The best method of Industrial Education is to keep the technical idea preëminently in view, and to teach, first, those principles which will be of real and practical use in an industrial life or profession. It is evident that the great mass of the people must be industrial workers in some form; and to teach them those principles of construction and drawing which govern all the mechanical trades is to give them preparation for a useful and successful life.
We want to teach them how to express intelligently by means of[pg 129] drawing their own ideas or the ideas of others, and then to embody them in permanent and useful construction; so that at least they may have the start and impetus toward something better than a life of blind mechanical drudgery.
The extent to which we can do this is limited by our time and opportunity. At present our instruction in the Slater shop is confined to woodworking and mechanical drafting. We have a course of lessons in woodworking for the boys, of the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, illustrating progressively the common principles of construction in wood, and designed to develop familiarity with and dexterity in the use of tools. In each lesson the student receives a blue-print to work from; so that he learns to measure by scale, and interpret a draft. At the same time he is shown a perfect model to give him an ideal of good workmanship in the finished product. He is not allowed to use the model as a working copy, because that would counteract the influence of the drawing. The course is designed to teach progressively the common principles of good construction, each principle being repeated in different exercises so as to show its varied application.
As far as possible we have a fourfold purpose in each exercise, viz.: To illustrate a principle of construction; to develop a knowledge of tools and skill in their use; to teach the use of working drawings and scales; to sustain the interest of the pupil.
Of course there are a number of other indirect results attained at the same time in the general development of the faculties, and the training in habits of accuracy, patient perseverance, neatness, and order.
The drawing classes are designed to carry on farther the same idea of the primary importance of technical knowledge and skill. We have but one year of compulsory work for the boys of the ninth grade--which provides a thorough course in plane, geometric scale, and pattern drawing from the same text-book that is used in the government science and art schools of Great Britain. Our plan provides another year's work in drawing for the purpose of teaching the principles and details of building construction, and the art of drawing plans, elevations, sections, etc. The improvement of the students in the drawing class is most marked and encouraging, and their interest well sustained. They are strongly impressed with the necessity and importance of absolute accuracy and truthfulness in their work.
The classes in woodworking have about two hours per week--the first year drawing, five hours per week; the second year two hours per week. We have but one teacher in woodworking, and our work is limited in extent, but we are trying to do one thing well and systematically, and the results are most encouraging.