Florence O. Bean

“ It is a growing conviction that there must be laid, in the earlier grades, a strong foundation on which to build a practical education in the later grades whether directed toward industrial, commercial or professional life. ”

“ Selvage should never be allowed to remain on a covering of vellum. A “raw edge” pastes down more closely and is, therefore, less apparent. Vellum tears very easily lengthwise, and a torn edge may be allowed if it is to be covered. If not to be covered, all edges should invariably be cut.
When the pieces have all been cut, place the newsboard on the back side of the front piece of vellum, with the margins equal, and draw around it. Cover the surface inside the pencil lines with a thin, even coat of paste. ”

“ The foundation is more successfully cut [Pg 25] with the paper cutter, as to cut it with scissors is a very difficult task for little hands and likely to loosen the scissors at the joint. The most desirable way is for each pupil to cut his own newsboard, in which case the ruler fastened to the cutter may be used to insure the correct size without any preliminary measuring. If the cutter is deemed unsafe for the pupils’ use, the proper size may be marked on the newsboard with pencil and the pieces cut by a large boy or by the teacher. ”

“ Having cut one sheet of the inside, lay the sheet on as many pieces of the paper as are needed, (from three to seven make a booklet of desirable thickness) ; then make a hole with a pin or needle at each corner, piercing all at one time. On each sheet draw the four sides, using rule and pencil. This is easier than to measure each one. The folded sheets should be placed one inside the other to form the inside of the booklet, and the whole placed inside the folded cover, with the edges of the cover projecting slightly. ”

“ The directions given under each problem have been so worded that they call for the greatest amount of thought and initiative on the part of the worker. The use of such instruction develops power to think, to plan constructive work and to carry it to completion. At first, it may be necessary for the teacher to elaborate some points especially in connection with the working drawings or sketches, but after a little training, each pupil should be able to lay out and cut all parts from his own drawings ”

“ Occupational Therapy.
For fastening, use cord, tape or ribbon which should be inserted before the linings are pasted in. To illustrate: Pass a ribbon across the outside of the middle piece, putting each end through a slit—say one inch from the edge—and glue these firmly to the newsboard. Through a slit in the other broad face pass another length of ribbon on the end of which shall be a Japanese bead; on the narrow face in similar fashion attach a loop of ribbon (made by passing both ends through the same slit) . When closed the case may be fastened by putting the bead through the loop. ”

“ Newsboard, vellum, and paper for memorandum pad, or calendar,
or pad to be mounted.
We shall now begin to deal with materials that are more exclusively employed in bookbinding work. The simple articles considered at first are not books; but because the processes involved and the materials used will be used later in the more difficult work of binding a real book, they are made a part of this course.
The wise teacher will become somewhat familiar with handling the required materials before attempting to give instruction. ”

“ AMONG the various materials which lend themselves readily to a manual training course with large classes are those of the bookbinders’ craft. They are inexpensive, easily handled, and require no tools or equipment that cannot be used in an ordinary classroom. ”

“ High standards of work and correct processes should always be set before the pupil, and these are best assured by the teacher becoming thoroughly conversant not only with the general construction of an article to be made, but with the best methods of securing neat and accurate results. Eventually, the pupil’s mental attainments will show in the tangible work of his hands. ”

“ Materials: Newsboard, [5] vellum, cover paper, white paper, tape, sewing linen, and “super.”
There are several ways of sewing a book and even more ways of binding it after it is sewed. The first method here given is the simplest, and is such as is feasible in a fifth or sixth grade without a sewing frame, a press, or other apparatus than the simple tools required in the previous problems.
First determine the shape and size of the book. It is better at first not to attempt a book which is very thick, seven to twelve signatures being sufficient for a beginning. ”

“ While in some ways better suited to the middle grades of the elementary schools, selection may be made from the lessons here outlined which will give excellent training to the upper grades in those schools where the curriculum does not include shop-work, cooking, or sewing. ”

“ To mix a wash of the color selected, put two or three tablespoonfuls of water in the water-cup and add a little paint until the desired tone is produced, being quite sure to have enough to cover the whole surface. Try to have the wash clean, not muddy, and beware of too much paint! The colors should be soft, not crude, and somewhat neutralized by the addition of the complementary color. The best results are produced by the use of green, pale yellow, brown, dull orange, and red. Blue is very likely to streak and is seldom satisfactory. ”

“ With a needle make a hole through the center of the fold, and another near each end of the fold (from one-half an inch to an inch and a half from the end) according to the size of the booklet, as shown in Plate III. With thread or raffia sew through the center hole, from the inside out, back to the inside through an end hole, outside through the center hole, inside through the other end hole, and tie the ends in a square knot (see illustration, Plate IV) near the center of the fold. Other equally satisfactory methods of sewing may be worked out. ”

“ The object of the course is educational, not industrial, therefore, those methods which stimulate inventiveness, ability to plan simple work, and dependence on one’s own initiative are most desirable. ”

“ Most stains will stand some water, but common ink would wash out if rained on. So to preserve the color, checkers dyed with ink should afterward be dropped into a thin shellac and taken out and dried. Those of natural color should also be shellaced as they keep clean much longer. After the shellac is dry, there is a little roughness on the surface. If this is rubbed off with fine sandpaper the checkers are much more agreeable to handle. Twelve checkers of each color are needed for a set but three or four extra ones may be added. ”

“ INTRODUCTION THE present day demand for industrial education has had the effect of somewhat discrediting the more formal manual training commonly found in the upper elementary grades and early high school years. ”

“ The pupils who work more rapidly than the average of the class may always have on hand an extra piece of work to be done when the regular assignment has been completed.
The adaptation of any problem to a specific purpose should always be considered an opportunity for the development of class originality. ”

“ Along folding lines of the foundations score deeply with a knife, one blade of the scissors, or with a pin, and fold with the crease on the outside. It is essential to the success of the box to have this crease on the outside to insure a sharp, straight, and strong edge, which might otherwise be rounded, irregular, and weak. ”

“ Two hours each week for one school year may profitably be devoted to this work. In the upper grades some of the easier problems should be omitted, and more time devoted to actually bookbinding, introducing as much variety as time and materials will allow. ”

“ No attempt should be made to cut these pieces carefully or regularly. Each pupil should be led to depend on his own initiative in the use of the rule and triangle. An irregular edge which is not a guide, is more educational than straightedges and right angles which are of considerable assistance.
Plate IX. The completed mount showing the location
of the calendar, and the two pieces of vellum.
With rule, triangle, and pencil, carefully lay out each part from the drawings already made, and cut the coverings with the scissors. ”

“ Properly place one foundation piece on the cover paper, allowing the vellum to show where it laps onto the newsboard, and draw around it. The amount of vellum which is to show is a problem in space division. ”