The Indianapolis journal., 1904-01-24

y
boys and men who are endeavoring to bet
ter themselves in the condition of life, and
are preparing to fight it's great battles in
a more comprehensive way. At the present
time in this school there are 80 pupils.
ranging ine.age from twelve to forty.
Many OF the, students are now grown. and
who during their young life had not the op-
portunities TO take advantage OF an edu-
cation. or who idIed away their youth
scores OF young men have. OF The latter
class many are trying to make up for lost
time. for now they are out in the world
and realize what II is TO be drifting about
without an education. and therefore, al
ways have TO follow the more humble pur-
suits The former are now realizing
dream that they have thought of for years.
II really does one good TO both boys
and men who devote their days TO toll put
ting i'm their evenings over books. from
which they acquire legitimate knowledge
Among these 80 students there may be
gathered some human interest stories no
doubt there are many of them if they could
be told Indeed no one ever questions that
many OF these students are depriving them
selves Of evenings Of enjoyment, and also
skimping themselves In the matter of
clothes and many things that the average
man takes pleasure IN having. They are
sacrificing the things which many will not
TO accomplish one great purpose-that is.
TO prepare themselves for the future, so
that when the time comes that they are too
old TO labor they will not be IN the same po-
sition as when they started. This night
school does not attempt to take the place
OF the night high school or academy, but
simply tries to work upon as practical a
theory and teach what the students need in
their daily work. For this reason the stud
ents OF this school do not look upon their
lives as anything out OF the ordinary, and
none OF them will say to what the condi-
tions were before coming here: and neither
do they consider the sacrifice they are MAX
ing to acquire an education as anything
usual extraordinary.
The manner In which the school is con-
Quoted separates it into two divisions,
junior and a senior year. so it takes two
years to complete the course The junior
year is devoted 70 boys from twelve TO sew
enteen years cld while in the senior year
the studnts range in age from seventeen TO
forty; but ;hera is practically no age limit
in this course or work For the younger
students the Studies comprise much the
same as those taken in the common schools,
while the seniors In their studies approach
those taken in an academy. or high school
There are various classes, and student
can take what course he wants-that is left
entirely to him. but there is one thing
that the Association does insist on, and that
is II student desires to take mechanical
or architectural drawing he must have a
common school education before he takes
up this branch. II he has not had this op-
p3rhunity: OF course: hadi IN Ss year time. by
Association. he can fit himself to take up
the technical work.
WHAT MAY BE STUDIED.
The list of studies. taught in the COM
merca course are bookkeeping. penman-
ship. arithmetic commercial law and stem
ography. Then there is a set OF studies that
duplicate those given in the common
schools. and a senior course. which takes in
Latin. the simplest forms OF English for
foreigners. algebra and geometry; the tech
nical studies consist OF mechanical and ar
chitectural awing Next year 1t is hoped
By these in charge OF the school TO add an
other study, like carpentry or something of
that sort to the course, for il is felt that
studies OF this class are most needed. In
many cities these Y. NJ. c. A. schools have
classes for street-car motormen. so that
the men engaged in this occupation can
learn something about IT besides winding
and unwinding a brake and shutting off
the current The local school here would
undertake such, work here IL ii had the re-
quired space 30 conduct IL, but under the
present circumstances there Is no room
TO conduct such classes.
over a third OF the pupils in this school
are engaged in the commercial branches.
and with these are taking the common
school studies. Yhe purpose IS TO equip
these students with a thoroughness that
work intelligently. Bookkeeping IL given so
that practical work in any office can be car
- htr.cr
can be said. In the technical part, which
includes mechanical and architectural
drawing. exhaustive course is not in
culged in. Trigoaometry and such studies
that thoroughly taught in scientific
schools are not used here. but the object OF
this department is 10 take boys who are
engaged I'm shops all day, and who are con-
stantly being thrown with skilled mechan-
les. who do the greater part of their work
by drawings. and teach them how TO exc
cute such drawings and understand them
when seen. II is this branch that the au-
thorties OF the school encourage the boy :
20 take. for the simple reason that both of
these professions that are not over
crowded as the majority OF commercial
branches are.
s'One of the most encourag ging features
ir the educational department OF the night
school is the drawing course. which in
cludes mechanical and architectural draw
ms" said Mr. Arthur l.. Wa-d. who is the
educational director OF the Association.
mot only because Il leads 10 a field OF
work which Is very promising. but because
Il 4
IN 4 tangible way. IL Is often hard for a
student TO apply himself 10 his books.
while the other hand he may be easily
Interested in a study which appeals 10 him
in an objective way.
THE publict schools IN nearly all the large
cities now incfrde drawing in their courses
OF study. Il such. courses. however the
work is confined almost altogether TO free
hand work. and the pupil. IL he has TO
leave school before completing a manual
training course. is left in entire ignorance
OF another branch OF this subject. which Is
of equal II rcts OF greater Importance. The
brought frOntFthe beginning race to face
with mechanfc3l drawings. and must pug
zle out their Meaning IS best ne may with
what help he<can obtain from older work
men in the shops and these. as n general
rule. are not too anxious 10 explain such
things. every boy who has been in a
shop well kiows. On this account many
otherwise excellent machinlsts pattern
makers and carpenters are handica pped in
the pursuit 81 their trade by inability Ia
interpret correctly drawings given them.
PRACTICAL. INSTRUCTION
ITO give these men and boys an oppor-
tunity for gaining this knowledge" con-
tinued afr Ward. is the aim OF the even
ins drawing classes At the Y. NJ. G. \.
The course Tint we desire TO give the
students is snch that they can become ia
miliar with the underlying principles OF
mechanical drawing SO quickly as possible
Only short tippe is given 10 mere exercises
= for practice tn,the use or Instruments be-