The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-01-21
Industrial Training Has
Prominent Educational Place
Has Become Popular Depart
ment In Local Public
School

SCnOOl
II your Junior wants to work with
tools and is always "dinging with
some gadget," don't force him into
his history book and burn his tools.
For industrial training has taken a
definite and prominent place in ed
ucational spheres, said o. J. Son
tag, supervisor Of Sank Centre
Public Schools industrial depart
ment.
His work over the last few years
and his plans for the future have
designated the local department
one of the most completely equip
ped and neatest shops in this sec
ton of the state. MIR. Sontag, with
his work following the specifica-
lions OF the State Department, has
Increased the rating of the local
department until they are now re-
ceiving the maximum Of state aid
TO be used as the department sees
tit. His shop Is neat, well lighted
and offers all the best working
conditions. Here the boy trade as
pirant can dabble in electricity,
wood working, mechanical draw
ing and general mechanics. He
can use such machinery as the
wood turning lathe, scroll saw,
power grinder, shaper, drill press,
circular saw, and machinists vices.
Industrial departments have been
sSos i,1pv n v>ukrnI 1y, oh
pose and accomplishments, said
Mr. Sontag. Consider that If the
student follows the course through
the four grades Offered and is in
attendance every day the maximum
Of time that he can utilize Is only
g. eight-hour days. A carpenters
trade cannot be learned in that
time. It ds not the purpose Of the
department, then, to teach defin-
itely and finally trade to the stu
dent.
In keeping with new, modern
trends in education the industrial
department Is regaining prestige.
A rapid departure from the classi-
cal subjects to the more practical
subjects has besieged the educa-
tonal system, and is getting the
unanimous support of famed edu-
Gators. 1t is the contention that
the departments can acquaint the
boy with a wide variety of trades.
And can in the second place find
out his adaptability toward some
trade or his liking for it. In gen.
no Nd To- ,~xI.A aI~
the student takes a smattering of
working with cement, plaster, glass,
rubber, and repair work, the ideal
husband or home handy man can
be born. The course pursues those
things that can be utilized in the
home. The student can properly
learn to drive a nail, set screw.
open a can Of paint, or plane a
board or fix the favorite lamp in
the household. But more import
ant, says Mr.. Sontag, he can find
out his liking for and his ability to
adapt himself to one of the trades.
What used to be regarded as a
lesser Of two evils, or snap
course" to duck" the larger de-
mands Of an ancient history course,
is now letting the student make his
own demands. Mr.. Sontag said, 1--WE
try to follow a definite outline in
our work. We are pressed for time
more than anything else. But we
let the student in some cases,
pick what ne likes" He quoted an
example of one student whose res
ponse to the subject Of mechanical
drawing was something less than
passive. Going to this student MIR.
Sontag asked him what trade he
thought he would like. Radio SEEM
ed to appeal to him. So radio II
was. Now before he can build any
part Of the radio, he must make a
drawing of that plan. But his in
terest in that field is so great he
doesn't mind. In fact his drawings
have been grading AS and BIS.
Another student, working with
Mr.. Sontag, seemed disinterested in
other subjects that the school Of
fered, and told the superintendent
that he wanted to quit school. Ask
ed If he thought he would like in
dustrial work, he assented. He has
been at the work sometime, and Is
doing well. He was set on the lathe
and in two days turned out some
dandy projects. When he got done
he said, II didn't even know what
that machine was" Those boys had
been aided in finding what they
liked. That they didn't do well in
other subjects was no cause for
concern, said Mr.. Sontag. They
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