The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-01-06
SELF RELIANCE
BASIS OF TALK
INSTRUCTOR WHITcoM5 OF MAN.
UAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT
TELLS OF IMPORTANCE OF
HIS BRANCH.

novation ever introduced into the cul
riculum of the public schools Wa
the statement of Earle H. Whitcom
manual training instructor in the Cen
trail building, in an interview toda,
This is Mr.. whtcombs first year
Houghton and in trying TO build up
first class manual training departmer
finds that he is seriously handicappe
by lack of sufficient tools.
Mr.. Whitcomb continued; "Althoug
the fact that this department has on
~ been installed in the Houghto
schools a short time has to be take
into consideration when speaking O
the lack Of equipment, find that W
are woefully behind other schools o
the same size i'm the country. In m.
opinion, a district as large as thi
should have at least seven instructor
in manual training instead of one a
at present. We are behind the times
here. The Importance Of manual train
ing in the public schools is becoming
recognized more and more through.
out the country and all the schools are
laying special stress upon this depart.
ment.
Shops In Ward Schools.
"My idea OF a suitable manual train
ing department for the Houghtor
schools is TO have a shop in each OF
the ward schools and separate teach
er in each, with a supervisor over the
whole TO manage and direct the work
whose offices shall be in the Central
building and who shall be a competent
mechanic and a student of conditions.
Each pupil shall have his own set of
tools which he shall be required to
clean, sharpen and repair and which
none but he may use. l would not ad-
vocate machinery for each of the ward
buildings but each shop would have
benches and the tools. while the more
expensive equipment should be kept at
some central building. II would not be
amiss to erect special building for
the manual training department here
as so many of the schools in other
parts of the country are doing"
Make Boys Self Reliant.
Mr.. Whitcomb has introduced a sys-
tenn OF training which he believes will
make the boys more self reliant and
independent in the use Of their tools.
Everything made by the boys is USE
full and practical. The feeling that
they are doing something useful and
practical and that they may do it ac-
cording to their own judgement. gives
the boys an added interest in the work
and they go at it with a will and
energy.
The 5th, 9Th, eth and Sth grades and
the high school are now working i'm
the manual training department. The
9Th graders are started on whiting.
their only tool being a knife. They
are also taught the use of a try
square, compass and rule. From the
very beginning they are given practi-
,al work and are also required to make |
their own drawings. AS the pupils adj !
vance they are given more difficult
work and are taught the use of more I
ools, the sth grade pupils being given |
'abinet work and are taught polishing |
md staining.
In the high school the articles made \
ire optional with the students, who
re encouraged 10 work out original
IDEAS and to make articles they have
lever seen before. independence I'm
'lanning and doing the work is Guilt
ated, the students are not given
multitude Of rules but they are requir-
d to get results, and they do.
In Need Of Gymnasium.
Instructor Whitcomb Is also coach
( the boys and girls basketball teams.
lie calls attention to the need of
or suitable place where the
oys and girls may develop proficiency L
D healthy athletic sports. He stated
hat as long as the school has no place
D practice, the students cannot hope
D compete successfully with other
chools of the copper country. Mr..
yhitcomb is a firm believer I'm the
leory that there are other things be- ,
des books TO consider in getting an
luGation and the development of the ID
ody is one Of the most important.
The basketball outlook improved f,
yesterday when the stu !
ents were offered the use OF the NJ. 8
NJ gymnasium from to O'clock t
'ery afternoon for practice. The team
in take advantage Of the offer and Z
a IN