Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-09-19
SEWING
In THE
SCHOOLS
Glasses In This b. aHch
Of Manual Ed
ucatiOn
viii Be Formed in All the
Public Schools of the
Capital City

| OaIem VIII be the first city to under
take the systematic teaching Of plain
sewing and garment-making in the pub
lie schools of this state. The classes at
nrst will have to pay small tuition;
If 1T appears that enough people want
their children to form department,
all teachers will be required to teach
sewing, and a supervisor of sewing
will be appointed, and the tuition will
be made free. That is the present
plan, and the work will be started in
each of the schools when they open
next week.
The schools close at $3.50, and at that
time the sewing classes open. One les
son will be given at each school one
day in the week. The fee for the in
struction will be so cents a month. If
the people take an interest in this
matter, and if there is a public de-
mand for teaching needlework, this
will be made a department of the pub
schools with free instruction. But the
parents and guardians must first dem
onstrate that they want their children
to learn plain and ornamental sewing
before the board of education will
make it free. Each family having one
or more children-es especially girls-but
it is just as useful for boys-shOuld de.
eide to have at least one child learn
needlework. The fee of so cents a
month is very small, considering the
Importance of this instruction.
Public school teachers and children
now in the public schools can join these
classes at the school house nearest
their homes. Mothers are urged to at.
tend the classes, especially at the open
ing. September 26th is the day the
schools are to open, and the date for
the sewing classes in each school will
be announced. The East School will
probably have sewing classes two days
in the week, the Central schools prob
ably sending pupils there.
City Superintendent Traver is anx-
ious to have the sewing classes well
supported. He is planning for a large
exhibit of public school work at the
Lewis and Clark fair, and, so far as
known, Salem public schools will be
the only one having such an exhibit of
manual work. The Salem board of ed
ucation are enthusiastically in favor of
making the needlework classes great
success.
Mrs. A. A. Sanborn, who will have
charge of the needlework classes in the
public schools, has been teaching
needlework at Salem the past year, and
has about 100 pupils. She was assist
ant to Mrs. Margaret Blair, teacher of
needlework of the University of Min
nesota for 10 years, Mrs. Sanborn was
with her three years, besides conduct.
ing summer schools, and introducing
the work at different public schools.
Mrs. Sanborn started needlewOrk in
struetion in the public high school at
Tracy, MINI, where 10 teachers and
400 pupils from the 7-year-olds up
wards took the course. All the boys
n those grades but four took up
ieedlework, the course being optional.
She says those four boys regretted not
aking the course, as needlework. inter
'sts old and young. Needlework, like
II manual training, is restful and rec.
cation after studies and class work.
and pupils feel refreshed af-
er the sewing class is over. The prae-
ical needlework is what is taught.
'ery little is made Of fancy needle
Tork or embroideries, as plain sewing,
arning, mending, sewing on buttons,
and making garments are
niversal requirements of the masses
Z the people. and should be taught