal occupations. But the school was
really training place for the eye and
hand. Tie Wood worker is the chief
among mechanics. His labor requires
'lare skill, resources and intellect than
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