The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-05

| classes. Gan this course De maintained
after tine combination? There is a So
called English course at Hillhouse
involving as much study. but no man
ual work. Can the BOardman boys be
induced to do the extra work? As I
2 have said before. there is not, believe,
a single instance in the country Of a
successful course of this nature in
/ departmental school. Usually In such
! schools, to tempt pupils, academic work
| is made less difficult, but this being
| recognized by the remainder Of the
/ school it is at once called a ''mucker"
| course, and those brave enough to take
/ it are ''muckers"
AT Boardman all pupils now do the
same manual work. No distinction is
made, and in consequence no adverse
feeling exists. This respect for work
with the hands and breaking down of
foolish high school prejudices seems to
me one of the greatest and most valu-
! able lessons taught. The boys who
leave are not ashamed to work, man
ual and mental work are associated to-
gether, and what is called the dignity
of labor" is, l am sure, gaining fresh
significance. I do not believe the labor
ing class can afford to lose this lesson.
On the other hand, there is grave dan
ger that through the proposed combin-
alton the contrary result may be
brought about in New Haven as it has
been in many other places-that the
/ term 'mucker," so often used by boys
and applied in departmental schools to
those who work with their hands, may
serve to widen gap we all wish closed.
The Boardman school has had hard
fight, but the record made by its grad
yates both in college and at work has
convinced the public of it's worth to
such an extent that now q majority of
those graduating from the grammar
schools elect it in preference. 1t has
grown in reputation and numbers until
now it ranks among the most impor-
tant in the country, and is eXerting a
widespread influence. That such a
light should be extinguished as very
many fear, would, we think, be an edu-
cational calamity.
1t is assumed that through combina-
ton the expense to the City will be
lessened. This is contrary to the ex-
perience of other cities. The expense
bers and any plan reducing the num-
Der attending the Boardman depart
ment would inevitably increase the
cost per capita. This expense at Hart
ford is now several times greater.
Much has been said of the economy of
combining laboratories. Our science
teachers last year were continuously
occupied with large classes during and
often outside Of school hours They
could not do more work anywhere, and
when we consider that the total ap-
preparation for supplies for the chemi
cal, physical electrical, biological and
botanical laboratories for several years
past has not exceeded $500 per year. I
am sure the taxpayers have no cause
to complain of lavish expenditure. I'm
der these conditions I see no possible
chance for greater economy; but If
through combination the Boardman
classes should disappear entirely the
desired result might possibly be gained.
There are many minor objections to
the combination. The numerous pro-
cesses which occupy the boys in the
shops, the application of drawing to
machine and architectural construction,
the study Of steam and other engines,
the broad application of mathematics
to mechanics, the study Of applied cleo
tricity and chemistry, and the intimate
connection these subjects should bear
to the other subjects taught, make the
school essentially technical in its ma
ture. and it should undoubtedly be SUI
pervised by a man whose education
and practical knowledge qualify him
to understand the details of the work
being done. President Hadley, I pre-
sumo. would be at loss if he were called
upon to actively supervise the engin-
eering courses at the Sheffield Scien-
tific School.
A satisfactory arrangement of
schedule of working and study periods
becomes extremely perplexing in
school where manual work is optional.
On account of this, at Hartford, I am
told, shop periods are limited to forty
five minutes, in which time boy Is ex-
rected to change clothes, get out his
tools, listen to instructors explanations,
do his work, clean up his bench, or
lathe, wash, change clothes again, and