Basket Making by Mina Mann

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 1, 1906

Basket Making

By Mina Mann

I FIRST tried the raffia basket making. I procured a book on the subject, then had a friend, while waiting for her train, show me the “squaw” stitch, and, thus prepared, started it in school.

It is very easily learned, and the baskets, when finished, are quite pretty and durable. But there is very little real training in the work, and it is slow and tedious, while the finished product is of little monetary value. It is good where nothing better can be done, especially for lower grades. The same objection holds in splint basket making. While it teaches patience, perseverance, and accuracy, the amount of time consumed in finishing one basket is so great, and the finished product of so little real value, that I believe it is not the best thing for manual training. There are plenty of things one can do that will develop patience, perseverance, and accuracy just as well, and at the same time the articles made have intrinsic value of their own.

One can develop muscle by knocking a punching-bag, and yet the same end may be accomplished while one is really doing that which will prove of benefit to himself and others. So in our manual training; while the finished product is not the only end in view, I believe it should not be left out of consideration. The willow and reed baskets are really splendid work, and, when finished, the pupil has something which is valuable because it is useful. It can be done quickly, and if willows can not be procured, substitutes can.

I would urge our teachers everywhere to do something in the line of manual training. If you can not do what you want to do, do what you can do, but do. There are plenty of good books on basket making, and a careful study will enable one to do much for himself in the way of self-teaching. We will next consider sewing as a regular course.

MINA MANN.

Hanford, Cal.