The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-04
STUDENTS GIVEN
SOLID FOUNDATION
Practical Courses Included IN
School Work of Great
Future Benefit. .
PUPILS BR0ADENED ----
BY INSTRUCTION
Given Firm Foundation Which
Will Enable Them 10 be Self
Supporting and Self
Reliant.

The practical work of the pupils
of Richmond public schools, which
was on exhibition for three days dur
ing the past week, proved Of deep In
terest to thousands OF spectators who
visited John Marshall High school
and listened To- the explanations OF
the teachers. These spectators were
impressed in many ways, put chieffE
in all probability with the fact that
they were viewing the initial work
of what In not a few instances MARKS
The beginning OF career OF the chli-
dren concerned. In other words, they
had before them tangible evidence OF
what will be done by the woTkmen
of tomorrow.
The present day students of the
Richmond public schools will, when
they arrive at the proper age, go
out into the word to I'll variety
of places In as many stations ana
walks OF life. Some viii remain In
Richmond. some viii go 10 Larger
cities and some will revert to the
farms.
Some of these students nc doubt
comprise future attorneys. statesme en-
and literateurs--but at the same
time IL must be remeulbe that
they also comprise a certain percen-
tage which will never follow pro-
fession. but will live out their lives
plying Some chosen trade.
IL was with realization of the TACT
that while poets are born. SO equally
there are many DO II nct TO be poets
that the schools have recently begun
broadening the scope Of their work
that IL may prove OF eeneit 10 tne
future lc.borer no less than to the
hat
proye OF value to the girl ~ho wiil
marry and settle down to n life or
tiomesticity, and Also to that one VINO
decides TO take up the battle OF NE
singie-handed.
In other words, the work is being
NC arranged that IL win ssinuitane-
ously prove Of benefit to those who
viii have rfches, to those who whl
possess enough 10 live In comfort opt
not In luxury, and to those whom an
unkind fate has ordained shah he
poor.
For Their Practical Good.
II Is primarily for these latter tF"
classes that the various practtchi
eourses have been inauEurated-
courses In dreSs-making and cooking
for the girls. and In manual training
for the boys. But these same courses
while they may never be needed.
nevertheless have their benencial Ell
feet on those pupils for whom i'aine
Fortune holds her most chosen gifts
i'm store,
For II il good that women know
how 10 cook, no matter whether IL
ever he Necessary for her to employ
that knowledge or not II is gooa
that she be familiar with the intfl~
escies OF the arts OF the moaiste
even though she may be Aole 10 paF
chase the most costly creations" at
thu dictates OF her vertest wnim so
much for these fortunate ones.
For those less fortunate such IN
structions mean the ability to he selt-
supportins--this and much more
The various exhibits which were
offered for the inspection OF Rich
aonders during Monday, TUESDAY ana
"Wednesday OF the week just past
comprised many branches. the whole
showing how pupils. from the very
beginning, are instructed along ma :
teriaI and vocational lines ar we'll
as those intended solely Tor the m
euication OF culture and refinement
Even the youngest pupils are set al
work doing something. That some
thing may be comparatively insig-
nificant, but II helps, IN that il ieads
to greater things.
There 10. for instance, course In
cardboard cutting which must be
taken by tots barely past the hsping
stage. This course gradually de-
velopes itself into the making OF all
sorts of articles. some useful. others
more ornamental.
Insofar az this practical instruction
of girls Is concerned. thare are va
rtous phases. The embryonic women
are taught crayon drawing and water
means not only livelihood. but
comfortable one. IL the student pos
sesSes even q fair amount OF Skill
Then there are courses In basket
making and lace-making. Finally.
the girls are taught to sew and to
cook.
Both these last named courses are
particularly thorough. In the cook
ing school the girls mix their own
ingredients. place them on stove
and watch them until they are done.
In case Of failure they must try
again and again until they have mas
tered every detail. They are taught
TO cook delicacies. but they are also
taught to prepare the more staple ar
ticles of food.
In the sewing department their in
struction IN pursued along generally
similar lines. Fancy work 10 not neg
lscted. but Miss Arabella Pitcher. who
il In charge Of this department. and
who has 4 reputation for ability In
other cities between Richmond, exerts
especial efforts In teaching. first and
foremost. what the girls are apt to
find most useful to them In after life.
Az she herself laughingly expresses II.
II want my girls TO be 20 competent
with the needle that II they should
ever happen to be in locality where
the styis OF the dressmakers does not
please them, they win. nevertheless,
Sc able % appear dressed to the salts
faction OF themselves and OF others
in gowns entirely OF their own max
Ing"
Tnugilt How 70 Darn
IN addition to teaching her pupils
q make dresses In their entirety,
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