Woodwork course for boys

This series of models was arranged primarily for use in the schools where the manual instruction was under my own supervision. It has been tested, and found to be a workable course.

The exercises involved are those found in English Carpentry.
Models 5, 6, 11, 13, 20, 26, and 28, are exercises that are not embodied in complete objects. They are good specimens of work that has actually been set at the woodworking examinations, held by the Science and Art Department in Elementary Schools.

The other twenty-three models are embodiments, in complete and useful objects, of these and other exercises in Carpentry.

The principle followed in arranging the series has been to proceed as logically as possible from easy to more difficult work.

In schools where the course has been worked, the method of instruction has been to first exhibit the object to be made to the class, then to draw several views of it to large scale on the blackboard, from which the boys make drawings to scale in their own books. Then the teacher has given a practical working demonstration of the model, and described the wood and tools used, the class taking notes. In the workshop the instruction has been individual, and the boys have worked from their own drawings, and not from models.

It will be noticed that the sizes for the rough wood for each model are given along with the practical directions. The boys are not allowed to cut out their own timber from the board, as this entails unnecessary waste of wood, and takes up too much of the teacher's time in superintendence. On this account, care has been taken to provide a sufficient amount of sawing exercise in the working of the models. The timber should be ordered cut up to the sizes required. There is also an economical advantage in buying short lengths.

Some of the models in this course are taken from the Naas series, arranged by Herr Otto Salomon, whose general principles have also been followed.