The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-21

stand the test and yet remain proves
their worth.
The Literary Society
OF these additions, these practical
things, these industries, arts and these
vltalizing features, there are many.
Among the first was the literary So
ciety. 1t has the advantage of includ-
ing great a variety of material that
1t can be adapted to schools of any
kind and pupils of any age. The ques
tion of expense, which makes several
of the new features impossible for some
schools, need not be considered in the
literary society. The programmes may
be supplementary to some school sub
iect. as civic history or geography, or
they may be entirely Independent. The
teachers may direct the societies, or
the pupils may assume that RESPONSE
bility. Parliamentary laws may be OBJ
served or the meetings may be entirely
informal The society may take the
form of literary club, may do re-
search work, or may devote itself TO
debates. Beside having the advantage
OF being adaptable to any and all
schools, the literary society is valu-
able in the training peculiar to itself
More than any other organization, it
gives the students- opportunities for in
dependent thinking and individual ex-
and encourages greater self reliance
than does classroom recitation.
Music Worthy of Effort
Music Is worthy of all the time and eff
fort expended upon it in the public school.
All children give expression to music and
rhythm of some sort, and 1t is important
that they be taught to discriminate be-
tween good music and that of an indf-
ferent class. While many will never be
musicians in any sense of the word, they
Will be finer and better for the influence
of good music. Both words and melody
of such songs as are taught in the public
schools will find place in the ehildren's
minds and will render their minds less
receptive to the less desirable popular
songs Music brightens the daily pro-
gramme and furnishes needed relaxation
from the busy school day. Musical instru-
ments are being used now in the physical
culture exercises.
Drawing has an even wider range. Not
only does it cultivate the artistic sense
and train both hand and mind, but it
offers lucrative positions to those who
perfect themselves in any branch, either
freehand drawing. mechanical dra wing
or decoration Children like to draw,
and this natural inclination is an advan-
tage in the teaching of any subject in
which concrete illustration may be en-
y,
guage. Landscape drawing instils a love
of nature and the study of color COM
binations teaches an appreciation of har-
mony as applied to dress and furnishings
Manual Training Work
Manual training supplies a demand for
practical education. Until a short time
ago our educational system was deplor-
ably deficient in the teaching of trades.
SO large a per cent of those who attend
the public schools must have means of
making a livelihood, without having long
and experience special training, SO many
must view life from the practical side that
1t became imperative to add those de-
partments which would teach trades We
are endeavoring now to make less sharp
distinction between the work of the hand
and that of the mind, to respect the one
as much as the other.
Manual training includes paper and
cardboard construction in the first grade
and continues through the grammar
school grades and the high school years.
embracing weaving, sewing, cord work
basketry, woodwork, clay modelling and
pottery, and extensive machine shop
work. After the initial expense of install
ing this department, it is more than self
supporting and makes ample returns i'll
teaching useful trades.
The Gary, Ind, schools furnish an ex-
ample of this. In one year they showed
profit of $S75 43 above all expenses
through the work done by the pupils.
They made articles needed in the schools,
things which would have been purchased
at a cost of several thousand dollars
had not the manual training classes of
the schools made them. The profits re-
turned We're divided among three classes,
that in printing which earned for the
schools $17543: that in cabinet work which
90 ap6 o nd hot in, INT;
earned $21752 This is an illustration of
the results obtained by making the school
accord with every day life.
Domestic science and domestic art
have as their purpose the teaching of
school girls to be successful house.
keepers and house makers The pres
ent scheme of living seems to leave
little place for girls to learn these
things at home and since they are too
important to be neglected tho school
has undertaken to supply this part of
the girls education, which was for
merly met at home. Dressmaking, mil
linery, drafting of patterns. cooking,
house decoration and furnishing and
almost all branches of domestic econ
omy are now taught in the public
schools. 1t is a radical departure from
the school of two or three genera tions
ago in which a girl studied only text
books, but 1t is preparing her much
better for the work upon which she
will enter when she leaves school.
There are scarcely any women who are
not called upon at some time and in
some way to direct the affairs of a
household and 1t is necessary that she
understand domestic economy.
Advantages of Athletics
However much athletics as a part
of the school life may be criticised,
10 ctill~ In THAR The
child who takes no exercise, who par
ticipates in no games. and who has no
part in sports, invariably grows to be
more or less morose and stupid, unless
he Is the exceptional child who is in
stead too bookish. Spirited games inn
prove not only the health but the
mental alertness of the players and