Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-05-08
MANUAL TRAINING IN SCHOOLS.

have been showing what has been
done along the line of manual train
ing, sewing and art work. This is
the first exhibit Of It's kind ever held
in the township, II not in the county,
and the teachers are justly proud of
the showing made
Until within recent years schools
were supposed to cram a child's head
with as much knowledge as possible
within a given time, no matter
whether the child would be able to
use the knowledge or not, and re-
CARELESS of the fact that the little
body was often a physical wreck after
the ordeal. We are learning differ
emily these days. The elders are
gaining knowledge as well as the chill
dreu. One of the results of this de
velopmeut is the manual training
courses in the public schools. 1t has
been found that the hands and mus
cles of the child must be trained as
we'll as the brain.
Take that exhibit in Woodbridge,
for instance. One of the most in
teresting features was the sewing
done by the girls. The pupils had
been trained along this line from the
very first steps to making complete
garments. The work exhibited In
Guided the sewing on of buttons, hem
ming patches and overhauling patch
es. hemstitching, and the making of
embroidery bags, kimonos, handker-
chiefs, aprons of every description,
complete outfits for dolls. collars,
towels and garments suitable for
young children, etc, etc. All of these
articles showed the various kinds OF
stitches that had been taught. One
corner Of the exhibit was given up
to the display of pillow tops made by
the children and decorated In stencil
work.
1t Is said the mothers we're greatly
pleased with this work, Well they
might be. But the men should be
equally interested. There is no doubt
If some of the mothers Of today had
received this kind Of training when
they were in school there would not
be so many unhappy homes now,
It is all well enough 20 teach a girl
Latin. higher mathematics, and all
the sciences, but If she is taught
how to handle needle and thread SO
as to be able TO sew buttons on her
husbands shirt and put neat patches
on little Johnnie's trousers, she is far
better off when she comes to take her
real place in life. OF course, give
the girl both the book learning and
the domestic science II possible. but
if either is to be neglected by all
means let her be trained to take her
place in the home.
But the same thing holds true with
boys. If the lad is studious and
shows a love for books give him
every encouragement to 60 as far as
he can. But We cannot all be law
yers, doctors and professional men.
The world needs skilled mechanics
most of all. The farmer and the
laborer are the real backbone of this
nation. Then let US prepare the chill
dren along this line 40 well as in
brain development. 1t has often been
said that many a good carpenter OF
machinist has been spoiled I make a
! poor minister OF a doctor, The say
ing is true, too. II a boy shows
himself apt with tools and likes to
potter around making things, by ell
means encourage him. Let him have
enough of the ordinary studies to
give him a good, working education,
but he should be especially trained
along the lines he most prefers.
| With such a training the boy goes
out into the world prepared to do
something. He knows what he is
best fitted for and can start at II at
| once without wasting valuable years
to find this out.
All our schools are TOO far behind
in the subjects of manual training
and domestic science. The Wood
bridge exhibit has been an eye opener
doubtless to a great many people.
such exhibits are to be encouraged
that more and more people, and es-
pecially those who provide for edu-