The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-20
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING WORK
Something About the Proposed Plan
in the Schools.

IN the Schools.
bill providing for manual or indus
trial work in the public schools will be
placed before the legislature. 1t is sup
ported by the Women's Federated clubs.
The chairman of the legislative commit
tee appointed by the state meeting lasr
spring at Salina is Mrs. ADplington of
Council Grove, who is enthusiastic in
the cause.
The following has been CLEANED on the
subject from those familiar with the
practical workings in the schools where
1t IS part of the regular course. It will
give many new idea of manual train
ing:
There is a mistaken idea in the minds
of some people concerning the real pur-
pose of industrial training in the public
schools.
Industrial training schools are not
schools Of technology designed to fit
young men for the trades. They are
train schools to develop all the fac
ulties of the child to train hand and
eye with the brain. so that he Will be
prepared for any line of work that his
lnclnations and talents fits him for.
visit to the Kansas City, No, Man
ual Training High school illustrated
this point. Among the boys working in
the great machine room was one who
was questioned concerning his occupa-
ton when his school course was finished.
II am going to be a farmer" said he.
Why do you work here with machin-
cry then?'
20, 1 expect have lots of machin-
cry on my farm, and 1 want to under
stand it, and know how to repair it
Another boy replied; mo, I do not
expect to be a nachinist but a lawyer.
There are many cases where machinery
is involved and / like to know about it.
Seventy minutes each week Is given to
industrial training, divided into two les
sons. but it is astonishing how much
can be accomplished in one year by
regular systematic work. The girls
learn to make the simple stitches, to
patch, and darn, to draft their own pat
are competent to make their own grad
uating dresses.
A class of thirty girls was seen max
ing apple jelly. All wore white sleeves,
white caps and aprons. Each had a lit
tie gas stove and all necessary Utensils
They were graded on this work the
same as though 1t were literature or
mathematics.
What studies have to be dropped in
order to carry out this industrial train
ing idea, was asked.
Only one, and that is Greek. The
central high school at Kansas City in
cludes Greek in its curriculum, the
Manual training school replaces Greek
with the manual training course
When one thinks of the large per-
centage of pupils who enter the bust
ness world and the trades it appears to
be only just to provide for them some
thing in the way of education that will
be of special practical use in their fu-
ture work.
In the school at Pittsburg, Kansas,
industrial training was begun in
small way. but as the people were
pleased with the results they have year
by year added to the equipment When
they found that it was necessary to
build a new high school they resolved
TO make it a manual training high
school and they are to have one Of the
finest equipped schools in the west
Sena tor Porter, who has been for
years president of the Pittsburg board
of education, has investigated the sub
ject thoroughly. visiting many of the
manual training schools of the country,
so that Pittsburg viii have the latest
most approved methods, models and
general equipment
Another fact in regard to manual
training is not understood as general
~ as it should be. 1t is this that man
ual training is practical not only for
every grade of the public schools, but
for country district schools. The ex
pense is not great for this work. nor is
the question of time a barrier to it's
introduction. The time is only equal to
that generally given to Friday after
noon exercises. The results obtained
are surprising.
An interesting point ia regard to Do
nestle Science for girls is this: Those
who take the systematic training in