Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-04-16
TEACHERS ARE ELECTED
BOARD MAKES PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR
superintendenrs Salary Increased-Election
OF Officers-Report On Manual framing
by Chairman E. P. Arpin.

1lth day of April in the Library hall
the following officers were unanimously
reelected for the ensuing year:
Presidential. L. FOntaine.
City superintendent S. Youker.
Treasurer-Theodore Lipke.
The uperintendentS salary was
Increased 800 as mark of apprecia-
tion Of his excellent services rendered
the past year.
At Z meeting held Monday night
the president, A. L. FOntaine, an
nOunced his appointment OF commit
tees for the ensuing year as follows:
Buildings and GrOundS-T. A.
Taylor, chairman; J. P. Horton, E..
Roenius, It. A. Lipke, f. Oberbeck.
Teachers and Texts Committee
Guy Nash, chairman; I. P. Witter,
+. ?. Arpin, E. X. Pomainvlle,
superintendent, II. s. Youker.
Finance Committee. 2. Witter.
chairman A. L. Ridgman, W. ii.
Reeves, A. G.. Otto. e. r. Grif1ith.
Purchasing Committee-GeO. W..
PauluS, chairman; Guy Nash, L. A.
Taylor |. P. Witter.
The committee on Teachers and
Texts reported in favor of re-inviting
nearly all the present corps of teachers
at increase in salaries in accordance
with the schedule fixed by the School
Board.
E. p. Aroin, chairman of special
committee appointed to look up the
matter Of Manual Training, made the
following report:
To THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE
CITY OFGRAED RAPIDS, WISCONSIN.
GENTLEMEN:-Some time ago there
was committee appointed to inyeSti-
gate the subject Of Manual Training,
on which committee, the undersigned
is member.
/ will state that | have investigated
Manual Training in the schools at
Wausau. Eau Claire and MenOmOnie,
Wisconsin, also in Denver, Colorado
The best examples Of what may be
done in the manual training line in
cities OF this size, are found at Me-
nOmOnie and Eau Claire The manual
training teachers now at Eau Claire
are graduates from the MenOmonie
school, although Eau Claire was the
first city to institute manual training
about fifteen years ago.
Those well posted on this work
maintain that manual training is an
important and desirable line of work
to undertake in every high school,
The universal opinion among those
who have given the matter fair test,
is that the time devoted for manual
training does not detract from the
efficiency in the other branches. The
explanation given for this is that
there is too much abstract work as the
educational work is now carried on,
and the diversion of manual work aids
in clearing up the mind and the short
time devoted for manual training is
more than made up by the renewed
energy put in the other work; besides,
manual training is great stimulus
in developing the concentration Of
power Of mind.
In the Menomonie and Eau Claire
schools, the work of the kindergarten
and manual training school has been
fully and satisfactorily demonstrated
to the instructors and the public. 1t
is in brief thorough mode of educa-
ton of head. hand and heart so as to
enable the child to become a bright,
energetic and upright citizen, one
who is able to cope fearlessly with the
world and not afraid Of manual labor
or any position that may be his lot to
ill.
The manual training work is started
Immediately after the kindergarten
work ends, up through the primaries
into the high school. The work pro-
vided consists of about the following
ORDER
A course Of free-hand drawing for
boys and girls alike. extending over
the entire period from the kinder
gartcn to the high school; is taught
by the regular teachers in the several
school rooms, under the supervision Of
the art teachers Of the manual train
ing school. The exercises in connection
consists of paper cutting, clay model
ing, paper folding, cardboard
construction. brush drawing color
painting and basket weaving.
The course for girls consists in the
fourth grade and upwards, principally
of sewing, cooking and housekeeping.
Boys commence in SlOyd work in the
fifth grade. and gradually work up sc
as to use more tools. The time
allotted for manual training consists
only Of about two tifty-tive minute
periods per week through the fifth
sixth, seventh and eighth grades
In the high school the manual
training work consists Of mechanical
drawing and all mechanical arts in
woodwork, and where opportunity
offers, in machine shop work.
The expense Of starting a manual
training school work is comparatively
small; an outfit of from $500 to $1,000
is all that is necessary for few years
until the pupils have passed through
the Sloyd and carpentering work, afte1
which time, if convenient, machine
shop work might be instituted, which
necessarily requires a larger expense
owing to the cost of machinery. The
principal expense is for the teachers
it costs between 500 to 5000 per yea
for director in manual training. anC
5000 to 500 for lady assistant fo
domestic science work.
In view of the future needs Of thu
city, and the prospects of separat,
manual training school through tht
J. d. Wittcr heQueSt, it would seen
very proper at this time to inStitut,
manual training on good substantial
basis at the least possible cost, and i
is to be hoped that prompt action vii
be taken with this worthy end il
view.
Dated April 5, 1903
Respectfully submitted,
E. P. ARPIN
Chairman of Committee
His report was received and Ordere
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