Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-20
MANUAL TRAINING.
explained Before an Audience in High
 School Last Night.

School Last Night
 Professor Marcus White. principal of the New Britain Normal school. de nvered last evening, before an audience or over 2oo people, in the High school assembly hall an intelligent and spleu- did lecture on Manual Training under the auspices of the Women's club. Professor White is a lecturer ot known ability. who possesses q clear. resonant voice; one whose personality 1mpresseS you that he is d man of learning and talent. Add to this q thorough and comprehensive knowl- edge of his subject matter delivered in an interesting and entertaining man. her and one may gain slight idea of the interest which the speaker pro- duced among his hearers. Mir Whites lecture was not entirely devoted to cold facts, as they say, or strong. forcible arguments. His remarks were lnterspersed with stories and personal "reminiscences of a humorous nature 1t is not necessary to say that the audience was pleased with the lecture. for how could they be otherwise? Professor White spoke in part as fol- lows:
 ''It is, as the teachers know. the need now to find what the actual need of each pupil is, and to put before them what is most interesting to them. The teachers feel the need of the study of the different natures of each pupil, and to have a knowledge of each child. When this knowledge is better known it will modify the whole school work and the system of teach ing. As an instance of this. the in stinct to play is vital in each child. and in this play they become adjusted to the world and their surroundings. Games serve to educate the child al- most as much, if not more. than any thing else. and the majority of chil- dren are bound to play all that they can. The child that does not play is a sick child. The time will come when the schoolhouses will be built in a lot and there will be a large playground and gymnasium for the pupils.
 If one were to go to New York to-day they would find that sections that had formerly been whole city blocks had been turned into play grounds for the young. and in smaller towns where land is not so valuable it is d decided error not to spare more land for just such q purpose so that the young folks could play and breathe plenty Of good. fresh air.
 '.The school teacher of to-day be- lieves in interesting the child. X scholar does not attend school be-
  to. It does not attract the average child. I believe that the children should be met half way and if we in- terest them, We can then better edu- cate them. A large part of the peo- ple believe that manual training is useless and q waste of time. but every child loves to make things. and if they are satisfied, it is useful and is also an educational feature.
 "In summing up, would say that we must place our educational work on q scientific basis and have set principles laid down. Children have a natural aptitude to make things. and through manual training we can in- terest the child. Psychologically, nor ally and educationally I believe that the manual training should start in the kindergarten and run right through the school cOurse.
 At the conclusion of the lecture any one present was free to ask questions of Professor White in regard to s.Manual Training"