Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-29

objects let US not forget the tremendous
impress made upon the youthful mind, pre-
pairing 1T for those longer and more SUBJ
stantial efforts and struggles which are to
come when school life is over.
In the seventh and eighth grades the
Toys work with tools over hich they have
control and which they guide according to
their will After having become skilled
In the use of these, the pupil when he
tiers the High School is introduced to a new
and more complex phase of manual train
ing. Here he handles machines which have
motive of their own, and he cannot COM
mand eccentric obendisnce, but he Is con-
trolled by the law of the machine. This
brings In new factor in his mental train
ing. Heretofore he has had his own way
and has progressed along voluntary lines.
Now he must be governed by a certain and
known quantity, the rationale Of his ma
chine. The thus learns to control aberra-
lions and to concenter his thoughts upon
a special mode of procedure. If he finch
or wander the work is spoiled.
The Technical Course.
At first, manual training in the High
School was only side affair taken by
pupil if he could spare an hour or so. Now
known as the Technical Course" it is
part of the curriculum of the school.
From having been an intruder, 1t is now
perfectly at home and has full standing
Only this year the four captaincies of the
cadets are filled by students of the Tech
meal Course"
Good Work Amid Difficulties.
The Manual Training School, is on o
street northwest opposite the Central
High School. 1t is in two miserable little
two-story buildings and what was livery
stable, and yet in these congested quarters
have been turned out work and results OBJ
tanned which have met with the approba-
ton and admiration of cities wherein are
found magnificent accommodations raised
on munificent foundations. The people of
Washington have reason to be proud, not
only of the work their children have done,
but more on account of the adverse en-
vironment in which it has been done.
In the Woodworking Shop.
AS entered the wcod-turning shop, where
the first years boys were at work, saw
two rows of lathes, at each of which was a
lad at work. Merrily spun the lathes and
whirled the material around. On the rest
was the cutter, held by small delicate
hand, sometimes like a girls. But watch
the edge of the cutter as vt bears on the
wood. Up and Gown it goes, the chips fly,
the shapeless piece of wood takes form,
true cylinder Ory the callipers on III Is
formed. Again the cutter Is pressed. the
wood takes another shape. a cone appears.
You look at the slight lad and into his
young face. How long has he been at
hours, twice a week" Now hurry down to
the mills, near the MALL and see If you will
find any better work of the kind under the
hand of a skilled workman. You will not.
1 have seen both. But how comes this
youngstcr to be so skilled? All, mis- educa-
ton began Iii the first grade, where. a
tiny tot, he nodded his jug and fruit. The
foundation laid there has been built upon,
ard we are beginning to the fruition.
His machine is whirling under his hand.
Steady. my lad! DIP that cutter too far
ard u VIII be 1erked from your hand, brok-
en- or your wood gouged beyond repair.
Graduate your movement or you will not
get your cone. Here we see correlation of
eye and hand. the mysterious union found
in all real experts, but inexplicable. And
do they like this work. this manual train
trg? asked some Of them. How the eye
frightened and the cheek glowed. Yes, oh,
yes How could they help liking It? Here
the human mind is learning its mastery
over material force, and in guiding 1t the
boy learns his own limitations s.. He is find
Ing out what he can do and what he may
not do. 1t Is making self reliant and vet
not preslmptuous. As I passed out of the
lathe shop to the forge department nv at
tention was called to an engine and dyna-
mo, by which the shops are lighted. These
are the products Of the pupils skill. and
the shops are lighted by an electric plant
made by the boys themselves
In the smithy.
And now step into the "smithy." In
the lathe room the boys had to meet and
assimiiate themselves with the genius of
the machine. But In thu forge department
they have to meet and struggle with the
genius Of fire. The capabilities and law Of
q machine are fixed. Machines operate by
immutsble law, and the operator learns to
regulate his movements by a fixed stand 4
ard. and correlates his own actions with
the definitely ascertained law Of the ma
chine In the use Of fre In forging, weld
fH1ovo C.
inconstant element. which 10 always an UNI