The Lambertville record., 1921-02-25
HE Was SAID TO
Be mo GOOD"


of John H. Herring, Superintendent of
Schools for the City of LambertvilIe,
q boy about twelve years old. His
teachers had given him up as hope
less. They had tried kindness on him
to no avail. They had tried severity
with worse results. They had per
suaded and threatened. Finally they
gave him up in despair.
So he was sent to the office of Su-
perintendent Herring, which means
that in another school he would Re
dismissed from school That would
mean that he would always be re-
sentful. If he got no more education
he would blame it on those teachers
and on Mr.. Herring and on the school
as whole.
Mr.. Herring sized up this boy, and
what he saw was this: A healthful
body, a ruddy face, clear blue eyes
and a touseled head He decided
that that boy had a lot Ct animal
energy that made him restless in
classrooms. He was an "out of door"
type of boy. 1t was irkiny to make
him sit in a seat all day and memorize
words in book.
The boy had that Eullen attitude
that every boy has when he has been
"placed on the carpet" Mr.. Herring
ignored that altogether. He looked
at the boy while, and then without
any reference to his trouble, said
81 want you to make a little piece Of
furniture for me-"
The boy looked surprised. Mr.. Her
ring kept on talking to him. you
know We have shop up on the hill
where Mr.. Chesson is teaching Manual
Training. They have tools and ma
terials there with which to work
And 50 Mr.. Herring soon hid tie
interest Of that boy. II 9 sullea at i
tdje disappeared. h became eager
% undertake this task that he was
given. He was assigned to the Manual
Training room for certain periods and
given tools and shown how to work.
Before long he proudly finished the
piece Of bric-abrac Mr.. Herring had
asked him to make. In the meantime
he lad something to hold his interest.
He could endure the irllsome periods
Of classroom work in the anticipation
Of the period he was to spend in the
MANUEL Training room. When he
finished the first piece OF work he was
given another.
He began to find constructive use
for his hands. He began to get that
elusive thing called Coordination y
between his hands and his brain.
While books were soaking into his
head, MS hands were gaining in skill.
To-day he is q model boy in the
.chool Recently as I talked with Mr..
Herring one Of the pupils came to hir,
and said that a teacher was Ill ana
could not be present for her classes.
Mr.. Herring asked il this boy was in
he room. and told her to send him in.
The boy came in eagerly. Mr.. Her
ring said TO him simply Take charge
cf the room until l come IN
That was al. The boy acknowledge
the order and hurried out Later when
we passed that room it was as orderly
as j church. The children were bent
over their books. And this boy wa.
watching. alert and proud O. h.: re
sponsibility.
Now what does this tell US?
Ii tells US that vocational training
in the school is nothing short Of a
stroke Of genius. Il provides q prac
ticsl education that enables the hoy
or girl TO use their hands. The use
u lllGII lidlNNS III Nb4AALCA NAD44 ~ AS4A s4-~
use Of their brains develops them
more rapidly and gives them poise and
appreciation Of responsibility.
The Lambertville High School has
done wonders with the lin ted equip
ment provided for the Manu.l Train
ing department. But i IS limited n
It's capacity. 1t needs & room twice
the size Of the present one, and that
means that within two years it should
be FOUR times as large.
The girls have continually asked for
Domestic Science department. This
IS for the girls what Manual Train
| ing is for the boys. The girls will be
taught there to cook every dish know
Of tie American household. She will
be taught the care of children, nurs-
| ing, first aid and the duties Of the
! household. This department has been
provided bv the Board of Education
| in a limited way, But it should be
/ lar~e enough so that TIE department
could be utilized as other schools are
utilizing it for the practical prepara-
1 tion of lunches at a few cents for tbs
I students who live too far away to gel
hot lunches. Children thrive better
and work better when their bodies art
properly nourished.
1t is the duty Of every parent Il
Lambertville to become familiar witt
the work being done by the school,