Western High School - Concept Yearbook (Auburn, MI)

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A MANUAL TRAINING. The Nlanual 'l1l'2liI'li11g Hepa rt ment F WE but trace the history of manual train- ing in the liay City Public Schools. we will find that it was introduced into the carricu- lum of Eastern High school in the year --. A little later a course in mechanical drawing was installed in the seventh and eighth grades, being taught by the grade teachers under the super-- vision of the east side manual training instruc- tor. In 15908, a mechanical drawing class was organized for the students of Western High school, This class met two afternoons a week in the Eastern High school drafting room. Owing to the enthusiasm shown by the hoys from Western, it was deemed advisable by the school board, to provide means for a complete course in manual training for Western high. In 1910, a room was fitted up in the basement at Western, and equipment for classes in mechan- ical drawing and shopwork purchased. One year later another room was opened and equip- ment for instruction in wood turning provided, The carpentry shop equipment includes twenty-two benches, each with a complete set of general woodworking tools, such as saw, hammer, chisels, gauge. square and planes. In addition to the general bench tools, there are many special tools needed in the construction of furniture which are for the use of the entire class. The wood turning room, which is in another part of the base- ment, is equipped with ten speed lathes, a band saw, and a circular saw, all being driven with a ten-horse power motor. When the lathe room was fitted up, the work of laying concrete foundations and the installation of the machinery was all done hy the class of the previous year which had received instruction in carpentry. By doing this work, the boys received a first hand knowledge of the machines. methods of lining up shafts, and working out best means of power transmition. Let us turn from the consideration ot' equipment to the various courses offered in the department. The working time of ten hours per week is divided between the mechanical drawing and the shop work. Two days a week are spent on drawing, the carpentry shop being used as a drafting room on those two days: and the remaining three days are spent in the lathe room or car- penter shop, Let us consider the course in shop work, dividing it into four semesters' work. During the first semester the pupil acquires a working knowledge of the different woodworking tools at his disposal. In order to hasten this elementary work, a short course in joinery is introduced which deals with the different forms of constructions and wood fastenings which will be encountered later on in the building of furniture. As the different types are studied, supplementary models are introduced which involve these forms of joints or fastenings in its construction. During the first semester the whole class works on these sug- gested models which best show the different forms of construction. In the work ot' the second semester, the pupils are thrown on their own resources, and are required to make their own designs and work out their own plans for small pieces of furniture, such as foot stools, tabourets, tables and

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Editorial NOTHER year has rolled by, another class is about to graduate from the good old Western High School, and, once again, the Occident is going to press. Pausing for a moment in the midst of his many activities, the Senior says somewhat sorrowfully How time flies. A trite expression! Yet back of it is the memory of all that has happened, all that has been done in these last four years. Once upon a time, we were little freshmen-but that is such a worn-out subject! Yet suffice it to say that now, after the course of time, we wear our hair in wonderful Psyche Knots, or doff beautiful new derbies to passing lady-loves. We are grown up, and it means that high school days will soon be over, that in only a few more weeks we shall joyfully grasp our diplomas and then, one and all, scatter far and wide. But it does not mean that we shall ever cease to' remember what the high school, what our teachers, what our classmates have done'for us. The routine work, the discipline, the intermingling with our fellow students, have, in all probability, done us more good than what we have learned from our text books. So, let us one and all, give three cheers for the Western High School. The Senior class before undertaking the publication of this Annual were advised to consider it well, for it meant hard work, and plenty of it. However, the class of 1913, may it be said, without undue praise, is not one to back down on such a proposition, and so when you see its pages before you, kindly remember we have done our best. And, now, since advise is a cheap commodity, the editor would like to give a few hints to that Junior who will officiate next year in the same capacity. In the first place, don't tell anybody your troubles and your mistakes. You Will not get any more sympathy in the former, and the latter is much better kept hidden. Again, don't try to do the bidding of everybody. Just listen and use your own judgment. Perhaps you have heard the story of' the man and the donkey. 1t's appropriate here. Above all, if you want a thing done, let it be known a month before hand and every day during the month, Even then, don't expect to have it accomplished before the week following. Here's to the success of the next year's Senior Annual. Once more the business men have stood by us royally in the publication of the Senior Annual of the Occident, and once more we extend our thanks to them for their kindness and urge that their good will may be reciprocatedg for it should be understood that the Annual no way pays the necessary expense of publication. The Senior class also wish to extend their thanks to the members of the faculty for their assistance in trying to make this Annual a success.

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chairs. In the study of harmonious lines, satisfying proportions, as well as in good construction, the pupil becomes better able to appreciate the true meaning of the artistic. The pupil is made to see that it is the simple rather than the elaborate, the plain rather than the gaudy, which is conducive to good design. In the third semester the student spends his shop periods in the wood turning room. In this, as in the bench work, he must make a study of the lathes, tools, and the different cuts used in the art of wood turning. The work in wood turning is based upon the theory that any object which may be turned in wood can be reproduced by the student when he understands the reason for handling a tool in a particular way for each cut. Because of this fact, a series of exercises are first made which involve all the different cuts used in wood turning. Following the preliminary exercises, mallets, and chisel handles are turned for use in the carpenter shop. Here again the student makes a study of design and proportion in the making of candle sticks, vases, picture frames, jewel boxes, and many other similar projects. During the fourth semester, the student is given access to both shops, making use of the lathes and saws in more advanced furniture design and con- struction. He makes a study of modern shop practices and adepts them to the machinery at his disposal. A special study is made of paneled furniture, the construction of paneled doors, and the assembly of large pieces of furniture, such as buffets, china cabinets and the like. Let us now take up for consideration the mechanical drawing work. As in the shop work, the first of the time must be spent in preliminary, in lettering, instrumental practice, and the theory of projection. The pupils are acquainted with the practices of the best drafting rooms. As far as is found practicable, drawings made in the drafting room are used by the pupils in the shops. In order that the pupil may not become narrowed by always dealing with con- struction in wood, many small drawings are made from formulas. Detail and assembly drawings are made of the machines used in the turning room. During the second year an entirely different class of drawing is taken up. The drawing during this year deals entirely with architectural work. First, the class makes a study of the different types of frame house construction, making drawings of the braced frame and balloon frame styles. Following this drawings are made of window, cornice, and interior details. In connection with the work in ancient history, a study is made of the different orders of architecture and a detail drawing made of some one of the orders. A study is made of room arrangements through the making of many sketches of house plans. One of these arrangements is perfected and drawings made to scale of the floor plans and elevations. When time permits, tracings and blue prints are made from the finished drawings. It is not the aim of the manual training department, in the limited time at its disposal, to turn out finished draftsmen or accomplished apprentices in woodwork, but rather to give the boy a chance to find himself. To find out whether or not he is fitted for the work of the industrial world. With more work of this kind, we will find fewer of the misfits so often found in the trades and occupations of the world. It acquaints the individual with the tools and materials used in industrial processes. It gives him a broader outlook upon industrial conditions, helping him to so organize his individual forces that he may have a mental, moral, and physical control of himself. In short, it does a large part in making of him a more useful, helpful, and efficient citizen.