Valparaiso High School - Valenian Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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THE MANUAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT. HE Manual Training department of the Valparaiso public schools was established by the alumni of the High School, August 31, 1908. The first teacher in the department was Mr. Wallace, who held the position for two years. Mr. Wal- lace, of course, had some difficulties to overcome because the work was new and he had the task of getting the work started and run- ning well, but “Pappy,” (Mr. Wallace) soon had things in working order and lots of good work was done during his management. In 1910 W. (1. Davis became director of the department and he still holds the position. Mr. Davis proved to be a very competent and pop- ular teacher and the manual training department continued to thrive and its efficiency to increase. The department under Mr. Davis turned out work increased in quantity and quality. When the department was established the Manual Training room contained only work benches and tools, but in 1912 two turning lathes were installed. The power for these lathes and for the grindstone is furnished by an electric motor. The manual training department is certainly a valuable and im- portant feature of the school. It has been said that, “Man is a tool- using animal; nowhere do we find him without tools; without tools he is nothing; with tools he is all,” and the manual training department is certainly a place where one may learn to use tools. Two great results of instruction in manual training are power to do, and ability to appre- ciate what is done by others. When a person has made with his own hands a piece of furniture, it gives him a very real and valuable idea of the real worth of things that are produced by the sweat of the brow, and this side of an education certainly ought not to be neglected. Manual training begets a habit of self-reliance and develops the char-

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DOMESTIC ART. INCE the use of the needle is one of woman’s finest arts, a Domestic Art Department was installed in the Valparaiso public schools in September, 1907, and has continued to flour- ish under the able direction of Miss Mae McKinnis. The work is systematically arranged. Mat weaving, knitting, braiding raffia, and hemstiching are taught in the primary grades. The next three grades design and weave baskets, crochet, do drawn- work and make aprons. When the seventh and eighth grades are reached, sewing machine work is introduced and undergarments are made from patterns drafted by the pupils in class. During the high school course the art reaches a higher standard and art needle work and leather work is executed. It is here also that the work of the amateur modiste begins, for all sorts of garments are made from the modern sale patterns. Periods of forty minutes per week are devoted to Domestic Art by the first five grades; but the time is doubled in the seventh and eighth grades and high school. This department is one of the most beneficial in the public schools, a statement which is proved by the attitude of the pupils and the results of their labors. A M A N 1 A G R UENERT.

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28 acter and individuality of the student. It lias been said that, “Manual Training has done more for the human race than the exercise of any, if not all, of the other inodes of expression. It is absolutely indispen- sable to normal physical development, it has had a mighty influen ce upon mental development; it has cultivated ethics as a basis of all moral growth.” KENNETH WADE. THE DOMESTIC SCIENCE DEPARTMENT. R. WILEY has said, “The chief business of our nation, strange as it may sound, is eating.” Our health and happiness depend in a great measure on the home cooking. To prop- erly prepare food, study and training are necessary. Within the last year a Domestic Science kitchen has been installed in our city schools under the able direction of Miss Bushell. The room is equipped with all the utensils necessary for twenty girls to cook at one time. It has met with such popularity that besides the sixth and eighth grade girls who are compelled to take it, nurses, teachers, High School girls, and outsiders, nearly two hundred in all. are availing themselves of this opportunity to become scientific cooks. The course consists of the following: Dish washing, various methods of cook- ing, and tables of measures; experimental cooking of the five food substances, namely, carbohydrates, proteids, fats, mineral matter and water; preparing of batters and doughs; cooking of meats and fish; fancy desserts, beverages and ices. Miss Bushell has proved herself a very capable and interesting teacher and is to be commended for start- ing this course so successfully in our schools. It is greatly regretted hv all that she will not continue the work in our schools next year. MARGARET BRIGGS.