The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-26

so the board would repeat the request for the building of two more schools as soon as possible.
 The matter of pressing importance to the school system at this time IS the erection of a new High School build ing for the accommodation of both boys and girls. Many interests are in volved. The present High School building for girls Is not only too limit ted in seating capacity but Is entire ly inadequate in its plan and equip ment. The building used by the boys is in a dflapfdated condition ana mas no equipment in the way of apparatus.
 Manual Training Needed.
 For years the board has had fin view the introduction of manual train ing. The first step was taken in em- ploying a special teacher of drawing, a subject included always in the man. ual training courses and, in fact, in dispensable in the teaching of all the other branches in the courses. The Council has not seen its way clear to provide fin response to the recommen- dations made by the board, from time to time. an appropriation enabling them to proceed further.
 December, 1905, the board, com plying with the request of the chair nah of your Committee on Schools. Hona Gaston Gunter. made suggestions as to what should be included in the plans for the new High School build ing, which at that time it was thought would be erected the following year. Among the suggestions was this. that rooms be provided for the teaching of certain manual training branches.
 Most of the manual training that is worth while is that provided for pupils twelve years old or above. that is, seventh and eighth grade pupils and pupils in the High School. It was in the minds of the board to make the High School building a manual train ing center for all pupils of the age in- dicated
 Owing to the comparatively small number of seventh and eighth grade pupils in any one school. and owing also to the large cost that would be incurred for equipment and instruction, it is impracticable to make provision for this work in all of the school buildings Without rooms properly ar- ranged and equipped. successful work in this department is not to be looked for.
 Instructor Must Be Trained.
 Aside from the work in paper cut ting, clay modelling. cardboard con- struction, etc., in the lower grades of the elementary schools. which is usual ly handled by the grade teachers un- der the supervision of manual train ing director, specially trained instruc- tors are required to teach the sub jects. The manual instructor must not only know the subject theoretical ly and be skilled craftsman, but he must also be a teacher acquainted with methods of imparting instruction and maintaining discipline. The best man. ual training teachers are those who have had experience in general school work and then have equipped them selves for their special work. They command good salaries.
 Tt may not be amiss to state that the primary object of manual training in public schools is to aid in the gen- eral education of the pupils and not for the purpose of teaching them trades.
 Tn view. then, of the pressing de- mand now upon us for proper high school accommodation, and looking to the establishment of manual training courses, the value of which has been clearly demonstrated during the last twenty five years, we beg that your honorable body will take up again the question of providing means for the erection of a High School building.
 Board of Education.
 By B. J. Baldwin.
 President,
 "A. D. Sayre,
 Secretary"
 The report is accompanied by a de- tailed list ofsrepairs that are necessary at each of the school buildings of the city. The list covers two closely type written. pages. ,.-. s,~~