Page 247 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

The progress of stale education, 1939-1941 567

perfection of tl\e manipulative proceases involved* Accuracy and
precision are great points in craftsmanship, but instructors too
often expect impossible standards from novicoo, whom they dishearten
by the wearisome repotition of slightly faulty work. Accuracy, like
moot other points of skill, is somathing which growsr most often
from very unpromising beginnings.
Training exorcioes should, wherever possible, result in the pro­
duction of something useful. It is much more inspiring for a student
to make a useful article, if only a simple bolt and nut, than to
lavish time and skill on a meaningless piece of construction which
itill ultimately bo consigned to the scrap-heap, or even the shovt-
caso. In the engineering trades particularly, the making of tools
affords plenty of scope in the way of practice at the bench and the
nachincs. In woodwork it Is oasy to devise useful articles which
will provide ull the practice that is necessary in making joints and
jarrying out the various forms of construction.
In addition to the regular series of training CONTRACT WORK
exercises, ovory department of the school workshops IN THE SCHOOL.
Bhould undertake a reasonable amount of contract
fiork, carried out on. a commercial basis. Participation in actual
trade job3 makes boys aware of their responsibility as skilled
workers and helps to break down the distinction in their minds between
'mere 6011001* and 'real work*.
It should be an easy matter to keep the wood- (a) WOODWORK
jorking shop supplied with useful contract work, TRADES,
file manufacture of furniture' for Government offices,
sohools and residences, and joinery for the Public Works Department,
Bight form a regular part of the work of the Technical Dchool.
Cabinet making and joinery involve processes that could usefully
employ beginners and older students alike, and on much of the con-
Iruot work in these branches valuable co-operation could bo effected.
(b) ENGINEERING
Engineering students are not likely to have TRADES.
the same opportunities for frequent participation
In contract work. The repair and overhaul of engines and machinery
Is work that cun only employ a few people at a time, and requires a
{ood deal of experience. The making of new machine parts will not
Jccur often enough to provido a steady stream of work, and usually
this work also demands such a degree of skill that beginners can do
little more than watch tho process. Nevertheless, the engineering
shops need never be idle, and given good equipment and enterprising
Instructors this department would attract a great deal of ins true tve
lork if only because the standard of mechanical engineering else-
mere in the market is so low. Although the Oil Company have first
fate workshops of their own, they may occasionally find it convenl:-
mt to. place work with the Technical School» The manufacture of
quantities of simple fittings, for example, may at certain times
yovc uneconomical in their workshops, but might form suitable work
(or the Technical School students. The officers of the Company
lould no doubt encourage the school in this way if they felt that
it was seriously aiming ut high standards of workmanship.
In view of the many specialised branches of the engineering
tfude open to Technical School pupils, the mechanical trades course
thould be particularly broad and general. Tho boys in this group
hould be taught both bench and machine work. A boy who is ultimate-
y to become a turner will be better able to follow his specialised
ruining if he has a fair knowledge of fitter's work and conversely,
hose who are to become fitters should be well acquainted v/ith
achine practice.

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