HAND-WORK FOR SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 232, 12 October 1901, Page 4

HAND-WORK FOR SCHOOLS.

The third of the special reports on educational subjects issued by the Education Department ia entitled, " Hand-work for Schools—Modelling." The notes are pub lished with a \iew to helping teachers that are taking up elementary modelling as part of their school work. Among exercises in manual training, modelling takes a high position, for, it ia stated, no other exercise is better calculated to cultivate accurate observation, neatness, manual dexterity, artistic taste, and ap preciatiou of the beautiful in form. Before the introduction of plasticine, many teachers while recognising the educational value of modelling, strongly ob jected to it because it involved the use of clay. The difficulties attending the maintenance of the clay at tha right consistency for workiug, the constant attention it required, its disagreeable odour, and the preparation for and the cleaning up after the lessons, were all against it* use. All these, however, are now obviated by the use of plasticine, which, with ordinary care, wi 1 keep for years, requires no attention to keep it in working condition, is always ready for use, is cleanly, is claimed to be to aome extent antiseptic, and can be used for a variety of exercises of high educational value The phamphlet contains a few illustra tion» which have been added to show the possibilities of pla ticine.