Putnam patriot., 1929-02-14

partmeDt. a fdtfiob REPRESENTATIVES,
after a twelve-month, returned to the
school Friday morning TO note the
progress made during the year and to
determine if the new course is prov
ing attractive and fulfilling the vision
Of Director Ellis.
A Metamorphosis
Opening the same door entered
year previous a metamorphosis was
perceptible at glance. The semi /
barren room of twelve months before
was one of active industry. Where
there was one pile of brick, an outlin-
ed wall and couple of pupils, year
ago. appeared forms in brick in many
shapes, some sixteen boys, now taking
the course, Instructor I. K. Kelley,
and such an earnest endeavor TO pro-
gress that it was at once apparent that
the room of 500 square feet has, with
in the year, become altogether made
quate for the rapid expansion of this
department. The pupils were doing
their best not to get IN each others
way. With the several operations GO
ing on at once, this was Impossible.
The masonry department is decidedly
overcrowded Conditions are not such
as tend to the best work and proper
opportunity for instruction. Asked If
more space for his department was not
an imperative need Instructor Kelley,
although not criticizing or finding
fault. admitted that his department
was woefully lacking for elbow room.
In this small enclosure, with the
sixteen pupils and the instructor. the
latter crowded up into one corner,
were various pieces Of brick cOnstruc-
ton, some practically completed, 9TH
ers Just getting under way. There
was a large double arch, the double
semi-cireies supported by a Flemish
bond WALL there was q tapestry brick
fireplace similar 10 one the boys had
built in a Putnam home Then there
was q wall representing two corners
of a building. The nortn corner was
being finished as a stone quoin end.
The stone was represented with blocks
of cement made by the pupils. The
south end was brick quOin, while in
the center was window sill and sol
der course opening.
Draw Own Plans
In another place was flight Of
brick steps. The pupil had drawn his
plan, in fact drawing the plans Is
part of the course, and, with the blue
print before him, he was going for
ward with the actual construction.
Other pupils were building a brick
fireplace with circular arch over the
opening. while the beginners were
building common bond walls. Per
haps it is in the building of these
walls. as the pupil starts his course,
that more room is badly needed. IL
is apparent from the size of the room
and the number of undertakings IN
progress that the common bond walls
have TO be short indeed. To get the
required practice means that short
stretch of wall is built, torn down. and
rebuilt. This is done over and over.
Such method is not as conducive 30
good training as would be an oppor-
tunitv to build a wall a hundred or
more feet in length.
This again brought up the question
as to the room that the department, IN
its present state of activity, requires.
Instructor Kelley, in reply to the ques-
ton, stated that the department real
need is a minimum of 1000 square
feet. or four times the size Of the
room now utilized.
Suggestion Recalled
It is recalled by the writer that the
late Charles l.. Torrey, who was deep
ly interested in the schools Of Putnam
including this vocational training
school, had suggested that there was
land enough 20 build an addition on
the south side of the school 10 house
the masonry department and that the
carpentry and masonry departments OF
the school could build the addition, and
would build il If the town would fur
nish the materials. Not only would
the result of this plan be the construc.
ton of an addition. at small cost, and
the production of a room to meet the
requirements Of this expanding de
partment, but ii .sould give practical
experience 10 the pupil. in the earpen-
try department as well as the pupils IN
the masonry department, % the spe'
cial advantage of the masonry depart
ment. If there are others interested
in the project that Mr. Torrey sai1 h'
was going 10 suggest 70 the school
board, possibly the addition may yet
become a reality.
p As to practical experience, it should
2 be emphasized that outside jobs" the
= real thing where the pupils can &c,
? training under actual conditions, is one
Of the great needs of the school. The
Z largest job Of this kind that the de.
: partment has yet had was the build.
= ing Of the brick steps at Masonic TEN.
: pie. Other Jobs have been confined
mostly to freplaces and chimney
, work The school is always anxious
to contract for masonry work, and e.
Inmates will be furni he'd at any time
and plans and specifications will be
furnished also upon application.
Interior Piastering
Plastering. a subdivision Of the ma
sOnry department, is branch which
calls for actual experience if possible
Not only are the pupils taught the ele-
ments Of plastering, mixing the ma
terials and doing plain work, but they
are instructed in ornamental plaster
ing, running corniees, ETC.: also in
stutco work. Concrete work is also
taught and "a number OF sidewalks
have been laid. This, however, is
rough work and does not afford any
great advantage aside from the prop
er mixing Of the cement.
Interior plastering IS fast returning
nto vogue. Plaster is being used in
many eolors and designs as a substi.