Industrial notes

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Part of Philippine Craftsman

Title: Industrial notes
Language: English
Rights
Fulltext: INDUSTRIAL NOTES. The opening of the present st·hool year· finds the following industrial teachers attached to the General Oflire of the Bureau of Educa1 ion: Mr. Bruce Ingersoll, inspector of trade schools, devoting special aitention to the provincial woodworking shops; Mr. Luther· Parker, industrial inspector; Mr. Leroy Sawyer, industdal inspector, devoting special attention to municipal woodworking shops; J\lr. North H. For·eman, inspector of school gardens and sites; 1\lr. .John F. i\linier, industrial supervisor with traveling exhibit; and ~l r·. 0. S. ll er~hey, inspector of machinery. l\lr·. II. E. C'utler, the industrial ~upervisor who visited the provmces during the last school year in connection with the traveling industrial exhibit, is now on leave of absence in the States and it is not certain when he will return. ;\Irs. Carrie E. Anderson, who has been attached to the General Oflice as industrial supenisor, has been given permanent station in Bulacan. In connection with the general program for visits of industrial supervisors and inspectors to the provinces, a plan has also been worked out. whereby it will be possible for the General Office to furni~h a number of Filipino industrial ;ossistants well qualified along certain special lines. In some cases the Filipino assistants will accompany industrial supervisors; in other cases they will be sent out on ~pecial detail to provincial normal institute~; and in others they will be a~signed to school divisions for a period to as~ist dh·ision superin72 tendents in organizing work along" their own particular lines. Itineraries covering" the general program of industrial supervision from the Gener·al Office have already been worked out. It wil l still be possible to furnish special assistance in most case~ where it is desu·ed, and division superintendents are asked to present their needs to the Diredor. At the opening of the present ~chool year· in J une the Director of Education named a number of industrial supervisors for the various school divisions of the I sland~. Whez·evez· it was possible to do so, one supez·visor was designated foz· each division. The work which has been done along- industrial lines during the past year has de\ eloped a very efficient cor·ps of instructors in certain localities. The problem of using the particular trainin~ and knowledge of these specialists has made it seem advisable to place them in a position in which their work will be at least as wide as the school divisions to which they are assigned. Wor·king in coOperation with the division superintendent, they will ha\·e general charge of tht direction of industrial work for the division, the distribution of industrial information, the collection and identification of materials, the arr·anging of progr·am~ and the han· dlingofexhibits. In another way the work of the industrial supervisor ma~ be far broader than the limits of the school division in which he is located, and those who will may find an excellent opportunity for rendering !NVL'STHJA!. NOTE'S 73 niluable St:rvice to the Bureau and to the Islands by investigations and experiments which they m:ty make. The natund medium for the distribution of such information will be in the columns of THf; PlllLII'I'JNE,: CRAFTSMA!I;, and one of the duties of industrial supervisors will be the submission of monthly statements coverinJr the industJ·ial operations of the divisions in which they are located, including such notes, suggestions, and prepared articles a s they may have to offer. The Bu1-eau of Education has taken another step in the campaign for a better food supply for thu masses of the people. Although t·orn contests are quite common iu many parts of the United States the)' huve never yet been tried on an extensive scale in the Philippines. With the opening of the present school year teachers and pupils nil over the Islands are being asked to take part in a corn contest which will be conducted by the Bureau of Education, and the provisions of the contest are being given publicity through instructions issued by the General Office. This is the pionee1· movement of its kind in the Orient. Corn is known in all pa1·ts of the Islands and is used as a human food to some extent. However, thl: acreage devoted to corn is ver)' small; the total production of corn is very inconsiderable when compared with the 1·ice crop; and