El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-02-12
Interesting the Pupil in the
Work Is a Difficult
Problem.
| GREAT many changes have

GREAT many changes nave
n been made in the course of
L a work in manual training for
the grades in the public schools. Su-
pervisor W. A Burk has made these
changes with the aim in view of
broadening the scope of the work IN
the grades by introducing q greater
variety of models and exercises
One of the most difficult problems
in the planning OF work for manual train
ing classes, is that of furnishing something
that will be Of interest to all Of the pupils,
and yet be something that the pupil can
amount Of time allowed for this WORK IN
terest is the most important factor to be
considered, as without interest the best re-
suits cannot be obtained.
Difficult to Plan in Advance.
In other school subjects each pupil Is
required to follow fixed outline Of work,
which is the same for all pupils taking
that subject. This method Of handling the
manual training work has not been pro-
ductive Of the best results It is impossible
for any one person TO plan, IN ADVANCE a
class exercise or model to be made by each
boy in class that will be Of interest 70
them all. This method, however, Is oIten
used. but under this plan is not found that
enthusiastic spirit displayed toward the
work In the high school manual training
classes the pupils are allowed to select
their own designs and models to be worked
out This is regarded as the ideal method,
the small number who elect this work in
their high school course, but in the grades
encountered
the keeping OF material enough on hand 10
supply the needs Of from 500 to 1000 boys.
and again the problem Of taking care Of
the articles being made, as It requires con-
project when the pupil spends only 80 min
utes each week in the shop, and the room
provided for taking care OF materials IS
very limited in the crowded condition Of
some Of the shops.
In planning the course OF exercises, which
has been begun this term, the aim has been
to make the course just as broad as it is
possible to handle the situation, under pres
ent conditions 1t has been found quite
necessary sometime during the terms work
to have all of the pupils in q given grade
work together on some model or exercise
in order that the various tool processes
may be explained to the classes and
demonstrations given on the work by the
instructors After this exercise is COM
pleted the principles learned are applied on
a variety of articles employing the same
tool processes All Of the articles made are
useful either about the home, the school,
the playground, or in the home work shop.
Stress Laid on Drawing.
Considerable stress is placed on the sub
ject Of mechanical drawing in the grades.
These drawings are made only in pencil, but
the regular tools and Instruments, as T.
squares, triangles and scales are used, the
linking of drawings is omitted until the
regular high school course IN mechanical
In the eighth grade an individual prob
lem in cabinet making is provided for each
member Of the classes, If they so choose.
The cabinet problems undertaken are lin
the time allowed for the work IS limited,
and the problems must be completed IN one
terms work. In the first year OF nigh
school the pupils are allowed TO undertake
very difficult pieces Of cabinet work. as
the time allowed for manual training work
in the high school is three times that in
wood Turning Fascinating.
In the second year Of high school man
turning and pattern making. These two
courses are carried on in combination. as
the equiment for wood turning is very linz
fled, and the work IN pattern making
consists of both bench and lathe work, the
pupils can spend part Of their time on the
machine and part bench work The
and the articles made Sre both useIul ana
ornamental Such problems as vases carq
receivers, mirror stands, indian clubs, dumb
bells, etc. are worked out IN paIteEn
making the work consists in making vari-
Gus patterns Of machine parts. Many OF
these patterns require very accurate anu
careful tool work, as they are made IN sew
eral pieces, and each piece must be accu-
rately fitted. No provision is made for
practice in moIdfne from these patterns,
but the pupils Of each class are taAeh our
ing the term, to some foundry IN the CITY,
where a practical demonstration OF this
work is seen and studied.
Domestic Art Work
In the domestic art work throughout me
schools, some changes have been mace. In
this work as well as in the manual train
ing many things have 20 be considered IN
the planning Of work. such as TIE changing
terials furnished by the pupils and the
number of pupils in the various classes
A rather new idea is being tried out IN
one Of the Mexican schools that OF having I
the pupils Of the higher grades work on
garments and wearing apparel Tor the
smaller children in the lower grades, VINO
come from families who are too poor TO be
able to clothe them properly. The material
for use in this work is being donated thls
is an experiment which, if found to be sue
cessful may be tried in some Of the other !
Mexican schools
In the domestic science work the courses {
remain about the same as in TINS Work
the lessons must necessarily be planned !
according to the seasons and the market !
prices Of cooking ingredients at various .
times throughout the year Two new {
eighth grades have been added to the (
schools this year. thus making the number l
Of girls taking domestic science, in the I
grades, greater.
Add Second Years Work
In the high school domestic science a /
second years work has been added. There I
has been demand for a second years !
work for some time. but the necessity OF {
using the cooking room at the Bailey school, /
which is also used by the eighth grades /
from the Lamar and Villas schools, made /
1t impossible to arrange for this work me /
Of the program at the high /
school this term has made it possible TO 1
lind place for this class. In this class |