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Practical Training
251
“There should be opened to the youth means whereby many
may, while attending school, learn the trade of carpentry. Under the
guidance of experienced workmen, carpenters who are apt to teach,
patient, and kind, the youth should be taught how to build substan-
tially and economically. Cottages and other buildings essential to
the various lines of schoolwork are to be erected by the students
themselves. These buildings should not be crowded close together,
or built near the school buildings proper. In the management of
the schoolwork, small companies should be formed, who should be
taught to carry a full sense of their responsibility. All these things
cannot be accomplished at once, but we can begin to work in faith.”
With a practical training, students will be prepared to fill useful
positions in many places. If in the opening providence of God it
becomes necessary to erect a meetinghouse in some locality, the
Lord is pleased if there are among His own people those to whom
He has given wisdom and skill to perform the necessary work.
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Let the students who are engaged in building do their tasks with
thoroughness, and let them learn from these tasks lessons that will
help in their character building. In order to have perfect characters,
they must make their work as perfect as possible. Into every line of
labor let there be brought that stability which means true economy. If
in our schools the land were more faithfully cultivated, the buildings
more disinterestedly cared for by the students, the love of sports and
amusements, which causes so much perplexity in our schoolwork,
would pass away.
For the lady students there are many employments which should
be provided, that they may have a comprehensive and practical edu-
cation. They should be taught dressmaking and gardening. Flowers
should be cultivated and strawberries planted. Thus, while being
educated in useful labor, they will have healthful outdoor exercise.
Bookbinding and a variety of other trades should be taught,
which will not only furnish physical exercise, but will impart valu-
able knowledge.
In all our schools there should be those who are fitted to teach
cooking. Classes for instruction in this subject should be held. Those
who are receiving a training for service suffer a great loss when they
do not gain a knowledge of how to prepare food so that it is both
wholesome and palatable.