the production per acre is surprisingly low. These conditions need not be so; the introduction of modern methods of seed selection and cultivation will inc1·ease the yield enormously, and the emphasis which is now being given to lhe growing of corn should have the t":ffect of interesting the people all over the Islands in the possibilities of corn as a food. The present ~chool contest is expected to accompli~h a g_Teat deal in the campaign. It is hoped that by folitcring the I~Towth of corn ;md by !ipreadinginfol·mation as to its uses, much land which is now idle will soon be producing, and the critical seasons between rice harvests, when lack of food is no uncommon thing, and those too frequent periods when drought and consequent dee shortage mean hung-er and f:lmine, will be unknown. There will soon be 1·eady for distl"ibution a new pamphlet on corn, prepared in the General Office, which will contain essential instructions on corn growing and will tell many of the ;lppetizing ways in which this cereal can be prepared as ~' food. The pamphlet will be sent out quite genenlily and teachers and pupils will be called upon to bring the information contained in it to the attention of the people. Also, copies of Duggar's Southern Field Crops have been sent out to each school division. Much helpful information can be secured from the chapters devoted to corn; it contains many useful passages which will assist in judging the difference between good and bad seed corn. Evc1·y school will be expected to have entries in this contest. Teachers !ihould secure their seed cotn and be ready to plant as soon as the conditions of the contest reach them. The contest will be a school affair and each corn plot which is entered must be supervised by a teacher. Suitable awa1·ds have been provided for the winners of the contest in the severul school divisions, and the results obtained will be given due publicity. Fo1· several years past the Burean has distributed garden seeds fo1 school purposes. Following this practice a limited supply of seeds hali been purchased for the present school )Car and will be read~- for distribu74 THE PHILIPPINE CRAFTSMAN tion about the middle of September. Seeds may be purcha~ed in the local market to supplement the supply furnished br the Bureau. i\lost of the seeds which will he distributed b)' the Government are for plants which ha\'C been but recently int1·oduced here; but while they are receiving due attention, the ve~~:etables which are common to th\l locality should in no wise be neglected. Cultivation will oftc~ produce a marked improvement in the common native vegetables; frequently such improved native vegetables an~ better in quality than those raised from imported seed; and almost invariably plants from imported seed so deteriorate before they become acclimated that new seed must constantly be introduced. The school garden may be producing every month. During the months which are considered too wet for the successful cultivation of foreign vegetables, pcchay, lettuce, mustard, endive, and other plants grown for their leaves thrive well and the time may be utilized in the planting and cultivation of native plants. The seeds distributed by the Bureaus of Education and Agricul· turc arc chiefly imported seeds and soon become infertile unless they ar\l carefully preserved or planted as soon as they arc received. Garden seeds deteriorate \·cry rapidly when exposed to the warmth and moisture of a tropical country. In the p1·epnrations which were made for the educational features of the fifth Teachers' Vacation Assembly, held in Ba~io du1·ing the months of April and May, mo1·e than usual nttention was l!;h·en to the subject of industrial instruction. Each year there a1·e evolved in the industrial classes of the Bureau mnny ideas and models of unusual merit. The problem of spreading corred information on them finds one ready solution in the annual teache1·s' as>Sembly at Baguio. In so brief a period and under existing- ci•·cumstances no attempt could be made to teach even a considerable number of the man~· lines of work which arc followed out in the schools and oniy those newly-develope;] featu•·es which seemed to offer exceptional opportunities were treated. The course:> g-iven included the following line.