El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-08-09
MANUAL TRAINING EQUIPMENT IS
PURCHASED FOR HIGH SCHOOL

,
of the present week.
Repairs Ordered.
PlaStering of defective places in the
walls of the school buildings was or
dered, the same to be done at the
rate of SO a day, plasterer to furnish
material.
At the request of Mr.. Ross, of the
manual training department, instruc-
tions were given for the sharpening Of
several thousand tools and the putting
IN order of twenty-five machines.
Warrants were ordered drawn for
the payment of the salary of Mr.. Ross.
School Expenditures.
Then followed the adoption of a re-
port OF purchasing agent T. E Sawyer,
which showed the expenditures for the
month of July as follows:
The report shows expenses for
salaries, supplies fuel and
water and all other school
expenses amounting to- .....s1, 1851
Officers salaries and office ex-
penses .--.-..--.---..- 1,1S1-27
furniture, fixtures and equip
ment. northumberland 4i6-O9
Total expenses. ....s SIS, 1887
Immediately after the acceptance of
this report the board adjourned.
Mr.. Ross's Report.
In his report on his visit to eastern
schools. Z. a. Ross, superintendent OF
manual training, said:
The six weeks leave of absence from
which l have just returned was spent
In studying the manual training equip
ments and courses Of study in other
cities. The progress that has been
made during the last two years is
surprising, and the important place
given to manual training, as well as
its remarkable financial support prove
that this department is past the ex-
detrimental stage, and is an assured
and permanent part of the public
school curriculum, destined to increase
year by year in Importance and mag
nitude. Nowhere did 1 hear complaints
as 10 the cost of equipment or main
tenance, and some equipments even in
small cities were far more elaborate
and costly than our own.
The Importance given to this work
in the high schools is a noticeable fact
in nearly every city. Many cities have
manual training high schools costing
100000 and upwards each. and some
cities are equipped with two or more
manual training high schools. Seattle
has a force Of q manual training
teachers on high school work alone.
Ell Paso's Manual Training.
The manual training work in the
grades below the high school in the
FL Paso school compares favorably
with the work in the grades in any
city in the United States. 1 found
courses in none that could be con-
sidered superior to ours, and only a
few are equal. While our equipment
in the grades is neither elaborate nor
expensive, It is. for all practical pur-
poses, equal to any, and efficiency Is
after all the essential consideration. 1
found nowhere a force Of manual
training teachers that would surpass
that Of Ell Paso in points of prepare
ton. faithfulness of purpose and de-
votion to the cause.
1t is gratifying to note that the
equipments have been ordered for the
high school bench work and domestic
art. as we'll as for the new shop Of
the Douglas school. The benches and
equipment ordered are durable and
practical. The Toles benches and vices
are the standard throughout the United
States. There are on the market
number of cheap benches and vices
which are in the end very expensive.
We have a few in our present equip
mnt and the expense to keep them
in repair, combined with the time
wasted. more than balances the DIFF
ference in first cost.
We have several thousand tools and
about % machines that need sharpen
ing or putting in order before school
opens. and to be kept in order after
school begins. There are number
of lockers to be made, and consider
able work requiring an expert and de-
pendable mechanician. This position
was held last year by Mr. Chadwick.
who was laid off in May. A suitable
man can be obtained at the regular
carpenters wages. I recommend that
such a man be appointed as he will
save TO the schools several hundreds
of dollars.
Laundress Urged.
The large number of towels used in
the domestic science and domestic art
classes makes the laundering Of these
towels an important item. I believe ii
would be well to employ a suitable
domestic to do this work in the laun-
dry Of the Alamo school. It would
require only day or so of work each
week and I believe would result in
distinct saving to the schools
New Teachers
Miss Sadie Swenson. who was elected /