The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-09
CHILDREN'S CARE.
CONCLUDED PROM FIRST PAGEO

termediate grades, where they soon come
to look upon one another as brothers and
sisters: and IL Is a delight 10 the heart OF
the child-lover TO note the tender care with
which these older children look after the
comfort and safety OF these little ones.
EDUCATION OF CHILDREN.
THE subject Of the education OF the chill
dren receives the most profound thought
and attention. y competent corps OF teach
ers is employed, and the schools embrace
all grades. from kindergarten to first year
high school. Beyond that. the age limit,
which forces the child to leave the home at
the age Of sixteen years, prohibits him from
passing. The work done in the school will
compare favorably with that done in our
best public schools, Notwithstanding the
fact that the older pupils attend school
but one half day during the school year of
ten months.
Manual training. to the Importance of
which all thoughtful minds are awakening,
forms a very important part of the educa-
ton of the girls and boys of the Indiana
Soldiers and Sailors orphans Home. To
train the mind, the eye and the hand TO
work i'm unison, 10 train the muscles TO do
the will OF the brain TO the satisfaction of
the eye. is to place in the hands of a young
person a weapon with which he may fear
lesslv meet the world. This fact is fully
recognized by the management of the home,
and teachers are employed in all branches
Of manual labor that ii has been found
practicable TO introduce into the lnSIlLu-
ton, and manual instruction goes hand in
hand with the literary education of the
child. 1t may be said that the training of
the brain, the eye and the hand begins upon
the day the child first enters the home,
and continues until the day of his departure
-therefrom. Although the children are ad-
mitted at a very early age. few are so
small but some task suitable to their
strength is given them. Much of this train
ing they receive uncOnsciOusiy, with no idea
that they are learning anything of par
81. H. - hr~ ~ fha
thought that the comfort and well-being
Of the entire division, or family, of which
they are a part depends upon their per
formance of every task in the best possible
manner
Perhaps the first lesson that a child re-
ceives in manual training is the care or
his own person and his belongings. Neat
ness and precision are taught in the brush
ing, folding and putting away OF clothing
and the miscellaneous articles OF which
every child is the possessor, and In the
polishing of shoes and properly adjusting
them 10 the foot. These things would
probably not come under the head OF man
ual training, but they lead up 10 IL, ana
are important to the success of the future
manualist.
the strength of the child increases,
greater tasks are given. The boys are
taught to keep the cottages clean and neat.
The floors are carefully swept and mopped
and every particle Of dust removed. The
eye is trained in the arrangement or the
furniture; the books are neatly arranged IN
their cases; porches are cleaned, dormi-
tories aired. beds neatly made. rooms put
in order, closets and Mushrooms receive
the proper attention and lawns and play
grounds are kept clean and free from rub
bish.
WORK DONE BY GIRLS.
The same work is done by the girls in
the main building, especial attention be-
ing given to the proper care of the dormi-
tories. This work is superintendent by the
governesses, while the work in the halls
and in the private rooms is done under the
supervision Of the housekeepr.
when the child reaches the age of thir-
teen years his manual training proper be-
gins. The condition of these children rem
ders it imperative that they earn their own
living after they leave the home. and SUI
perintendent, governesses and teachers
are anxious that each child should receive
such training as is compatible with it's
disposition, ability and natural tendencies,
Of which they make a study, and while the
boys and girls are given the choice OF the
kind of training they shall receive, or the
particular trade they shall learn, they
are guided In their choice by these officers,
who tremendously work together to secure
the greatest good of the child.
lowing TO the limited time given a child
in which TO learn a trade, il is the judg-
ment OF the management that 1t is better
to learn one thing well than TO half learn
many things. Therefore. after making a
tllOlCt At-hd VI tNtAN 0o9 10 6NfNA -
manual training, the other TO literary
studies, although this does not prevent the
performance of many tasks out of school
or work hours.
Usually the chosen trade is the life vo-
cation of the individual. Especially is this
true of the boys; while the training the
girls receive fits into almost every condi-
ton of their after life. And so it is that
the boys devote their mornings, or their
afternoons, TO learning farming, gar
dening, Horticulture. baking, engineer
ing. dairying, shoemaking, tailoring,
carpentering, printing and s~tenography.
The girls-and / am sorry to say that there
are not so many trades for the girls as
there are for the boys-spend the half of
each day in sewing (this includes plain
dressmaking), cooking, tailoring and ste
biography. speak OF cooking in a two
fold sense. Every girl who remains until
she reaches the age limit-siXteen years
is required to take the course in the cook
ing school. In addition to this. a number
are assigned to the different kitchens.
where they receive practical everyday ex-
perience under the direction of a compe-
tent. practical instructor.
GIRLS CAREFULLY TAUGHT.
1.-THE girls are carefully taught the ar
rangement of tables and dining room and
serving at table, becoming very graceful
and proficient in this work. Every girl is
taught general homework so far as prac-
ticable in an institution where everything
must be done on such a magnihed scale.
n effort to make the home as nearly as
possible an approach to the private home
is an aid in this direction. In addition TO
these things they are taught in their di-
vision rooms to sew. to darn, TO mend their
own clothing and that of the younger chill
dren, and TO do various kinds of needle
work. Although we do not call IT by such
a high-sounding name, is not this domestic
economy
Ironing is not taught as a trade, but
every girl OF usual physical strength is de-
tailed at stated times to work in the iron
ing room. Washing is done by machinery.
and is done by paid help, with the assist
clothing for the girls and the underclOthing
for the boys is made in the sewing room,
and the greater part done by the girls.
Tailoring, stenography and typewriting are
given to both boys and girls. Two other
trades might be taught 10 both sexes could
certain obstacles be overcome. These are
printing and Horticulture, but as this would
necessitate a woman superintendent in
each department il is not DONE. The result
of this system has In the main been salts
factory. There is always room for i'm
prOvement. however. and each year an eff
fort is made TO excel all previous years in
child training along the various lines.
Plans are now being perfected by which a
new and enlarged system OF manual train
ing will be introduced into the home shops.
and the eagerness with which the pupils
are looking forward 10 the completion OF
the preparations encourages us 10 believe
that satisfactory results will be obtained.
I'm the present age strenuous efforts are
being made. and worthily made. TO find
homes for the unfortunate children of our
corntrv who are deprived of the three