The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-11-15

zens all over our country are becoming
convinced that manual training in
some form will do much to solve the
problem. Even as early as five years
ago ninety-five cities in the U. S. had
adopted it as an essential feature OF
their school system. In several states
legislatures have recognized the valid
claims of the movement. Massachus-
sets requires every city of 20, 900 in
habitants to maintain manual high
school training courses approved by
the state board of education; Maine
authorizes any city or town to provide
industrial or mechanical drawing to
pupils over 10 years of age; Connecti-
cut, Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey,
New York, Utah, Wisconsin and Wy
oming authorizes industrial training
by general laws Congress makes regu-
lar appropriations for manual training
in the District of Columbia.
The friend of manual training
make the following claims Rep. Supt.
Public Instruction, Michigan, 1907
1T develops the intellect,
strengthens the will AMI fosters pu bile
spirit.
2-It saves time in academic study
by the greater power of concentration
gained
st removes the common objection
that our schools do not fit the pupils
for the duties of life.
At develops the sensibilities and
thus quickens the moral nature.
5-Au progress in civilization is de-
pendent on the manual.
Cit is elevating-hostile to vice
and crime.
Tt aft ords pleasure and interest tc
the pupil.
SIT offers the greatest good to the
greatest number.
cit adds to the years Of the schoo
! life of the masses.
| " UldhC dASO UhoU IACOC Slollli
are founded on fact, Superintendent
Hammond of the state of Michigan
wrote to 20 city schools where manua
! training is in effect, asking among
other things: What are its effects upor
(a) originality, (b) intellectual energy,
1 (c) length of school life, (d) studies,
/ (e) pupils social life, (f) tendency
toward trades, (g) esthetic taste. The
answers were as follows: a, twenty
/ four say that it stimulates originality
b, twenty-five claim that it increases
intellectual energy C, all but one say
that it increases length of school life
d, all but one say that it helps in liter
airy studies; all declare that it elevate'
socially all but seven find that it pro
duces no special inclination tow ARD
the trades; all say that it cultivatet
esthetic taste in every case but two
the attitude of the parents is favor
able, while these two are only in,
different.
A very common objection to manua
training is that pupils are already
loaded and manual training would
only add a grievous burden. But the
testimony of all who are trying it il
that it actually makes them stronger
in their literary work. The pupils Of
the Mechanic Arts High school of ST.
Paul are doing nearly one-half more
work than any purely literary higf
school in the state of Minnesota yet
never saw stronger, healthier or {
more enthusiastic school of children
| than there. Likewise the Chicago
Manual Training school exacts all it
drawing and shop work in addition tc
the regular high school work and yet
although. Chicago has plenty of higl
schools 80 situated that some one o
them is within easy reach from an.
part of the city. many boys elect to g
miles to attend this school.
Another objection frequently urge
is that manual training tends to spe
cialization in the industries W
must make our training general, the
say, and let special instruction be dor
at the schools of technology, etc
Trades unions are making exactly th
same mistake in their opposition
They think that thereby the schoo