The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-01

4rntlon the better 1T viii ioe for his cans
ldidacy. vs.
Manual Training.
In Yesterdays paper there was an M
structiye article by Mr.. Theodore Go ol'A
man. entitled american Schools Lead
N Manual Training. In the whole scope y
OF educational work there is perhaps l 1 no
branch or study so little understood ana ll
appreciated as manual training. MOST
PEOPLE have the idea that such framing
~ our schools means simply teaching g
pupil to be a jackieg mechanic. 'th 1t'
seem to think that such instruction is 3
entirely physical and that IT has no
other purpose and no othcr erect. IN
point or fact. manual training ss mental mt az
training and, In, q degree moral tram
In g n .'..The central principle guiding the
action of the best pol ytechnic schools
says Mr.. Coleman rs that the broadcast
education and the highest culture de-
,,and the active participa ton OF the
trained hand. 4 Manual training Is not
mere exercise In the use of tools and
materials; its chief purpose is not to-
mako artisans Of the pupils. Its value
lies In developing the mind and strength
lening the character through brlnginH
into play physical powers which con- t'ln;
structiye work alone can develop. 63
Manual training teaches the pupil to
do something, u not as q beast Of bur- r'
denis taught TO draw q ca ri 1.-The word ord
or command. but to IA compli sti some-
thing will, the hand ny direction Of tl'e;
mind. The pupil who is thus taught the the
art Of construction, who learns how to.
do something in mscllan1ca way, ts
al tho Same time training his mind and N
rs learning how to do al things VIII WI!
system, precision and Will due att entions
to details It needs no; argu ment 20 show
that that sort OF training better prepares
d man for carrying on busine for SUI "
permit tending any sort Of work, " hateyerls5
the work may be. It tends 70; MA Ike him;
the mastef himself, The master of Of
III; his intellectual and physical rsle'El y
fc rces. has been demo t N
"a beyond question that hose upilo's Who I
have the advantage Of r1alua al training.
make better n progress a neir mental t34.l
studies than pupinls " ha I NOT o.. sls
81 Manual training also; teacne IS the art
OF analysis. and every By man ma
knows that this art is necessary 10 him
il: dealing with the problems ,S en- come
Up from day II his fol,tine work work
Cor solution. W hen q PROF post lon IL su b.
mitted TO a business man he must, i 50 TO-
speak, resolve IT into its parts Y examine
the various parts and then ZEN
proceed with the construct ton, % use
a shop term, he mentally tears the prso ''5
position to pieces, examines tho ira 6. 4
1nents, decides what there is lin It and
then either throws the fragments n a way
or puts them toge.her In a. ts.o rkmanllke&
manner The man who has mad the e a a.
vantage 4 OF thorough manual training
at school Is und oubted ly IN !. better
position to do this sort Of war b .satA5
tie man who has had no such training
" AS for the moral instruction involved
manual ;5 training teaches q curacy.gs and
liable instruction to children IN the dig
nifty and value Of work. Every boy i ts
ityY nature a :3;Yandal and his savage inn
Pulse is "a tor destroy. Rlchm ond suffers
every day from the wand IN Of boys
ana the best cure for i. or perhaps we We
should say. The best preventive. IS man nan
sual training. N When g BOY und erstands
row mu Oh Ia Dor is involve In the cor y
struction or any art cle5 around the prem
ises-a chair: or table in tile house, or
fence or gate outside, or the OF lialnents.
en- the sgate-posts or wha tever rs article.
may be-the spirit Of vandalism . him
.is reduced, II It is not entirely eradl-
Gated n it. "a 4 5sEa s s.
4 Similar lessons are to be icarned from
the cultivation Of Il n overs 4: and plants
generally. When he child is taught he
processes BY which nature produces
when the child is taught TO a sslst iia-
ture in producing; when the chilo Gull.
tivates and develops flowers or veseta-s
bles, 1t is but natural that there should
fellow something Of affection Tor the
product, and the desire to create rather.
than destroy is stimulated.
Let us get rid of the Idea that manual
training and nature studies arc sont;-
mental fads; they are intensely practt-li
cal and they are an essential part Ut
our educational system. "a
ft.t t:---=------------- 81 Tx 4lESl
It is related that. In the State of Ken
lucky the other day It was necessary to
abandon n parade because not enough
horses could DO obtained for the riders.
That is q truly remarkable statement to
come from Kentucky, which gives SO
great attention to stock raising. A little
while ago It was believed by many that
electricity and steam would gradually re.
tire the horse and the nnulo from business