~: basketJ·~·. hand weaving, hemp work. ]!"ish crochet, lace and embroidery, and domestic science. The teachers who had charge of these several branches were experts in their lines; they were assisted by a corps of Filipino industrial teachers who understood their wo1·k thoroughly. Material for practice work was provided by the Bureau and a rcj!"ularcourseof inst1·uction was carded out. In all cases exhibits of the latest improved models and patterns were on display throughout the se~ S!On. The course in basketry was unde1 the direction of l\lr. Horace E. Cutler, under whom the now famou~ Polangui baskets were developed in the town of that name in Albay Province. Instruction cove•·cd the Polangui baskets, coiled baskets of various sorts, hexagonal weave baskets, and the ~ambales basket~. i\Ir. John F. Minier had charge of the course in hand weav ing, which included the making of mats, pocketbooks, doilies, cushions, and numerous other useful small articles. The newly- introduced abaca work, which seems to offer such unusual possibilitie,; as a school industrial line, was under the dil·ection of Mr. Joseph H. Loughran. lnstrucl,i.o'1 was given pa•·ticulal"iy in macrame bags, lace bags, footstools, hand bags, cushions, and slippers. The dyeing of abaca fibers was also given attenINDL'STRI.·II. N01'F:S 75 tion. ~Irs. Pearl F. Spencet· was in charge of the work in Irish crochet. tier course was a very popular onl!. The course in lace making and embt·oidery was conducted b~· Mis,; Fannie ;".lcGee and her assi~tants. Mrs. Alice i\1. Fuller gave a seri~:s of talks and demonstrations on domestic science work among Filipino girls. The enrollment in all of these cla~ ses was good. A larj.!:e number of the men and practically all of the women took at least two of these courses. As examples it may be stated that 95 teachers em·olled during the season in the course in hemp wot·k and more than 10 women to'l',; advantage of the opportunity fot· learning Irish ct-o-chet. It is expected th~tt notable and prompt t·esults will be realized from the.o;e cour~es given at Baguio. Imtnediately after the close of the exhipit at the First Philippine Exposition in February, in which the Irish crochet exhibit of ti!J·s. Peurl F. Spencer, of Tabaco, Alba)', had been the subject of unusual attention, at the request of the Director of Education i\lrs. Spencet· embat·ked for Shanghai, China, to make an investigation of the Irish ct·ochet industt·y at that center and particularly at the famous Siccawei Convent. The object was to discovet· the methods which are followed in giving instruction in this branch about Shanghai, the plans for the extension of the industry among the people and for keeping them in touch with the most up-to-date requirements along these lines. to secure samples of the most !"ecent designs, patterns, and materials which are used in the Chinese work, and to find out something about. the prices and markets for the goods. While in Shanghai ~~ r~. Spencer inspected \ery carefully the work of the women at the Siccawei Con\ent. She discovered that tnuch of the I !"ish crochet is now made in the interior of China, where the industry ha~ spread from Shanghai, and that the product is handled by brokers in the city. Before she left on this trip she was authorized to purchase a number of samples of work which she thought would be useful in carrying- on th-e instruction in the Philippines; her purchases, amounting to 1'31!!.25, included collars and cuffs, farlt'y yokes with collar~. jnbots, hats, bags, baby bonnet~, etc. Upon h('t return, the sample at·ticles which she purcha~ed were placed on exhibition at the Teachers' Camp in Bnguio and at the close of the session the)' wet·e taken into the Bureau of Education museum, of which they now form a par·t. They will be used as may ><eem best for the furtherance of instruction in Irish nochet work in the schools. During the past vacntion the first ~tep toward intt·oducing into the homes of the people an industt·y which has been developed successfully in the schools was taken in the Province of Albay. This was in the introduction of Irish Ct"Ochet among the people. It has been demonstntted that Filipino women can become expert in this work and that they can earn from 1'0.80 to 1'1 pet· day at it. The market for· the good~ which can be produced is ample, and with the industl")' in the stage which it had reached by the close of schools in March it was thought that an excellent opportunity existed to make here the first experiment at extending the work of the school gil"ls among the townspeople. Authol"ity was granted by the Director of Education for the appointment of a number of tcmpontr)' Insular teachers to conduct classes in lt·ish crochet for adults during 7(; TI-l/<: PII/UJ>I'/Nf; CRAFTSMAN