Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-19

work, 1t is believed, II thoroughly carried
out will keep more children in school
longer than is at present the case. There
are always some children compelled by
necessity to leave school early, but the
great majority drop out because school
work is unsttractive.
Interest for Adults.
Manual training increases the interest Of
parents and the public in general in school
work. In the Providence vacation schools
the parents became so interested in the
baskets which the children made and
brought home, that they came to inquire
where the material could be procured. Many
came to watch the children at work, so
they might learn how to do It themselves.
For a long time manual training seemed
like the vision of a very desirable thing,
but at the same time a most impractieable
one; that is, impracticable for public
schools. 1t has been worked over and
planned out, until now it is placed on a
thoroughly practical basis. The materials
used are inexpensive; very few tools are
necessary, excepting for the bench work,
and these can be procured at a nominal
cost. As given In the grades, the course
Includes two main divisions or groups:
First, the freer and less accurate work;
secondly, work which must be very ac-
c~urately done. The first allows for varia-
ton and individual expression, giving .op-
p%ortunity for the development Of the child's
creative power. The second group requires
careful measurements and, at FIRST, work
definitely prescribed. In the cord work
which belongs to the first group, the chill
dren make small hammocks. butterfly and
crab nets, ping pong nets, horse reins, etc.
The MAJ pt o4,yoc
out various designs in the mats. The card
board modelling belongs to the group OF
accurate work. Many pretty little boxes
and trays are made and these can be decor
ated with free hand drawing or painting.
There is an opportunity to make the draw
ing lesson more interesting. because the
children see that they are making some
use OF it. Most attractive doll furniture is
made with the cardboard. which is a de-
light to the heart of the small child.
The rafia and reed basketry is. perhaps.
the most interesting OF all. The material
Is new and useful and artistic results are
easily obtained. II is a simple, crude
material, and children are readily led to
see how, while in itself of little value, so
much may be made OF 1t by applying thought
and artistic skill.
The bent iron work appeals particularly
to the boys. The small iron bridge perhaps
attracts them MOST : Pen racks picture.
racks, doll furniture etc 4 ar made iIa4
bench work IS NOT prSSsleaD with4t4.. 3
room fitted up especially ior1be puppcsea,
Many Of the large; Cities have -~Ihtroddsed
manual training into The schools. PAlIa-
delphia has had II as a part Of the school
system for many ,years. Minneapolis and
Indianapolis are. enthusiastic over it, The
growth Of interest in Boston has resulted in
the employment OF two additional teachers
for this year. In Los Angeles county,
California, the work IS extended so as to
cover the hrst i've grades. In Rochester
IL is to cover the entire school period, In
New York City during the summer vacation
months the Board of Education opens manly
OF the public schools as MANUAL training
schools, and instruction Is given on these
subjects to an average daily attendance OF
nearly 5000 children.