Dover-Foxcroft 1928 - University of Maine

64 ANNUAL REPORT
tainments of fifteen typical towns and cities scattered
over the eastern states gives a knowledge of the important
manual arts activities characterizing their
work, is very interesting, and often the basis for improvement.
A study of these reports emphasize the
value of the individual method of work as used in our
shop and show that it is a generally understood and
accepted method.
This means a well organized course of exercises, involving
basic principles, arranged in sequential order,
and applied to the project of the individual boy as
chosen by him and limited only by the probability of
its successful completion by him.
Ninety boys were enrolled at the beginning of the
Fall term, and come to the shop in classes: Seventh
Grade, 18 in Division A, 14 in Division B; Eighth
Grade, 14 in Division A, 14 in Division B; Academy,
6 in Sophomore; 15 in Freshman Division A, 11 in
Freshman Division B. 32 of the Academy boys (not
mentioning the girls) travel the four-tenths of a mile
from the Academy to the shop and then return t v vo
times per week regardless of the weather (again not
mentioning the girls) or the travel conditions.
Many building, furniture and equipment repairs are
made and vary from reglazing a window to installing
a telephone. An inspection of our wonderful shop by
any one interested is invited and will show in the
arrangement and condition of its equipment what organization
and co-operation with boys will do.
The continued favorable interest of the Town has
made it possible to make additions to and keep in
repair our equipment, the most notable additions being
an iron saw bench, an electric sanding machine, and
increased electrical material has resulted in better
teaching results and is justified because of the increased
use of all kinds of electrical conveniences. A
band saw is among the near possibilities and will teud
to increase and encourage the creative efforts of tRe
boys by making it possible to more easily saw out
curved work than by hand with a coping or bracket
saw. In fact, the hand method penalizes their efforts
at designing ornamental work. Yet a quantity production
on the basis of production alone has no place