the lonp: vacation. These teachers were chosen from among the most apt pupils who harl been developed bv ~lrs. Peurl F. Spencer in her \~ork du•·ing the yeur. The classes were organized under the direction of J\lr·s. Spencer, who had just retut·ned from Shanghui, where she had in\estigated the methods for can·ying on this sort of work in that center. The first class was e~tablished in the town of Tabaco, and the work w;IS later extended to other towns of the Province of Albay, until 12 teachers were employed in this mannet·. Pupils of the public schools were not admitted to these special classes. The aim was to ~elect those women who would take up Uw work immediately in their homes in order to secure an income for the supJIOI"t of themselves ;md their f;1milie~. Four days ufter the classes were started there were :JOO women enrolled in them in ten different municipalities. In order to stimulate special interest in the work a public meeting had been arranged fo1· the town of Tabaco, at which some 1'2,000, which was the share of the Tabaco g-irls in the Irish crochet sales at the Exposition, was distributed among the )!'iris of the intermediate and pr·imary ).!'rudes. At the same time the proJIOsedSJ){'Cialvarationdassforadults wns explained to the people, who, with such concrete evidence of the succes~ of Irish crochet work before them, would appreciate more fully the vnlue of the new household industry which wa~ offered to them. For a result of these summer classes and the adoption of Irish crochet a~ a household industry among the women, Mr. G. W. Caulkins, who was the didsion superintendent of schools foJ' Alhay at the time, looked forwa1·d to expor1s of Irish crochet artic\t>s from A\bay to the value of 1'100,00•) during- the year· he,l!'inning July I. 1912. A MI:."TIIOU Ot' [lyt;JNG SITO DLM~IL As a J'ule the nito stem is not uniformly black; it is generally much darke1· at the butt end than toward the tip; again it is often ~tre~1ky, with greenish-white lines I'Unning lengthwise. This irregular and uneven color is ~~ serious detriment in its employment for basket work. To remedy this, dyeing and smoking- are frequently resorted to. The following is a process which will gin• successful results; Take a young coconut about half grown (the gJ·een, not the red vadety) and cut it into small pieces. Secure a CJ'Oss-~ection of sapang (Sibul'fW) wood-a piece of the trunk is be~t- about a foot long, and split it lengthwise into thin pieces. Place both chopped coconut and ,:;ap;ulg stl'ips in a pot or can, with about a g-;1ll0n of water, and boil for half an hoUJ'. Then take the nito and place it in the solution, boiling- for about twenty minutes. Afterwards; remO\'e the nito and bur·y it in moist mud, where it should be left for half a day. It may then be J'emoved and cleaned by washing. It will be found to have a deep, jet black color. Rattan, bamboo, and banban may also be dyed in the same manne1·. A~ a substitute for the mud bath, lime may be employed in the dye mixture. A small amount should be added to the d)•eing solution after the coconut and sapang have been boiled together and the material then placed in the solution and boiled. As a rule, this method will give as satisfactor·yacolorasthefirst. At various times dul'ing the last few months letters have been 1""eceived ft·om Mr. George N. Briggs, representative of the Directo1· of Education in the United States in the selection of new teachers, as to the disposition which has been made INDUSTkiAI. NOTF:S 77 of the exhibit of industdal work from Philippine ~chools which wa~ ~ent back to the United State~ to be exhibited at the Mohonk Conference. Due to unfortunate delays in shipping- at San Fr·anci~co, the exhibit did not reach the Mohonk Conference a~ intended and failed in its initial object. However, )Jr. Brig-gs himself took charge of the exhibit and had it placed on display in a number of educational centers. As soon as this work of the Philippine schools was broug-ht to the attention of the public there was at once a great demand for the exhibit as a feature of ~everal of the prominent educational institutions and gatherings of the year·. The high class product and the possibilities for its further development created quite a sensation; the work was far superior to anything which has yet been pr·oduced by public schools in the United States. At the conference of the National Society for the Promotion of Industr·ial Education, held in Cincinnati in 1911, a ~atherin~ which was attended by the most