Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-03-19


their work, and who are eager to
correct such mistakes, have become
convinced that our courses Of
studies need reconstruction, 90 as
to be in harmony with modern re-
quirements. Right here I am 60
ing to quote DR.. MacAllister. of
Drexel institute of Philadelphia,
in statement of more than quar-.
ter of century ago. He said: i
am fully persuaded, therefore, that
some radical changes will have to
he made in the character of our
public education. / must repeat
again that these changes do not
mean extinction of the classical
system. The demand is sim ply,
that the primary schools shall be
made to conform to the existing
necessities of the people, and side
by side with the higher ins titutions
of learning. There shall be estab-
lished schools where the sciences,
in their relation to the arts and
industries, shall be made specific
branches of instruction and train
ing The fact that this pioneers
appeal has not been lott is evil
denced by the establishment of
many manual training high schools
as school subject in many cities
and towns throughout the land.
"'The perfectly educated man."
says DR.. MacAllister, is he whose
facile hand follows obediently the
clear and ready promptings of a
we'll developed brain 1t is the
hand that enables the mind to
realize, in thousand WAYS, its
highest imaginings, its profoundest
reasonings, and it's most practical
inventions. Why should not an
organ which forms so vital part
of mans being receive due share
of attention in preparing him for
the duties and responsibilities of
citizenship?
"There is much haziness as to
what is meant by manual training;
some even declaring penmanship
to be manual training, since it calls
for the exercise of the hand. If this
were the meaning to be taken, feed
ing ones self is manual training,
for that requires skillful control of
the hand, or dressing or playing
marbles; in fact, performing many
of life's duties. However, those
states where special appropriations
have been made for the introduce
ton Of manual training do not
consider penmanship as coming
under that head for penmanship has
long been taught everywhere.
1.-The real purpose of man ual
training is to develop the motor
activities of the child, to furnish him
with knowledge of the materials
with which he comes in contact, to
teach him the art of construction,
and to give him skill and dexterity
in the use of tools and in manipu-
lating materials.
Manual Training tends to bring
the powers of the body to be obedi'
ent to the mandates of the will. 1t,
therefore. belongs to the curriculum
of the comon school, which must
provide for the development of all
sides OF the child, as truly as arth
metic, reading, grammar, or geogra-
ply belongs to 1t. Indeed, it is
absolutely essential to that all
around development which include
the hand as we'll az the head and
heart. 1t gives full measure to the
inventive constructive and mechan-
ical impulses of the child. 1t is
purely educational and its purpose
is not to make mechanics or special
lists.
"My father does not want me to
take manual training at school be-
cause he says l am not going to be
carpenter or My mother does
not want me to take sewing be-
cause she says l am not going to be
dressmaker" are common excuses