Graham guardian., 1915-03-19
MANUAL TRAINING
Is Being successfully Taught
in Stafford and Thatcher
Schools

ManuaI raining in Stafford aud
ln,jCuct Scholis has reached Il high
Stage Of proficiency and is hccom-
ing one OF thr M st instructive. IS
w"l as the most interesting studies
in the school wrrk.
Very jcw of the parents know Of
the progre.s being made in manual
training in our schools, and the fol-
lowing article by Prof. r. S. Davis,
! instructor in manual training in
Stafford and Thatcher schools, will
enlghten them in the merits of this
new work in the schools in this
valley:
Although many people know that
manual training has taken forward
place in the schools of our country,
few realize the scope, aim or results
OF this Wurk.
Manual training may include any
work hat is carried on in the shops Of
the country. Anything from jew
eIry work to blacksmithing or foun-
dry practice, and from toy making
to house building, is included by
this term. The type of work given
is determined by the industries of
the locality.
On account of the lack, in the
majority of the schools, of equip
ment, which approXimates that found
in even second class mill, foundry,
blacksmith or machine shops, it is
impossible to deal with any of these
industries in definite way from the
standpoint Of teaching the trade.
Therefore. the aim must be the
general education along the lines of
the local industries and the appica-
tiOn of the school training to the
shop problems as found in after
life. The chief difficulty lies in
making the theoretical practical, so
that the boy will grasp the relation,
ship of school to life problems more
clearly.
s. far IS possible nearly all shops
welcome jobs given them by towns
people. Ihesa are completed 10y
the students with the guidance Of
tn instructor. 70 illustrate: In a
sma.l PENNSYLVANIA town, whose
chief industry is foundry work, pat
ternmaking was taught in the high
school. One foundry obtained a
large contract for miscellaneous
castings, to be completed in a very
sh"Il 'imc They were unable to
secure pattcrnworkers enough to
fiji the order in time and as last
resort appealed to he school author
tiles for nSsis' ance The result was
the complexion of the patterns in
the schoui shop, out of school hours,
by the boys. OF course, this case j.
unusual, but gives glimpse of the
p1Ssibiiti"s.
In our own schools there has been
finished many commercially valuable
products, some of which are: Sand
tables, brSkrt bal backst tops. tuln-
ing pole and jumping standards,
waStehaSkt Is, doors to book cabinets
and lattice windows. all for the SAT-
e RI srh"o's; saving the school a nice
lit e sum if these things had been
pu chased
In addition, two Shoot-the chutcs
have been comp etpd, one under con
tract for Lone S,ar anil the other
for the local school. The latter is
now on the play ground at the main
building
Much work has been don for t"wr
people. such as letter files, foot
stools. ironing boards, tables, phon,-
graph cabinntS, typ writer tables.
book shelves, chicken coops, pig and
chicken trouphS. besides the articles
made for the boys families and the
boys themselves. The boys receive
i sm'E remuneration FIR work done
fo" other people. bat al! work for
the schp6, is don9 rec
Du ing the construct on Of the
new H gh School building, classes
will visit and make note of the pro
grcsS. studying the best methods
Of construction, materials, design,
strength Of concrete mixtures, etc
Classes in session from 900 till
1870 n. m in Thatcher, and from
200 to 400 p. m, in Stafford Any
one interested will he gladly wei
coined.