Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-05-30
THIRD ANNUAL EXHIBIT.
Continued from page /

of workmanship was a top for piano
bench made by Donald Smith. II
was highly finished. The remarkable
thing about the work is the joint that
ran through the center. SO wen was
it done that the joint was almost in
visible. To give some further idea
of the students work for the past
year, the articles displayed were
those requiring only the simplest
workmanship to those of the most
complex. There were camp stools,
taborets, coat hangers, canoe paddles,
library table, serving rack, lap
boards, neck tie racks, and manyother
things of useful and ornamental ma
ture. An oak buffet, the product of
Instructor Maxwell, was also shown.
1t is a beautiful piece of work and
clearly evidenced that Mr.. Maxwell is
a most capable instructor.
The work of the girls in the man
ual training department was great
surprise to all. Some very beautiful
sewing and needle work was exhibit
ed. AS in the boys department there
was all grades Of work from that of
the simplest to handsome embroidery.
A pillow, the work of Miss Hildah
Ward drew many pretty remarks.
In this display there were articles of
many descriptions. The work of the
pupils from the poorest families was
placed side by side with that of those
from the more well-to-do and it was
impossible to distinguish it, SO pro-
icient had all the young people be-
come.
The study in manual training starts
in the third grade. The first lessons
woven with raffia, a material of fib-
erous nature AS the children be-
come advanced in their grades, the
boys go into the work room in the
basement for their training while the
girls take up sewing. The first piece
of sewing given to the girls is that of
darning and patching. This work
was shown with the rest and it was
very clever work, too.
1t was particularly interesting to
note the advancement Of the pupils as
they passed from one grade to an
other, also the advancement they had
made during the present school year:
The steps were distinct and in some
cases so marked as to be most be-
You'd belief The specimens present.
ed for inspection were not made up
for any special occasion but taken
from the daily work of the children.
They were taken at random and the
best and poorest was placed side by
side One particular striking thing
was the comparison of the child
ren's writing, spelling, and so forth,
of the beginning of the year and that
of recent date Minute inspection re-
vealed no case where a vast improve
ment had not been made.
The kindergarten work of Miss
Grace Kramer's pupils was the first
to be seen. These pupils had not
yet completed their first year at
school and many had not been in at
tendance for half year. The work
was mostly of freehand drawing and
cutting "When a Little Chicken
Drinks" was the title of sketch
done by freehand work that attracted
considerable notice. The figure of a
chicken had been cut out and colored
by the children. It was pasted upon
cardboard upon which there was a
background showing a field Another
clever bit of work was the cutting
out of church windows and brilliantly
colored
From the kindergarten room, one
went to the sub-primary room. The
children in this grade are under the
Misses Brown and Farrell The
specimens of the little peoples writ
ing here received special attention
No spectacles were required to read
them nor any imagination required
to translate the thought. In this
grade the children learn the phonics.
BY the diacritical marks. the pupils
yearn to pronounce new words at
sight The "Mother Goose" stories
which were read from time to time
were illustrated in little booklets.
The freehand drawing and crayola work
was very neat and attractive.
The children's work in the B-First
room, which is taught by Miss Eta
Hearn, was of more advanced ma
ture The different seasons had been
used as suggestions for work. Evil
dences of the autumn, winter, and
Easter times were very plain. AS in
the rest of the rooms, there we're
specimens of the children's writing
and other work The advancement
the pupils had made was very
marked. A circus parade was also
shown. The children had cut out
the different animals, which were
placed in order of size on the chalk
rail of the blackboard. A very inn
posing display was miniature home
all furnished and papered. The work
was done by the children. They had
cut from cardboard and paper all the
furnishings seen in the ordinary
home. In the kitchen there was the