Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-17
Manual TRAINING.

Manual Training.
The class Grafton was delivered by
Percy c. Cobb, the class president His
subject was Manual Training" In
part he said MANY people will no
doubt wonder why a high school grad
uate, and one who has prepared for
college. should speak on 4 subject such
as manual training Such a person is
supposed to earn his livelihood with
his brains and not with his hands But
in these days of aeroplanes, automo-
bileS and motor boats man is OBLIGED
to use his hands as well as his brains.
Manual training is certainly one of TIE
most important questions that is com
ing before our school boards today. A
man may be as good student as any
college ever sent forth and vet not
know even how to drive a nail
straight
Our State law requires that emil
dren shall be kept in school until they
are fifteen years of age. Many leave
school the moment the law allows them
to and go to work when they are not
fitted for any but a low grade of work
Many must Semain unskilled laborers
all their lives for lack of proper train
ing. What can be done to help these
boys and girls? Some towns have al
ready answered that question by the
Introduction of manual training.
IN former times it was the custom
for children to be bound over as ap-
prentces and thus they We're enabled
to learn trade by several years Of
hard labor with no pay and no educa-
Il oh cd l,axT
learn the same trades along with their
education in books. Until recent years
schools offered but one course. This
fitted students for college but it did not
give those who We're not going a Sulta-
BILE preparation for earning liveli-
hood. Now many of our schools have
introduced manual training which pre-
pares those who look forward to indus
trial life with an opportunity to be-
come familiar with the construction
and use of tools as well as with math
mates. elementary science and the or
binary English branches. The conlon-
est argument against manual training
was that it would degenerate the
schoola and lower the standard of ed
uc3Lion but this is easily proved to be
untrue for it requires but small part
OF the school hours and 40 home study
The grammar, geography and history
acquired by those who do not go be-
yond the grammar school and those
who do not finish the high school
course may not stick in their minds
but the skill acquired in fashioning
tools and carving different objects may
give them clear minds and firm control
of the muscles which will go a long
wav toward securing lucrative posi-
tionS.
MANY children in our largest cities
are unfamiliar with the varieties OF
trees and some of us can't tell piece
of hard wood from soft when the bark
and leaves are removed. Almost the
first thing taught in manual training is
to distinguish the different kinds of
wood as well as the knowledge of the
kind best fitted for making various OBJ
iects and implements. A boy finds THIS
knowledge invaluable in whatever line
of craftsmanship his employment may
take him.
Before attempting to make anything
the children are shown different TOOLS
and their use explained. They are nor
required to make any special opJec'
but each is allowed to make that Which
pleases him NEST. This gives MN
oririnaliiy. 1t is not so much the nm
ished exercise as the doing of it, the
methods learned and the power ac-
oured for the concentration OF the
mind
Thus with manual training in the
grammar school a boy whiSe circum-
stances forbid a higher education IS
able to get a start in wood carving,
cabinet making or some other usefu'
handicraft that may influence MN ~
select some pleasant and profltapie
work and instead of going out into the
world as day la5orer he will perfect
himself in some trade
One does not give boy manual
training py turning linn loose in shop
any more than one gives him literary
education by turning him loose in a IL
brary. The manual training school
serves as a developing school where
child may discover his Unborn capaci-
| ties. as a culture school to develop the
child bv developing the brain and IN
creasing his control over materials py
first training the eye and hand. TOOL
work should result in accuracy In
Thought and deed and also in wen
trained senses and when we have well
trained senses we have q firm founda~
tion for a strong intellectual life.
Glass Will