The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-01-10


lection, ownership, gregariousness, en-
ulation, kindness and pugnacity and
mastery. The principal capacities are
the management of things, men, con-
crete ideas, and symbols and abstract
ideas, self!control, energy, precision,
thoroughness, originality, cooperation,
leadership, self denial, self-reliance, re-
fnement and sympathy.
The forces Included under environ
ment present many phases very com
plicated as result of the evolution
,of community life during the past
century. In order to obtain the full
value of these forces in the work of
teaching they must be generalized
and organized with reference to the
stages of physical, mental and social
growth and development.
Securing right responses from the
individual pupils is problem whose
solution lies in the systematic devel-
opment of desirable ideals, standards,
motives and principles and in the
training of Judgment. The develop
ment of these adds tone to the will,
contributes largely to mental unity and
balance as opposed to impulsiveness,
moodiness, emOtionalism and vassila-
ton. The training of character is m
.uded in this phase of the larger
problem.
If suitable spheres are sought for
the exercise and training of these
groups of forces, current systems of
public education need to be supple
mented with shops, kitchens, sewing
rooms, laboratories for the grades,
studios, gardens, Fairgrounds and gym
nasiums. The addition and organiza-
| ton of these with the other school
equipment means an opportunity not
only for the small percentage of alb
stract thinkers but for each of the
other types and phases of minds as
well. The important phases of here
J dity can find scope and be wisely direc'
ted. and the task of developing right
!, responses on the part of the children
Ibecomes far less of problem. The
Fundamental social activities can be
given full expression. How existing
Iconditions originated, grew, developed
lean be better taught with such help.
1.-THE origin of problems and their re-
lations can be better understood and
1.-THE art of solving them much more
readily taught. The pleasure and
stimulus of the discovery of laws and
other CONGRATULATIONS as well as their
use in the further extension and or
eanization of knowledge can be eX-
perienced. Permanent and desirable
interests in various fields of knowl-
edge can be developed. The relations
of literature, history, geography, art
! and mathematics to industries and
] life can be more readily shown, and
1.-The fact that each of these studies
\ gives point of view of life reco-
i ganized. Children learn to appreciate
4 other children of different social stand
Ting by working and competing with
4 them and thus artificial and foolish
! distinctions are forgotten. They can
Ilearn to subordinate their interests to
the interests of their group of which
4 in school they are part, and again
i Ito lead or manage the group. Duties
to ones self as well as those due to
4 others and truer appreciation and
Iestimate of ones own Importance can
II be learned. Physical training can be
4 given and standard of respect and
!; care for health set up. Additional
4 values have so often been stated that
tthey may be assumed now.
j Too frequently the book work OF
j, the school has been carried on indepen,
; 4 IDENTIFY when some one or more of these
i lines have been introduced, and thus
valuable opportunity lost 1t seems
! almost needless to say that trained
i teachers are necessary for the work
of dealing with the problems as indi.
!. Gated. Opportunity is usually limited
where there is shop or sewing room
to one or two brief periods per week
I and the advantages of play grounds
|, are usually largely lost through the
!, absense of supervision. ~ A''I .-a.''iei
y The sphere of the shop and labor;
5 atory needs extention to include the
elements of less complicated mechan
i zeal devices and machinery. The mo-
:. (dern home includes much Of both and
u the end is not yet Few girls OF
women can adjust any bit of machin.
!. cry if it refuses to work, and the
: number of men that can do so is toe
5. small to mention. The beginner in
:, factory, mill, shop and business house
lis equally helpless. 1t is an age OF
. science and machinery but the pupil
from both high school and grade is
, helpless in their presence. From egg
beater door lock and faucet to type
Il writer and sewing maehines-all must
|, be asent to the shop if out of repair.
! Both boy and girl should have
training in the shop, he more than
. Ishe Both should have training in
Kitchen and sewing room, she more
than he. Each will need to use
! what he gets there, and each will
be more thoughtful and considerate OF
the other If something has been
learned from experience of the Others
problems.