MANUAL TRAINING

“In many scattered places in the United States perfect demonstration has already been given that manual training and instruction in the mechanical arts and trades are in the first place, valuable as means of mental and moral training, and, in the second place, useful for the individual toward obtaining a livelihood, and for the nation toward developing its industries. Accordingly, manual training schools, mechanic arts high schools and trade schools ought to become habitual parts of the American school system; and normal schools and colleges ought to provide optional instruction in these subjects, since all public school teachers ought to understand them. Such schools are more expensive than schools which do not require mechanical apparatus and the service of good mechanics as instructors; but there can be no doubt that they will repay promptly their cost to the community which maintains them.”PBE 237.1