The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-11
GEER LETTER

IDATED ENCYCLOPEDIC IL
BRARY BY WELL KNOWN IN
sTRUCT0R.
Following is the fifth instalment of the review
of the Consolidated Encyclopedia Library by Miss
Sarah Cieer extracts from which were read by the
author at the newspaper publishers banquet at
the Minneapolis club the evening OF Sept. 4:
He who is abreast Of the times and
realizes that the rapid transit pace OF
life indicates that mighty forces are at
work and will not wait upon mans good
time, will endeavor to accommodate MIN
self to the conditions as quickly as pos
sible, and in so doing will find that the
changes are only advantages The new
conditions cannot be met by old methods
however much it lacerate the tender feel
ings of the conservative od-Way lovers.
Sentiment for past days can never dls-
place steam and electricity service to
man. Whosoever will may still drive his
mule cart and jog and jolt on, but he
can't prevent even the mules Knowing
that there is at the reins as Well
as in the harness.
The conditions which the child to-day
must meet in getting his start in life will
differ very materially from those of but
few years ago. Rural life has given
way to community life and modern sci
ence, applied to production and trans
portation, has given the marvellous prog
ress to material wealth, and manual
training in its larger sense has sprung
into existence to meet the demand, and
it is to this natural demand only that 1t
owes it's existence.
Prejudices of the human mind are the
last things to give way in the rapidly
changing conditions and this must come
slowly as a matter of education. For
those who still disapprove the meeting
of the new conditions by new methods
this department affords a new field Of
thought in some mastery articles the
value and Importance of manual training
and Industrial work that will appeal to
the reason of any intelligent person.
When once one understands that the
child stimulated by his own desires and
interests should be led to discover, to
invent to produce, as this is the only
means by which he can properly fit him
for life one will also understand the
peculiar value Of manual training to
train the will, thru the continual over
coming of difficulties to cultivate power,
to stimulate Individual action and to de-
velop executive ability" And cannot
overestimate the value of forming in
early life through manual training habits
of care, accuracy and neatness, and
order and system in thought and action,
the habit Of overcoming difficulties by
perseverance and the habit of putting
thought into action With a setting
forth of some homely wholesome truths
like these there follows an excellent
course in hand training, or, rather. train
ing through the hand from the kinder
garten through the primary and second
airy school.
Home and School.
The course is designed for home and
school purposes. 1t will enlarge and
strengthen the teachers work where she
has already had training and for the
teacher and parent who have had no such
privilege it affords a course so simple
as to make them intelligent workers in
this line
1t seems especially helpful for the home
by way of putting the parent in intelli-
gent touch with the, school work by en-
couraging the child at home at similar
and related work though not helping di-
rectly with the lessons; by making the
parent an Intelligent guide of the child S
activities in vacation time and in those
days when Satan finds work for idle
hands" as we'll as bringing to the child
that knowledge in which the eye and hanC
participate. For what has the boy 1r
the crowded tenement house the fiat
even in the spacious home with its
expanse Of lawn but which is cared fol
by paid servants what has such a boy
In his education and experience to com.
pensate for what, for example, Whittier
had when he.
did the nightly chores,
Bro't in the wood from out of doors,
Uttered the stalls, and from the mows
Raked down the herds grass for the
cows"
rolled in the backlog and bright and
early in the morning of bitter colo
day dug path thru six feet Of "glisteninl
wonder and "dazzling crystal"
Poor modern boy! He feels as tho hi
hands were made for use. They won
stay folded and time hangs so heavily OF
his hands when they hang idly by hi
side.
Activity is a boys certain inalienabl
right and if the hands be palsied b,
disuse then the surplus energy runs int
the feet and they must move and will
move and thus unhappily "they are fount
to tread on forbidden ground" To anti
dote this septic condition Of juvenile So
ciety, to prevent the spread Of the con
tagion, this department fits the parent tt
meet the emergency and fits to help am
hold the boy-and of course the girl-bu
who by her very nature is more easil.
held.
The Three HIS.
This is the department that emphasize
the three H's-the head, the heart tn
hand-the one that brings the child near
est divinity when it gives him to know
the charm Of creation; that teaches tn
sdignity Of labor and "emancipates hin
from the idea that profession is the-onl
respectable calling
But to return to the course In manua
training. In this section there is the sam
characteristic to which I have often re
ferred. It starts with the wee one an
frows to meet his growing demand-yes
this starts even back of the wee one-eve
with the parent, in a splenddly helpfr
article on How the Parents May Help
Then follows the kindergarten elemer
of manual training. With some knowledg
of the principles of the system founde
by F'roebel and with a few simple mate
rails it enables the mother to conduct
home kindergarten which will prove
pleasure and benefit to her children.
Then follows splendid presentation
the thirteen gifts" then the "occupa
tons for the little ones-pricking, sew
ing, drawing, painting, weaving, basketry
paper folding and cutting. Then follow
practical aid in applied sewing as taugt
in industrial schools and used in the HON
"a splendid practical course it is
too that leaves the girl able to darn he
hose and her brothers. buttons q
well design and make her clothing.
Modelling In Clay.
Modelling in clay is equally as we
treated, and this will be especially helr
full to undergraduates, primary teacher