The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-24
MANUAL TRAINING.
Some Thoughts Suggested at the Meeting
of the Associi ted Cha tiles.


TO the Editor Of the Press:
During the severe storm just passed une
Spectator stumble into meeting in our
City Building. 1t was chiefly of ladies.
small sprinkling OF gentlemen. Inc
storm had done it's work In thinning out
the assembly; but what was lacking IN
numbers was made up in solid character,
purpose and intelligence. Their theme
was one of wide and far-reachlng lnter
est. going to the root of those i'll condl-
tions which the civil administration and
the charities of our city are laporlng 10
correct and to remove. The plan Is Iuii
of adaptability, economy ana common
sense 1t is the broadening OF our system
of public education, SO that IL snail IN
clude more than culture of special 1acul-
ties in the use of vowels and consonants,
and the nine digits, that IL Snail IN
clude also the education OF the hano anu
eye, and all faculties for free ana lntelil-
gent activity in those industries On "hlcn
success in life for the vast majority Vi
men and women depends; that the boy
and Girl of the future shall not be cast
into the eyentful uncertainties OF pracei-
cal life with a one sided preparation, ana
that largely the impractical slde-unntteo
for those Industries on which welfare de-
pends. that education shall make the re-
cipient resouroeful; that the trades by
which individuals and families are
served, shall be at their finger ends; that
our Young men and women as they go
ont into the uncertain future may be self
6enendent. and therefore helpful men,
bers of society.
T noticed that it was not denied that 1t
is very important for girl to know that
Columbus discovered America, but it
was essential that the happiness OF the
family by day and by night depend as
much on her being able to make good
loaf of bread or hasty putting and set
an inviting table make dress, or put
I'D jar of peaches. They seemed to have
| worked out the problem by kind of Al
zebra not yet taught in the schools. Now
jar of fruit ard the knowledge OF how to
put it up and how to use it, might pre-
vent family jar which, all too often,
ends In divorce.
(The SPECTATOR realized how the matter
stood in some of the first families OF the
old Bay State, whose daughters were 60
| ing into Boston to cooking school TO m
ish their education. But 1t is not really
the first families that need it most. out
| the last families, and all the families ~
ing between.
There was a gentleman present, pre-
sumably BY Invitation. from near the
Hub" who spoke OF the vacation
schools being instituted for the purpose
of this sort of manual training. ana tne
good already done, and the hopeful pros
pect, both for the youth and their par
ents; and the relief of the police depart,
mept. Trades are being learned, and
new avenues of pleasure and hope are
being opened for young and growing
minds. Idleness is the Devils opportu-
nifty. Il didn't wonder that those sedate
ladies of our proud and sober city clappeo
their handsD
There appeared also teacher from
some loft or attic of our splendid pubic
school buildings, who explained the mum
BILE beginning of manual training in this
city, which Is in danger Of becoming ia
NOUS for hirdsight. The report was SC
GOOD and fresh, and SO in harmony with
the new idea that they clapped again. .
OF course the Spectator knew that u
| is all important that one should pc aDle
to spell our COMPOUNDED photography, and
that it is work of years, and universe
ty education don't quite do it; but
| couldn't there be q chance somewhere fol
a girl whose mother has missed her edu
cation to learn to make good, whole
some loaf of bread, or drive ANAL, or saw
off n board, or patch hole, and do Il
we'll? Or a boy to do as much: and get thu
use of eyes and hands and ambition tt
handle a square and compass and rule
and the pencil of the draughtsInan, ant
make ard mend and originate. He real
ICES that should one of these youths, as Il
apt to be the case, in the fluctuations O
life, be set down among strangers. O.
should be stripped of all. it would be
very great thing to know that Lafayette
was the friend of Washington. or to r.
able to spell phthisic; but might IL no
also be we'll to have an all round eouca
ton Of those faculties. mental and man
uaI, that will render him master OF tn
situation, and educe prosperity out o
misfortune? 1t also occurred to I'd
Spectator that in this very room, wher
the city fathers could discover no nee'
for an Industrial School Building Tn
city mothers could see every reason
the world for one. Could you blam
that commonplace individual for thlnK
ing it was pity we could not chang