Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-26
FOR MANUAL TRAINING
State Superintendent Barrett
to Issue Pamphlet on Maui
ual Training
Law is COMPLETELY IGNORED
Many Do Not Even Know That There
Is Law on the Statute Books of
iowa, Providing for Manual Training
Departments in the Schools of the
state-other News.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 26.-In his last BIZ
ennfal report as state labor commits
sioner. C. +. Wennestrum included a
brief report from the educators of the
state on the progress which has been
made In Iowa in providing manual
training for pupils in the public. schools.
The report was far from satisfactory.
II showed that while beginnings have
been made in a few places 1t Is only
q comparatively few places where any
thing has been attempted. The manual
training contemplated by law has been
tried only in a few of the more pro-
gressive cities of the state. No reports
of any kind could be obtained from the
great majority Of school districts OF
Iowa. The manual training law in re-
gard to schools remains practically q
dead letter on the statute books. In
fact 1t is doubtful II any considerable
number of the people of the state OF
Iowa realize that there is a law which
provides for the establishment In the
schools Of the state of manual training
departments, where the young people
may be taught to do things as well as
to know things. But little has been
said or done in relation to this. no spe-
cial training for teachers to take up
this work has been provided. few dis
tricts are prepared to make the outlay
/. 49, srfy Mi
whole subject has been severely let
alone.
Mindful of these facts State Superin-
tendent Barrett in his annual address
before the State Teachers Association
the first OF the year called attention
briefly to this subject and stated that
he would soon issue n pamphlet on the
subject to be distributed among the
schools Of the state. This will soon be
ready for distribution. 1t will be In the
= .:,-s. or a chapter of the Biennial re-
port and 1000 extra copies. will be
printed as pamphlet on manual train
ing for circulation where 1t Will do the
most good It will be a pamphlet OF
about thirty pages containing the law
on the subject, information as to what
has been accomplished in a few of the
places where the best work is done,
illustrations OF manual training work
ii. schools, description of the tools nec-
essary; and, in general, an attempt to
anticipate about all the questions which
might arise in connection herewith IN
the preparation of this report Superin-
tendent Barrett has been assisted by
the special instructor in charge OF the
manual training department OF the
West Des Moines school district. Here
the manual training work has been
carried on more successfully than any
place In the state. Not many OF the
residents of Des Moines fully appre-
ciate it, but nevertheless 1t is one OF the
features of the Des Moines schools that
is most commendable.
The suggestion of the subject at The
State Teachers Association. tho only
briefly made, brough.: out some discus
sion among educators who were gath
cred here. But the question wnlcH
bothered them most was how to secure
teachers capable of d. ing something IN
manual training. 1t was proposed that
department of manual training should
be established at the State Normal
School, and this might readily be done,
but after all there is not yet the demand
for this special training to warrant any
such innovation. If the people demand
manual training and want teachers who
have some ability to direct manual
training, then there will be time enough
for the Normal School to begin teaching
it. The problem. therefore, presents
many difficulties. In Winconsin
great work is being done by the state
superintendent in furthering the man
ual training feature of the pubic
schools No state of the west has made
greater advancement than that state,
but 1t has taken years to get the work
nicely started. 1t is the belief OF Iowa
educators that with the start already
made here some progress may be eA-
.pected in the next decade. The PAM
phlet soon to be sent out from the de-
rartment of public instruction will be
of material assistance to all VINO are
interested in the subject.