Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-24
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BRAIN work IN lno son""i9
On Thursday OF this week. two
leading educators OF tho state left for
WASHINGTON. D. G.. TO discuss this
topic nj the national convention Of
superintendents and principals. They
hre Prof, stewart OF the state Normal
pnd supt. Nelson of the public
schools.
We believe that a true training
should engage fmly hand and brain,
and that the nenror we can come 10
this ideal the better the schools will
be-
Tn answer to our question. why
should manual training be taught In
The schools2" Mr.. Upton. instructor in
tho state Normal says there are three
reasons; % the physiological effects;
(2) the common sense OF practical
utility go the commercial value.
As to the first reason. It is known
that certain areas Of the brain are
motor or motion controlling in their
operation Particularly that one
area. that which directs the motion
of the hands is very closely connect
ed with the thought centers
healthful development OF the motor
areas therefore, will react upon the
brain stimulate the thought centers,
and so tend TO develop the intellect
ual life
ANTAGONISTS have found that persons
not skillful In the use of their hands
have these particular parts OF tho
brain poorly developed, while the
sklllfW hand artisan exhibits a high
development of the corresponding
brain areas.
It has been very generally observed
that imbecilcs or those lacking in any
form of mental strength, are deficient
In the use of certain limbs and mus
rles, particularly those of the hands
Ia fact that has successfully led
specialists TO improve the mentality OF
this class of defective nv the SYSTEM
attic use OF caiisthencs and manual
training.
1t has been found further that
many criminals and persons strongly
Inclined to immoral conduct have been
greatly improved or even cured Of
such tendencies by giving them work.
that requires tho constant use and
ulStiIlilIt pl Atif HalluHs
on the common sense side. we may
observe, first, that oil children are
born with hands. This is a fact that
educators have often neglected. They
have treated children as IL the latter
we're born possessed of minds alone.
II seems that nature requires the child
TO be muscularly active. The nor
NAL. healthful child Is never still. The
use of It's hands tends to correct and
to make real the impressions derived
through the other senses--sight,
hearing, smell. taste. Thus the true
concept OF solid extension is obtained
mainly through the sense of touch.
The tendency to handle things Is
one OF the most persistent and inc
radicable among child impulses. M
deed, such activity seems to- be M
lures method. as distinguished from
artificial or school methods. of edu-
eating tho child. This method sup
plies the proper balance to the mind
and serves 10 rectify the over-intcI-
lectual exercise of the schools by
bringing about an adjustment between
the real or actual and the ideal or
theoretical The child Will do some
thing with his hands. and this some
thing may be left to merely destruc-
tive results or may be made pro-
ductiye by being made useful,
AS 10 the third aspect. the CONNER
cial value OF such training, statistics
show that about 90 per cent OF the hui
man race have 10 earn their living by
the use OF tools The boy who cannot
use his hands effectively, who lacks
any form OF mechanical skin. is SCR
iously handicapped in lies race. Man
Is essentially tool-using animal.
The state dcvotes practically All its
bounty inl free schools TO intellectual
training--to the acquisition of skill In
the use OF language, mathematics,
science and art-and scarcely. any to
the creation Of manual skin, which is.
nevertheless, the most pressing need of
the masses.
Training IN school should DO in some
degree vocational; It should prepare
the child for what he is to he or to do |
IN order to enrn his livelihood. II u
child Is found Who has no aptitude |
Tor abstract studies and theoretical
investigations, the state In effect says |
to him, I'VE can do nothing foi YOU" |
Trades are taught. It Is true. In the
reform school or pententIary but only
for the few uufortunates, But the
normal child needs this training, since
he cannot ho idle and win find some.
thing TO do with his muscles. lie reg
unrly gets busy" when the state de-
cllnes 70 Keep him busy as II keeps
those Of It's wards who happen to be
OF different makeup.
The reason that many boy drops
out of school Is that he fails to keep
up with the intellectual or abstract
activity that dominates school courses.
lie may be AN inventive or mechanical
genius, an Edison or a Hiram of Tyre.
ana YET fan miseraby In school, simply
from the lack OF something congeniol
10 do.
The leading aim OF most of the pust
teaching Of manual training IN the
schools has been 10 soolaliEe child-ac-
Invites; that Ia 10 teach him how 10
express himself in some form aud 10
cooperate with others. so as to show
him how much part Of the social unit