Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-18

important art ought 10 DO "VSs '""
able in after. life. they are taught
the reasons for the different processes
adopted, n they also learn the foou
values Of the materials passing through
their hands. The work Is raised Is
much as possible TO an intellectual
level. and the old idea of drudsery IN
connection with household duties Is
put In the background. The results
50 far have been very encouraging TOT
the girls AXE the keenest interest in
their work, and are always ready 10
buy and AXE home what they nave
cooked. while the abilities OF some
are recognized by being called upon ny
neighbors to cook for them. The girls
are encouraged to keep note books in
which they put down what they have
cooked at homo and their parents
criticisms Of the result.
Owing to the fact that only boys OF
- years OF & were allowed to take
the manual instruction course. there
used to be a difficulty In getting lads
to take the complete course, many
leaving school before the series OF les
sons were completed. The board OF
education. realizing the difficulty, re-
duced the &Ke to II, and the Preston
educational authorities will now have
no difficulty in filling up their classes.
The general idea underlying all
manual instruction is that the pupil
must first Of all gain a conception of
an object in his mind, then draw 1t.
and finally produce It in woodwork.
for the finished product Is compared
with the drawing, n must cores
pond with Il. The chief delight to the
boy Is the using Of tools, and as he
sees nm object actually attaining thu
desired shape under his fingers his IN
terest in his work Is always at the
highest point. The work done at first
is of the simplest character. as are
the tools used. but as the pupil ac-
quires skill his range Of working i'm
plements increases until at length he
Is familiar with most OF the tools
used by the skilled woodworker. an
his hand and eye respond freely tc
the brain in using them to achieve de-
rtrAl ArIs I-a.1 NJ tIa rart~n. In
facilities for instructinG 200 boys pc,
week in classes OF 20 each. and unde
the new conditions It Is anticipated
they will be fully occupied.
There Is provision in one of thu
schools for a metal working centre II
addition to woodworking. with thu
special object in view OF giving boy.
an insight into engineering and boiler
making. The woodworking instruc
ton Is carried on under qualified
teachers, and is thorough In every re
spect. The boys do all their ow,
work. cutting up their wood from tn
rough planks. and an interesting feat
ure is the country rambles for tn,
purpose of studying the various type
Of trees. The lads learn beforehan'
what characteristics Of trees they hav
to o for. noting the general appear
ance. the bark. the leaves. and tn
quality OF the timber, and the inform
alton noted down is afterwards pre-
scented in essay form.
Manual training has. OF course, 9th
er recommendations than that o
teaching a boy how to work In woot
American educationists have carrie
the principle of doing" things rattle
than learning them further than tn
English. The fundamental idea is one &
training. but the work must at tn
same time impress other lessons upo
a growing lad. not tho least valuabl
being that of the dignity of labor.
This summary gives a very made
quate idea OF the work carried on 1
Preston. but It is sufficient to indicat
that we OF Vermont may be fallin
short Of the work we should do /
educating the young OF both sexes
meet the stern duties of life.