pr·omment educators from all parts of the United States, the exhibit received marked attention and was the subject of much discussion. Perhaps the most notable attention which the exhibit received was its display during the months of February and i\lar·ch at the Teachers' College of Columbia University in New Yor·k. The various article~ were displayed in nine exhibit case~ and the un iversity issued a 6-page folder describing the exhibit in considerable detail. In this manner· the work of the Philippine schools has been brought before the educator·s of the United States in a very concrete manner. This exhibit, which continues to be known in this office as the l\lohonk exhibit, is still in the United States in c-harge of :\l r. Brigg-s. The Director of Ag-riculture has >~tated that it will be the policy of the Bureau of Agriculture again this )'ear to supply seeds generall~· upon individual requests to teacher·s and pupils of the public schools. During a portion of the past year as man~· as 1,000 request~ per month were filled; many of these were from pupils of the public schools. In taking- advanta~e of this offer· of the Bureau of Agriculture for the coming school year, teacher~ and pupils should remember that collec· tion V-2 a~ noted below is supplied to teacher·s :md co!lection V-6 is intended for pupils. The other collections are for far·me rs with one hectare or more of hmd under cultivation, and will not, as a nrle, be furnished to other persons. In ever)' case the name and addre>~s of thoJ applicant should be clearly written. The letter· of request should state whether the wr·iter is a teacher, a student or a farmer, and what collertion is desired. All communication~ should be addressed to the Director of Agriculture, Manila. The followinl!' is a complete list of the various collections of seeds distributed by the Bureau of Agr·iculture: 1'- J (fo1· roiiperatiii!J plrmtcrs). Reans, beets, cabbage, carrot, eg-gplant, endive, lettuce, mustard, okra, onion, pechay, pepper, radish, tomatc, turniJI, papaya, peas. \'-.!(Jot teaehcts a1rd plantas).Beans, beets, cabbage, ca!'rot, eg~ plant, lettuce, mustard, onion, okra, pechay, radish, tomato, turnip, peas. \'--.1 (llalad t•egetablc8).- Condol, endive, lettuce, mustard, pecha)', pepper, spinach, squash, parsler, peanuts. V-~ (for lra{'el!deros).-Batao, bean, Lyon bean, corn, mongo, cowpeas, patane, sorghum. V--5 (forage seed>J).-ltalian rye g-rass, billion-dollar· grass, molasses grass, Colorado grass, Lyon bean, 78 THE PHILIPPI NE CH.4FTSM.4.N !>Umac sorghum, redtop, new em cowpeas, Natal g-rass, Rhodes g-rass. \'- 6 (for strulcnt11). Lettuct>, p;•pper· tomato, egg-plant, peas. 1'- i (foraye roots). Guinea grass, Pagpalum gra~s, and Par;\ grass roots. 1"--8 (forci_qu e.rchanyrs). Lyon bean, seguidillas, patane, batao, tobacco,!iquash,condol. The Director of Agriculture states that roots of guinea gra~s, which is a valuable forage pla:rt, will be fur·nished in small quantities free upon application. F'or enough roots to plant one heetare of ground a ~harge of f>J:; will be made. The Bureau of Agricu!Lure an· nounces that ;\ fresh supply of Hawaiian papaya seed has been received and i~ ready for· distribut ion. When requested, Circular No. 6, on Cultural Directions for Papaya, will be sent with the seeds. A recent introduction of the Bur·eau of Agriculture is the roselle, a plant which, though known in Java 2.)0 ~·ears ago, is only now finding its way into the Philippines. It is used ~hicfly for jellies and preserves and strongly resembles the cranberry. It is very simple and easy of cultivation. Seeds of the roselle may be obtained from the Bureau of Agriculture fr·ee upon application b~· an)One interested in it; printed directions for planting will be ineluded with each package. Referring to the tendency of teach er~ and pupils to produce articles of too var·ied types and designs, the division superintendent for Oocos Norte states in a circular: ""The Bureau is tryin~ to standardize industrial work, but it can never do ~o while pupils ur·e allowed to follow tiM.:ir· own fancies as to what they are to make. • • • if 100 whips or· baskets are made of uniform size, shape, design, and workmanship, and of the <oame muterials, the supervising teacher can sell the bunch at a uniform price and secure buyers by fur·nishing a single sample.'" In llocos Norte types which have not alr·eady been recognized as standard must be submitted to the dh·ision superintendent for approval before they rna~· be extensh•ely taken up.