The Democratic advocate., 1909-10-01


cot of manual training IN the Westminster High
School. before the teachers convention at Moun-
tain Lake Pafk.l
Manual training Is thought BY mayn
people to be only another name for
carpentry. This Is a mistake. Wood
working tools are used. but only In
the highest classes Long before the
boy reaches these classes he has
worked with other and simpler tools,
the knife and scissors, the ruler. the
pencil and paste brush All this work
has definite aim. but this aim Is not
20 make pretty little calendars or big
Morris chairs for show.
Children love TO handle material,
70 cut IL, shape and fashion II into diff
ferent forms. This passion 10 make
things appears early In both boy and
girl Manual training is the effort Of
the school 10 meet II and To guide and
perfect the skill and knowledge which
comes from working With many tools
IN many operations. The child whose
schooling Is all a mental drill Is but
Laf trained Manual training seeks
to educate The other hhif-the motor
half Motor Hkiii or muscle skill Is
not tD be gained IN q dag. nor Ia II 10
be gained NJ all II nothing Is done TO
train II throughout the years Of child
hood. To give skill one must begin
early and must keep up practice UNI
tll the muscles OF hand and eye have
learned their power Manual train
ing Ia modern phrase. is training
for efficiency Il "a traiaiug which
deals with things and not with words
How MAMMAL Training Has Grown.
We obtained our lrst idea Of man
uai training abroad New York was
one Of The first cities of the United
States 10 Introduce the work into the
elementary grades This was done In
1857. People who did not understand
Laughed ct the subject Some called
4 Tad. some called Il "friil" Teach
ers saw that II gfva a new idea and
interest 20 school work Wise phyai-
clans commended II as making for
health and happiness Of the children.
Busy men of Affairs gave their ap-
prOyal. because OF ia practical nature.
Thus II developed faat. BY 1890 thirty
seven citios had introduced II. Four
years later the number had Increased
" AAANty- -1lNtH ANAtAF AtA NRANM lAAGF
over four hundred countad manual
training ~ part OF shr regular school
work.
The growth Of manual training In
Maryland has been remarkable. Pre-
si0ua 20 1898. when the Legislature
made an appropriation for that pur-
pose. it existed In only two counties.
Talbot and Baltimore, and 10 Balti-
more city at the old Manual Training
school.
Now we have a manual training De.
partment IN every high school IN the
state and IN many grammar schools
and private institutions. Manual
training has passed the experimental
stage and IL now considered an essen
iiai part Of the public school enrrio-
plum. When Il frat started. tho OK
erciAen were little more than drill
work with tools, but lacked practical
ends, All kinds of useful things ba.
gan 10 be made and siie teachers learn
cd that many things besides wood
we're good 10 use, 10 while wood
work for boys and sewing for girls
remained part of all courses. the lit
tic people even Ia the lowest claBHaa
began 10 work IN cardboard, In clay
and spiinta. Now many mateviSls arc
used and many operations are taught
throughout the grades
Art and Manual Training.
No one who looks AZ the handwork
Of children can doubt that they have
been made happier IN school BY the
opportunity 10 draw and make things
There Is affection expressed in every
well-made Joint and In every smooth
flowing design. Art. II has been said.
Ii but pleasure In labor. II this be
true then the real spirit OF art per-
sades every classroom where child
rem vie with one another In making
firm and shapsiy models and harmoni-
Gus patterns This spirit In the
sehool-room Is OF but few years. yet
full OF promise. As people we need
II and. as people we must In time
owe 10 Il much, for there continually
ales from the school into the world
great army Of pupils, with eyes
trained 20 see beauty, and fingers skill
ed Ia the use Of pencil. brush. and
keen-edged tools. Upon these child
rem and the children OF these children
must depend our future standing In
the artistic world A few artists do
not make an artistic people. II ls the
elementary training OF the schools
which alone can develop the artistic
consciousness OF the nation.
The artistic ability of people
makes greatly for its maaterlal wealth.
Taste Is a national asset Applied In
practical way TO manufactures It
multiplies the value Of raw material
a hundred field or more. To teach
workers not merely TO make things
but to make them beautiful Is to ex-
tend our commerce in every market
OF the world.
Manual Training Aids In Vocational
Preparation.
Those who know children know how
much children differ. Some work
well with their heads, some with their
hands. The latter become creators
Ia the world, the inventors. the engi-
neers, the workers In the thousand
industries. Manufacturing makes
for the success OF these; II helps each
boy to 'find himself" Without 1t he
Is constantly being led away from his
creative bent and thwarted IN his de-
sire to make things with tools, man
fashion.
We are a great Industrial people
living in an Industrial age. Nine ont
of every ten boys who enter the ele-
mentary schools must later earn a
living with their hands. These boys
must not be trained away from their
work rather they should be trained
toward IT, Manual work gives this
training; 1t fosters the Industrial bent.
Not only does It give knowledge Of
plan and process to the would-be
artisan, but it early gives respect