Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-06-05
WORK THAT COUNTS THROUGH LIFE
Manual Training Display in Our Schools
That Provokes Much Interest.


Very few, if any, of our citizens had
any adequate conception of the work
that had been accomplished in our
schools during the past year under the
head of Manual Training. This work
under the superintendency of Mr.. r. E..
Condie, VINO has been aided by a eorps
of faithful and willing teachers. sur
passed the hopes of even those who
were most enthusiastic in asking for the
establishment of the department in our
schools.
1t seemed almost incredible that the
baby fingers of the four and ,ive-year-
old kindergartners could have accom-
phshed such clever clay modelling, chain
work, woven mats and 'sunbonnet ba-
bies:'' or that the First grade children
could have woven such pretty copies of
'old glory" fashioned such fetching q
daisy girls and furnish their S-room
doll house" with woven rugs, fire
place and furniture in clay and paper.
The Second grade exhibit included ali
the kinds of work done in tie two low
er grades and added to it much that de-
monstrated progress. Their clay mod
cling ard decorated calendars deserve
special mention and their eight-roon
doll house" was completely furnished
from kitchen to bed rooms with furni-
ture in paper and clay, designed by the
children.
The combination second-third grade
discarded the "doll house" and built a
castle of bricks modelled from clay:
a complete castle with turrets and
court yard, furnished with most excel
lent taste and with furniture designed
and made by the children. The free
hand pencil, crayon, charcoal and wa
ter color work of this grade was strik-
ingly good. Several of the little folks
had actually made sketches that CON
tanned perspective" which is not easy
for beginner in art. Their wall paper
designs We're good and their brown
les" most attractive.
The Third grade had built model
ward school with. steam radiators.
desks, tables, recitation seats, black
boards, program and even the waste
paper basket had not been forgotten
They had woven rugs, mats clay mod
cling and some excellent drawing and
water color work
In the Fourth grade the few simple
stitches in sewing that had been taught
IN the first grades, were improved upon
and outline embroidery appeared on
pillows and other articles, cross stitch
designs on hand bags and pillows, and
our grandmOthers would have been de-
lighted to see the mine patch" quilt
blocks. In this grade the wood work
was begun and some very good wood
carving was exhibited Tie free hand
drawing, crayon and water color work
was very good.
The Fifth grade continued the same
kinds Of needle work and added to them
embroidered center pieces .md doilies
in French and Eyelet embroidery. The
wood carving included picture frames,
match safes and carts.
The Sixth grade had on exhibition a
long table full of wood carving, book
racks, brush broom holders, tabour-
cites, wind mills, sleds, water wheels
and solitaire boards. The s.nine patch"
squares had grown into complete
quilt, tied and neatly bound. To the
outline and cross stitch eml .oidery had
been added hemstitching, French and
Eyelet embroidery and Hardanger
work.
The Seventh grade had on exhibition
a long table of wood carving, book
racks, tabourettes, backing boxes,
bread boards and other articles in wood.
Many of the articles were ornamented
with designs in typography. The draw
ing and water color work was very
good and the needle work was an espe-
cially fine exhibit of hemstitching,
French, Eyelet and Shadow embroider-
les, fancy pillows, a complete quilt and
some very neat patching and darning.
The eighth grade had large exhibit
of ''skees," knife boxes, tabourettes,
carts, book-racks and other cleverly
wrought articles in wood. An excellent
exhibit of pencil, crayon and water col
or work added to the display, and the
needle work department contained the
usual display of hemstitching and en-
broidery, fancy pillows and qnilts, but
added to them many neatly made arti-
cles of underwear, shirt waists and
wash dresses. The high school was re-
presented by a collection of wood cary
ing by the girls and several articles of
furniture such as book racks, umbrella
stands, mission desks, chairs and mag
azine racks.
For only one years training the en-
tire work was surprislnglVg good. Much
praise is due to Mr.. Condie, the super
of manual training, and Miss
teacher of drawing, and
no less praise is due the efficient corp
of grade teachers who have not only
assisted in carrying on the work as
planned, but have also voluntarily given
the girls the instruction in needle work
which is one branch of the Domestic
Science. But two hours a week are
devoted to the Manual Training work
in the upper grades. In the primary
grades more ''busy work" Is given to
the restless little people.
AS ever, Viroqua is proud of her
schools.