The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-10

those things which viii be of actual
use TO them and which may be pre-
served in after life. Just before the
Christmas holidays the store rooms OF
every school were crowded with the
products Of the scholars. VINO de-
signed them as Christmas presents for
their friends and families and who
wished them kept out of sight of pry-
ing eyes until Christmas day. Seldom
are the things made by the boys and
girls left at the school. With the wide
latitude allowed them in selecting their
designs, they make what they want for
their own use. The work has excited
great interest among the families Of
the children, and much of the best
work has been done on articles of
household use, such as stepladders,
bread boards and other articles sug-
gested by their mothers.
No Rules Required.
As visitors enter the work room
while classes are in progress they are
struck with the absolute freedom from
restraint which is allowed the boys and
girls They are not required to keep
silence and are in fact encoura ged Ia
talk TO one another about the work II
is the desire OF the teacher that each
shall feel free to ask advice and in
struction, not only from the instructor,
but from each other. This liberty was
most strenuously combatted by the
principals of the various schools when
ii was first allowed. but it has been
found to work so well and to be so lit
tie abused that all opposition has been
overcome. We have no rules in the
work room" said Professor Parratt
while discussing the work. we have
never had the need of any. If a teacher
is not able to maintain discipline with
out constant recourse TO set rules while
the pupils are at this work, something
is wrong either with the teacher or
with the course. and we soon find out
what it is" Indeed. the efficiency of
the teachers of the manual training
department is remarkable. The classes
enter the work room at the beginning
Of the period and without delay or con-
fusion get out their work and tools and
start where they left off at the last
class. There is much more delay and
confusion noticeable among regular
carpenters when the whistle blows
than among the kids At The close OF
the period the work is put away and
the tools returned to their places
without confusion.
The Beginnings of the Work.
The teaching OF manual training in
the salt Lake schools does not COM
mence until the pupils have reached
the fifth grade. During the year %
fifth grade work boys and girls work
together and are given the same in
struction. The first work consists Of
basketry. string work cardboard work
end drawing. From the very start the
drawing forms a most important part
of the course. Before a boy or girl is
allowed to make even a basket or q
pin tray he or she is required TO de-
termine just what they wish to make
and make a drawing of it. Even in
this preliminary work the designs are
original. The next step is the making
Of a medallion. Each pupil is required
to bring a picture to the class and 10
design and make a suitable board on
which the picture Is pasted In maxi
ing these boards they are taught the
use of the rule. square. plane and saw.
The boards are then stained an apprO-
pirate color and the children are al
lowed to purchase them.
Sewing for the Girls.
After they have passed the fifth
grade the boys and girls are given
separate instruction. The girls are
taught the use Of the needle. the tex
ture nap and selvsce of cloth. and As
they advanos 10 higher z aides the TH-
diments of plain sewing and the use