Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 234, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1913 — NEW DEPARTURES IN OUR SCHOOLS [ARTICLE]

NEW DEPARTURES IN OUR SCHOOLS

Manual Training, Domestic Science and Commercial Branches Offer Varied Opportunity. $.• ■ The modern ideas of vocational training arg being, advanced in Rensselaer and our school board is working in harmony with Superintendent Dean and his able faculty in promoting advantages heretofore denied thC students in our public schools. The results attained so far are little short of marvelous and the enthusiasm shown by pupils proves the practical value of, the new departures. The writer visited the schools with a view of asccrfcaing what was being accomplished in the manual training, domestic science and commercial departments and was enthused by the activities of the students and the progress in the installing of equipment, etc. No patron, of the schools and no person who realizes the value of early training can help appreciate the importance of the work now being installed and The Republican is pleased to announce that before long, when everything gets to working smoothly it is intended to have a parent’s day and give all an opportunity to witness the el asses at work. JMW

A brief discussion, at this time will prove interesting to our people and cause them,- we are sure, to feel just pride in our school system and the opportunity that has unfolded with the construction of the new high school building. Manual Training. This department was very ably started by Janitor Eldon Hopkins, who assisted all who cared to take up wood workmanship, prior to this year, when a special department was made of the work and an instructor employed. Mr. C. D. Cleaver has charge of the department and seems to have a splendid grasp of the work. The manual training room is in the basement of the high school building. There are five large work benches and five small work benches, the latter arranged so that two can work at a time. The room and equipment now accommodates only 18 at a time, but 2 or 3 more work benches and a number of general tools are being ordered and when they are received a larger number can work at a time. % Mr. Cleaver requires each student to make a drawipg of the plan of whatever he is to make before he starts construction. This gives accurate measurements, careful joints, avoids wastes and is also gooc arithmetical practice. It is the intention to work up to the point where blue prints are used for the better grades of work. Blue print mechanics are the best paid and the most efficient and the ideals in this department are to attain the best. The blackboard is used in the instruction work, for drawings, for use of correct terms in the trade and for correct spelling, thus fixing the entire technic firmly in the mind as the work is being executed. At present there are about fifty grade and forty high school hoys taking the manual training work, which is limited to wood workmanship. The classes are not yot well established, hut will ho to greater advantage with the installation of the new work benches and tools. The first job undertaken is the making of kitchen tables for use in the domastic science department. The first table or pattern is nearing C/ompletion and, with it as a model, nine more tablas will he constructed. The plan of these tables is original with Mr. Cleaver and others of the faculty concerned with the domestic work and it has been designed to be of the greatest convenience to the kitchen. Much other small work is being done and samples show that there are some fino embryo mechanics in the classes. Domestic Science. Domastic science is perhaps better named as home economics. As taught by Miss Ethel O. Dyer, a graduate of Purdue and who is proving an able artisan in getting the work started, it consists oJf three branchas, sewrufK cooking and sanitation. As the work is compulsory for all girls in the 6th, 7th, Bth and frashman classes, it looks like the time was coming when there would be no girls who were unable to perform household duties. In the sewing room there has been taken up -the making of many useful things, particularly aprons, towds, etc. Neatness of stitching is encouraged and care in the making of everything, avoiding wastes, etc. The cooking department is just being started. Brand new kerosono stoves,nine in number, have been ordered, three by each of the local hardware merchants, and six of the stoves have been installed. The others are on the way. The merchants very generously and much to the pleasure of the school board and faculty supplied these stoves at virtually the cost price. Tables, dish pans, baking pans, dishes, bowls, knives, forks, spoons, and rolling pins have been purchased and two girls work at each table and have one complete set of utensils between them. The utensils are kept In dftwers,' all shining bright with eleanliness and all arranged In the same order and with the utmost precision within the drawers. To begin with each girl was required to make a diagram of the arrangement for future use. It Is

expected to drill system into each mind and thus to avoid untidy kitchens. A stock room where extra equipment, towels, cooking materials, etc., is kept, adjoins the kitchen. Each day two housekeepers are assigned to the task of issuing the things to he used and the housekeepers, have to see that each pupil at the conclusion of the lesson leaves everything perfectly clean and in the proper order. Each girl has a spotlessly \white apron and buttoning over this is a small towel and also buttoned to it is a holder pad for handling hot utensils. Each girl makes some article from a recipe, two girls at each table working together. The housekeepers perform the work of cooking in addition to their work of issue and inspection. Each pupil is responsible for the condition of the table, stove and all equipment. The danger of disease germs forming where decayed matter is allowed will constitute an important sariitary study. Miss Dyer seems able to interest the girls in the work and this fact indicates thorough success. Commercial Department. For many years there has been a demand far exceeding the supply for bookkeepers, shorthand reporters and typewriters. Educated young ladies and young gentlemen who could spell and punctuate cor- , reetly and who could write intelligent business letters and who understood business forms. The high school has been turning out a large number of graduates who were unable to attend college and who eould not engage in any occupation aside from labor and make good wagas. Strange though it may seem, it has only recently dawned upon educators that these things could be taught in the high school. This important work has been taken up here this year. The course is elective and docs not interfere in any manner with those who wish to take classical courses or to become teachers or professional men or women. The popularity is proven by the fact that there are fifty pupils taking the various branches, including four post-graduates who are in this way getting excellent business educations and fitting themselves for employment or for independent business. The International text hook is used for the bookkeeping, the Gregg system of shorthand is taught and the typewriting Is taught with a view to accuracy and speed. There are seven typewriters on hand now, two Underwoods, two L. C. Smiths, and one each of the Remington,* Smith-Premier and Monarch. These were purchased at the school which is a great reduction from the list price. These vocational training opportunities are sure to aid in building up our schools and will help our community as nothing else could do. The school board and the faculty should have the most hearty support of all in the establishment of the new branches and our people should advertise our school throughout the county, thus giving all parents an opportunity of sending their children here, so they can have the advantages of our progress. In this connection The Republican wishes to call the attention of all readers to an article contributed by “A Patron of the Burns’ School,” which offers some fine thoughts on the advantages mothers may receive through the instruction of domestic science in the schools. Tho paper was read at a literary meeting at the school house and the name of the contributor is withheld at her own request.