The children who enter the school, from whatever grade of society or given race, are all much alike—lively little animals that sleep, eat and talk continuously, and play, though play and expression are one and the same. They do what all animals do—keep on the move, acquire muscular skill and precision, and endeavor by every possible means to express their ideas and convey them to others. This expression takes on a constructive phase when children play at store, keeping house, fire engine, and make toys of paper and cardboard, and such amusement is the forerunner of that intense mechanical interest which overtakes boys about the age of ten or eleven.[I] Girls have an equally positive leaning which is characteristic and will be noted elsewhere. Watch any group of boys of average parentage and surroundings and make a list of the things they construct for themselves, for their own ends. In any such list extending over a period of several months will be found, according to locality, such things as wagons, sleds, whistles, kites, dog houses, pigeon roosts, chicken coops, boats, guns, etc., etc. The young artisan uses whatever raw material he can; he is chiefly concerned with the plan, and makes the best of conditions and materials. The things he makes are always for real use, a principle held in high esteem in all the arts. In making these toys the boy acquires some exceedingly valuable information and a physical skill and perfection which can only be secured at an early age. He learns about things, about raw material, about tools and utensils common to every household; he gets on speaking terms with the fundamental laws of mechanics and, more than one would imagine, develops a real ingenuity in molding material to his immediate needs. The construction of a bird house or kite is in itself simple enough, but the boy has to spend considerable effort in finding out how to do it, which is beneficial. Moreover, this constant struggle to get into tune with his physical environment and subdue it results in a considerable independence, confidence, and resourcefulness, which under moderately favorable conditions will produce a boy alert to the world in which he lives and full of the spirit of investigation—the critical attitude. Such a boy will not lean on others for either learning or pleasure.
Boat Made by Percy Wilson and Donald Mather, Montclair, N. J., Independent of Adult Assistance. The Method of Construction, which is Unique and Sound, was Devised by the Boys
Copyright, 1910, by Cheshire L. Boone
These are the Forerunners of Numerous Other Electrical Constructions, Many of Which are Produced Out of School, in the Home Workrooms and Shops
Actually, however, the modern boy has not been encouraged along these lines, nor has he been taken very seriously in those activities which affect him most; hence his struggle toward any real efficiency. A prominent man once said:
"When I was fifteen years of age I could break wild horses to saddle or harness, and teach kicking cows to stand while they were being milked. I could fell trees and drop the tree in any direction desired. I knew the relative value of all native woods, appreciated the differences in soil, grains, fruits, and simple minerals. I could use the draw-shove, adze axe, broad axe, cross-cut saw, sickle and cradle. I could make a figure-four trap, an axe helve, a neck yoke, axe yoke, whiffletree, clevis, and could braid an eight-strand cattle whip. We used to mend our harness on rainy days and I could make a wax-end and thread it with a bristle, and use a brad-awl. I knew how to construct an ash-leach and to make soft-soap, apple butter, and pumpkin pies. I knew the process of weaving flax and wool, of making and burning brick. I knew on sight and had names for a score or more of birds, and had a good idea of the habits of squirrels, skunks, wolves, and the fishes that swam in the creeks. I knew how to cure hams, shoulders, and side-meat: to pickle beef and cover apples with straw and earth so that they would keep in safety through the most severe winter, and open up in the spring fresh and valuable. Of course my knowledge was not of a scientific order, and I could not have explained it to another, because I never knew I had it."