The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-20
NORTH SIDE NEWS
Introduce Art of Weaving in
Grant Schools.
Provide Few Hand Looms for
Small Pupils.
ARE MAKING RUG.
Second Grade Get Form of MAN.
ual Training.
Show Relation Of Music, Art,
Study and Work.

The ancient art of weaving is being
introduced into the Grant schools
probably the first schools in Topeka to
receive such instruction Small hand
looms have been bought and placed
among the pupils of the second grade
of the school. The idea is to give them
some sort of manual training and also
to show the correlation of study and
practical work, and also how even
singing and poetry is related to both
books and hand work.
Miss Daisy Crawford, in charge of
the room, who is regarded as one of
the most capable teachers in Topeka,
taught the elements of weaving when
in the st. Joseph, Mo. schools. She
has rug 2X4 feet, the work of her St.
Joe pupils. She has taught at the
Grant schools for three years
Her Topeka pupils also expect to
make a like rug. The material for the
work has just been received. At pres
ent it consists of about a dozen hand
looms, about nine by twelve inches,
and few balls of yarn. The equip
ing about thirty cents apiece and
enough yarn to make the rug the size
of the one mentioned costs about
$3.50.
L. D. whittemore. superintendent of
the city schools, had heard of the sue
cess of the experiment with the weav-
| ing art in the st. Joe schols, and be-
cause of Miss Crawford's experience in
the work, decided to let her try it.
Besides, it was thought that pupils of
that age should have some kind of
manual training and the weaving was
best adapted for them. Their ages
range from eight to ten years.
The pupils also received instruction
as to the natural source of the wool
! the sleeps back, something of the
nature of the habits of sheep, the
treatment of the wool and the use OF
textile fabrics. In addition they are
| taught poems and songs about the
sheep and the weavings. Thus the re-
lation of poetry, music, art and science
is inStilled into the young minds.
So far it has not been added as g
| regular study, and only twelve looms
have been provided. The great part
of the work has been done in the room
between school hours. However, the
pupils are taking great interest in the
occupation and are all anxious to ge
a chance to weave the yarn. Previous
to this they had been given some prac-
tice in weaving mats.
This morning the teacher asked {
golden-haired, blue-eyed bright little
girl to show a visitor how she could
Weave. In a moment the 1assie wa:
| absorbed in her task. Her broWs were
puckered up in her seriousness of eff
fort q "a. s
"T'he children take the greatest of in
terest in this" said Miss Crawford thi.
morning. "They all know now VIVA
the warp ana WOor is, ana VIII no
tice all kinds of cloth to see how it il
made.
1--WE explain how the wool comes
from the sleeps back. Nearly all O.
them have seen sheep. In st. Joe
where we tried this work, the pupils
would see sheep driven by on the wa!
to the packing houses. The main ide;
is to show the correlation between
poetry, study and work.
I'VE have been doing our weaving
| between times, and have not mucl
done yet, as the looms arrived only tn,
other day. However, we are getting
started nicely"
The click of the hammer was heart
near the Central Avenue church earl.
this morning and now indications ar
that the new room which is by AM
for the Excelsior class of the Sunda.
| school will be ready for occupancy b.
night. Men were on the ground to d
carpenter work before 8 o'clock. B.
noon the frame work was up and thi
| afternoon the weather boarding, roo