Smyrna times., 1903-09-09
MAY INTRODUCE MANUAL
TRAINING IN OUR SCHOOLS
MOVEMENT TO EDUCATE PUPILS IN LOWER
GRADES TO USE HANDS SKlLPILLY

Public Schools Open Yesterday With an En-
r0llment of 25S aud the New Year Started
with Bright and FIatterug Prospects.
Ihe Smyrna Public Schools opened
yesterday morning after two months
vacation and the familiar scene OF
children going to and fro with their
DOCKS quite set our streets agog.
Many were there long before the school
bell rang and the expressions of sur-
PRISE and approval over the renovation
tnat had taken place was very general.
1t was not long before the children
were down to their desks and the work
OF recognizing and assigning lessons
took up nearly the entire day, which
on account of rain was made one ses-
sion. Principal Burdette and his corns
OF excellent teachers were at their diff
ferent rooms and there was a pleasant
and cordial greeting among pupils and
teachers as they started out upon an
other years work. SO we'll outlined
IS the course of study, the faculty start
the new year without any material
changes. The Shearer system of grad
ing, which was adopted a year ago. has
worked very effectively and the schools
are IN better and healthier condition
today than ever before in its history
Under the Shearer system individual
effort counts and as this idea is be-
coming thoroughly instilled in the
minds of the pupils, the teachers are
getting better results along all de.
partments.
Need OF Manual Training Department.
What is needed now in orr public
schools is a Manual Training Depart
ment. Principal Burdette is anxious
that this feature be added to the cur-
rlculum. He thinks that manual
training could be introduced at mod
crate cost, since the basement is es-
peclally adapted for such a DEPART
ment. The argument in favor of man
uaI training is that forty per cent of
the pupils in the lower grades never
attend school after they pass the
fourth grade and they go out with lit
tie more than a sufficient knowledge to
read and write and do a little arith.
metlc. If manual training were in
troduced it might teach them to be
skllful and would increase their ca
pacity to earn living. Manual train.
ing is nothing more than the kinder.
garten idea advanced into something
practical, and Principal Burdette is
anxious that these little folks be
taught something that they can do
with their hands that will help them
with their limited education, to battle
with the world. Most of these chill
dren are poor and from necessity are
obliged to start earning their own liv-
ing by the time they reach the age of
IA or 10 years. 1t is estimated that
fully seventy-fve per cent. of the pu-
pills leave school before they reach the
High School. Manual training then
would fill a need that nothing else
could do.
Will Examire Methods of Other Schools.
just what it would cost to rig up
benches, get tools and machinery and
employ practical mechanic to instruct
cannot be stated at this time, but Prin-
cipal Burdette contemplates visiting
some schools having manual depart
ments, and will be able to give out
more definite later. The
girls can be taught needle and fancy
work by the teachers. Such a manual
department would be splendid effort
On the line of education so we'll laid
down and impaired through our excel
lent public school system.
Total Enrolment of Pupils 25S.
The total enrolment of pupils at the s
opening session numbered 258 pupils, ;
divided as follows: Miss Emily Spru- {
snce, So; Miss Annie Middleton, 21; =
Miss Mary E. Spruance, Al; Miss
Elizabeth Mcdowell, 81; Miss Anna
Beckett, %; Miss Emma Hough, %;
Miss Elizabeth Parrott, %; High /
school, "a. After the canning factories +
lose and the fruit season is over, the
lumber of pupils will be materially
increased.