The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-21
PRINTING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Most Rapidly Growing Form Of Manual
Arts Education

natural relationship between printing
and almost all subjects Of the school
curriculum. There is no other line of
school activity that is so peculiarly
rich in its associations. Printing in
vades and transforms other school
topics by charging bookishness with
reality.
1t is the magnetic pole that holds
all other subjects in unified relation to
one another and to itself. If reading
maketh full man." printing uncon-
sciously maketh reader. The brain
centers Of sight and touch working
in conjunction, as they do. In type
setting. insure effective instruction In
spelling. The principles of drawing
and design are always a paramount
issue In Job of printing. Typography
is an exacting science: its very foun-
dation stone Is mathematics. A study
of the American point system IL in
itself mathematical training of no
mean proportions. A study of print
ing means an acquaintance with men
10
and gives Illuminating glimpses Of
the achievements of the Chinese, the
Egyptians, the Babyionians. the Ro-
mans and the medieval monks
In physics and chemistry the print
ing press with its inks Is good sub
stitute for spools and strings and yard
sticks. levers and other makeshHt
Iparaphernalia. In school print shop
the cooperative spirit is ever preva-
lent. The work is socializing in its
Influence. The selfish spirit Of the
boy who makes his own necktie rack
| is transformed into something better
when the boy finds enjoyment in dis
tributing the fruits OF his labors to
his fellow classmates and friends.
The wonder is that this tool of in
struction did not long ago force itself
upon the minds OF educators and win
for itself place in our halls OF learn
/ ing.
| PUPILS in a print shop must be
Extremely careful, observant, neat and
ipersevering. We have yet TO find a
boy whose habits of work were not
greatly improved through practice in
the print shop. We have yet TO find
a boy who will not do extra home
/ work for the sake of being allowed TO
spend one of his cfass-study periods
| IN the print shop. A period in the
print shop puts the boy back into the
classroom with greater zest for his
work there. We have records to show
that several backward boys have done
two grades In a year after their habits
were changed and self-confidence de-
veloped by success in the print shop.
Spelling. language and arithmetic
are especially improved because OF the
/ constant practice the print shop re-
quires There is no better problem
I in practical applied arithmetic than
the making ready of a press for print
ing. The boy who prints useful things
for his school is receiving training
for citizenship of the right sort He
is becoming an intelligent. indepen-
/ dent. altruistic, worker
Consider the Installation of Printing
Plant In Your School To-day.
No person should postpone seeking
information on the subject, for Rich
mond has large institutions ready at
all times 10 help you start a school
printing plant at once. The Ameri-
can Type Founders Company of
Richmond invite and are pleased to
furnish any desired information neces-
sary for the installation OF printing
plants Of this character.
Perhaps you cannot begin full-
grown. but you can begin, even II you
| have no room but the end of a cor
ridor. Practical typesetting fnstills
into the student attention to detail. a
knowledge OF punctuation. accuracy
| in spelling. capitalization and con-
struction, in addition to correctness in
correspondence and business forms.
| THE BUD OF printing plant could
be furnished at cost Of less than
$500. This would serve as an object
lesson, and demonstrate its pracu-
cahility.
A PRINTING DEPARTMENT suit
able for the requirements of ten to
fifteen pupils could be furnished for
between 1--WE hundred and six hum
dred dollars Such an equipment es-
tahlished in a well-iighted room about
the size OF small classroom would
make II possible for students to exc
cute various forms OF school printing.
/ AN. ESTIMATE will be cheerfully
furnished TO meet the special require
ments of any school. including an A.
I No. up~to- date equipment for genu-
inc art-craft practice and thorough
business training.--Acv