Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-20
TEACHING TRADES
|NPUbL|C SCHOOLS
Educators Interested in the
Plan Now Being Tried
in the District.
INSTRUCTION is AIMED
TO MAKE GOOD WORKERS
For Benefit of Children Who Are Un-
able to Profit by Full
Academic Courses.

NutupdS III the opening of the public
schoois Monday. considerable interest is
being taken in the three trade schools
which have been established here FOL
the purpose Of teaching trades 10 boys
who feel that they Will vt b. able T.
continue their education throu,. ..Jl-re
or high school
10 was stated At tho headquarters 0;
the schools today that il is not probabl+
that amy additional schools OF this sort
viii he opened this Year. as il is believed
THE three NOW established will ba enough
- accommodate the number Who wish
- take trade courses this YEAR Tnesa
schools are beyond the experimental
stage ~ the District, but school officials
believe that ii will take a longer time
f,an thes have already been open to
ind out IN just what manner and just
how far they should be developed.
Other Cities Feel Need
Tie trade OF vocational schools We're
opened TO ill need which had been 4
cause OF considerable discussion In edu-
,dtional circles not only IN this city. but
also IN other cities. \ certain number
OF pupils each year. either because they
had been retarded or because they We're
Of such a temperament that they could
not or would not stand the desk work in
the regular schools, dropped out OF
school and sought employment In many
cases they dropped out because. hating
been TetaTdcd-poss bly, through sickness
or similar cause-they were much larger
and older than their classmates.
Sometimes the pupils dropped out be-
cause the death of some supporting
men5Gr Of the family compelled them
10 earn a live mood The result was that
they found positions which. while they
paid well at the start in proportion to
the age OF the boy or girl offered
actically no chance tor advancement
Or opportunity TO learn anything which
would bring living wage at later
age.
s, was to catch these pupils and give
them instruction which ,u.d start them
on the way at least to IL living wage
that the trade schools We're opened
These schools take in pupils who have
completed the work OF the sixth grade
although they are not limited entirely
10 this class.
Time Divided Evenly.
Half the time in the trade schools is
devoted to the study of academic sub
lects. while the other half is devoted to
the teaching of the trade. Academic
studies, however. are connected with
those of the trades. The pupils are taught
10 design the things whic.. they wish to
make, and then figure out by the arith-
metic which they have learned how
much material will be needed.
The three trade schools at present are
the Wisconsin Avenue Manual Training
Schsol, which is for white pupils. and is
situated at Wisconsin avenue and High
street northwest; the q Street Industrial
Center on % street between North Capt.
FOL and 1st streets. and the Cardozo Vo-
catonal School. at 1st and I streets
southwest. both of which are for colored
children.
In the white school only cabinet max
ing and general woodwork are taught.
~ the o street school courses are pro-
vided in printing, carpentry. chair can
ing. basketry and rug weaving for the
boys while courses in millinery, plain
sewing dressmaking. rug weaving,
baskctry. chair Gaming and cooking are
available for the girls.
Courses at the CardoZo School consist
of carpentry. machine shop work. auto
mobile construction hlacksmithing,
brickIaNinG plasterng. cement work,
rug weaving sewing and cooking.
The teachers engaged for the work of
iustruct'ng in the courses named are
specially trained for il. and practical
knowledge of the trade is one of the
chief requis ties necessary for these
teachers.