206 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



treated in like spirit and the beginners shown or led to discover 

 how to use the set squares. Of course many experiments on 

 direction and other geometrical concepts are necessary but 

 the necessity for such experiments lies in the fact that the 

 boys understand the use of drawings when connected with the 

 construction of definite objects : hence there is a valid reason 

 for investigation and the correct atmosphere for its initiation. 

 This cardboard work is most valuable as a preliminary to much 

 formal mathematical work, particularly — as has been shown — 

 to Geometry. A glance at the list of objects made will prove 

 this. Apart from this, the boys acquire skill in manipulating 

 that simplest and most primitive of tools, the knife — a training 

 of the greatest assistance in subsequent developments — and 

 they learn how to " read " a simple drawing. 



Clay modelling 1 is designed to train boys to observe clearly 

 by appealing both to sense of touch and to sense of sight : to 

 the former by the contrast of rough and smooth, proportion 

 of relief, etc. ; to the latter by judgment of light and shade. 

 Indirectly it teaches self-reliance. By way of exercises on 

 interlacing bands, repetition of leaf forms to produce patterns 

 and mouldings of different sections, it proceeds to work from 

 natural forms : leaves, flowers, fruit — from casts of fine historic 

 ornament and from photographs. To model from nature 

 teaches facts about construction, growth, etc. : to model from 

 historical examples shows how such facts have been used in 

 the production of ornament. 



After spending one or two terms on such work as this, boys 

 are prepared — both mentally and physically — to undertake work 

 of a more arduous nature and woodwork is commenced. Not 

 that formal woodwork which has been condemned because it 

 demands the expenditure of much time on mere " exercises " and 

 through reliance on established schemes has degenerated into 

 mere formal routine work ; but of a freer, less restricted type 

 which appeals to the boys' innate tendencies to construct and to 

 manipulate and leads naturally — through the actual manufacture 

 of models which do not require much refinement, much detail — 

 to recognition of the necessity for " drudgery " if skill is to be 

 acquired and to gradual appreciation of the reasons underlying 

 this and that formal method, of the steps which led to the 

 invention of certain tools and their importance. Rough 



1 For these notes, the author is indebted to Mr. Rigby of Christ's Hospital. 



