Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-10-04

The Manual Training Department of
the Snow Hill High School is now COM
pleted and in working condition. The
Department was passed upon by Prof.
Hammel as being in a most commend
able condition. and we feel safe in say
ing that it is one of the best equipped
departments of its kind in the State.
We consider ourselves extremely for
tunate in securing this Department in
our school and we are looking forward,
with delight. to the time when work of
like nature will be installed in each
of our public schools. The work being
new i'll our county is not well under
stood, but aside from that fact we who
are practically inexperienced in Edu-
cational matters should cheerfully sub
NIT to the decisions of our State Board
of Education which is composed of gen.
tlemen of sterling worth, who make
education daily study. The Manual
Training Department in our public
school system is designed to occupy
position between the kindergarten
schools, and the manuel training de.
partments of the universities. Some
few persons. without giving the
matter due consideration think 1t is de-
signed to turn out finished mechanics,
aua artists; but this idea is erroneous,
it il mot place in which the child is
taught trade. From the standpoint
of a teacher whose very soul is wrapped
up in the complete success of our schools
and pupils. consider our past educa-
tional system at fault. My observa-
tions of pupils who have graduated
heretofore has been that notwithstand.
ing the fact that they possessed all the
book lore that was possible for them TO
possess, yet there was an ever present
lack; there is too much one-sidedness.
They are able to do almost anything
with books. but when they are asked to
do something to which there are no
books attached, there Immediately looms
up IA marked inability to act; they seem
to lack confidence, and independence,
and are all too ready to seek assis tance.
1t seems to me that this is somewhat
different from what it should be. Our
schools, in my opinion, should turn out
young men aud women who are masters
of the varying situations. and not weak
lings. Now please do not think that |
mean to say that the manual training
is all that is necessary to make the fin
ished man or woman. it is merely step
no young man or woman should fail to
take advantage of. The manual depart.
ment is one which feel perfectly safe
in saying, no young man or woman can
40 through without coming out much
better man or woman. The student is
not only taught to see the practical side
of things. but he is taught to use his
hands in accordance to the dictates of
his mind
The cultured mind and the skillful
hand should be the motto of all worthy
educators.
THE FRUITS OF MANUAL TRAINING.
BY manual training I do not mean
merely the training of the hand and
arm. If school should attempt the
very narrow task of teaching only the
manual details of particular trade or
trades, it would violate the right of the
children. That, or very nearly that, is
what is done in the great majority of
European trade schools. They have no
place in our American system of educa-
ton.
The word manual must. for the
present. be the best word to distinguish
that peculiar system of liberal education.
which recognizes the manual as well as
the intellectual l advocate manual
training for all children as an element
in general education. / care little what
tools are used, so long as proper habits
are formed, and provided the windows
of the mind are kept open toward the
world of things" and .forces," physi.
cal as well as spiritual. do not wish
or propose to neglect or underrate liter
AIRY and scientific culture; would strive
to include all the elements in just pro.
portion. | use the word "liberal" in
its stric. sense of free" No education
can be free" which leaves the child no
choice, or which gives a bias against
any honorable occupations: which walls
up the avenues of approach to any vo-
cation requiring intelligence aud skill.
A truly liberal education, educates
equally for all spheres of usefulness; it
furnishes the broad foundation on
which to build the superstructure of
happy, useful, and successful life. |
claim as the results of manual training
when combined, as it always should be,
with generous mental and moral train.
ing the following:
/. Larger classes of boys III the Gram
mar and High schools. ?. Better intel
lectual development; ). A more whole
some moral education; 1. Sounder judg-
ments of men and things, and of living
issues; ). Better choice of occupations;
g. A higher degree of material success,
individual and social; I. The elevation
of many of the occupations from the