Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1913-10-23
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AaSts " submit concerning the domlnenl
educational needs of this community
Two of the Senior girls are now en-
gagged in collecting the data. Let every
citizen, who is especially interested il
the courses of study to be offered in
the high school, express himself, that
his influence may be felt. 1t doesn't
matter whether your views are con-
sentative or liberal. Let us know what
they are and the arguments upon which
they rest, In this way we can all be
brought nearer to the truth concerning
our own best interests, and our efforts
made more ready to conform with true
public sentiment.
Those public officers who are com
missioned to spend your money and add
vance your interests are naturally and
properly slow to incur any additional
expense in the operation of the schools
unless they feel sure that you favor
such expenditure
Let us consider the matter fairly and
frankly, as other communities of the
state have done and are doing, and
come to rational, up-to-date conclu-
sion as to what is best for us to offer
as courses of study in our high school
today.
We have in our high school building
sufficient space, above ground, well
lighted and convenient, for installing
courses in Manual Training aud Domes.
tic Science. These courses are being
offered in most, if not in all, of the
best high schools of the state. One
half of the cost of instruction in each
department, up to $3.50, is being paid
out of the state treasury. 1t seems
that our boys and girls are entitled to
these advantages as well as che other
boys and girls of the state for whose
instructions in these subjects we now
help to pay.
These two departments could both be
installed at an initial outlay of about
$500. The cost of operating both de-
partments need not exceed $500
year OF this amount we would be en-
titled to return of 800 from the
state. Now when we consider that
those who take these subjects in the
high school substitute them for other
subjects, for which, under the present
system, provision must be made on the
basis ca at least one assistant for every
thirty pupils, according to the require
ments Of the state superintendent, it
becomes evident that the additional
expense If any would be very slight.
The advantages of such courses are
no longer questioned. They have both
long passed the experimental stage.
Everybody who is to use his hands for
the rest of his life should have some
training in the use of those hands dur
ing his natural period of special train
ing for life. And certainly every girl
who is to become the responsible man
ager of home for the rest of her life
may well devote part of her natural
period of preparation TO the scientific
study of the vital problems of home
economics.
Not only is the practical value of
these subjects beyond question, but
their very nature is such that the
method Of instruction is vital. The in
tellect is trained through the hand,
Too much of the instruction of the
school room is abstract and meaning
less to the pupil. 1t needs to be closely
related to the daily affairs of life. The
mental training that is acquired in con-
nection with the making of piece of
furniture or with the preserving of a
jar of fruit or the making Of loaf Of
bread is Of practical nature. 1t is
thinking done in connection with doing.
A little learning of this sort does
much to improve the whole system of
training, making it all more practical
and more vital. Besides, it is unmis-
takably true that not all Of our boys
and girls are to be scholars. They are
to become men and women if they live.
it is for the school to see to it that
each becomes an efficient, self support
ing, self respecting man or woman.
There are many children who could
profit much by instruction through the
hand who seem unable to profit by the
present system Of all book instruction
and training through the senses alone.
Would you like TO have your son or
your daughter to devote one eighth OF
his or her time during the high school
period to the study Of such subjects az
involve the use Of the hand as well as
the use Of the head? Do you favor the
introduction of Manual Training and
| Domestic Science into our public
schools, under the conditions of the
liberal special aid that the state is nov
offering as encouragement?
E. c. GOTHAM
Co-Workers' Bazaar, ~