Salomon and Sennett Notes

SALOMON:

Salomon created slojd. Slojd: no precise English equivalent; implies skill in work rather than craft as a productive activity

• Didn't want to train manual laborers/artisans. Goal was to give every student well-regulated habits of mind and body

Slojd became an international phenomenon; influence felt in shop classes, architecture, design, crafts

A slojd and artisan work differ from each other (slojd doesn't contain any economics)

Educational/ practical slojd differ from each other, but at the same time go hand in hand. You need one to have the other.

Aim of educational slojd: to utilize the educative force which lies in rightly directed bodily labor, as a means of dvlping the pupils' physical and mental powers which will be sure/evident gain to them for life

• Skills that will matter in the future for them; related to future career
• Seeks to work on lines which insure the dvlpment of the pupil in certain definite directions

Wood-slojd is the most popular type of slojd; special kind: slojd-carpentry

• Best fulfills the conditions required when instruction in slojd is given w/ edu ends in view
• Adapted to mental/phys powers of children
• Making useful articles--sustains genuine interest in the kids

Slojd carpentry and regular carpentry differ; things made in slojd-carp are smaller, different form, etc.

• Similarities in material (wood) and SOME tools

Slojder works under more primitive conditions than the regular carpenter

No division of labor in slojd-carp

Work of edu slojd must be done independently and accurately in order to be effective

• Teacher must be careful not to intrude too much (pedagogy that is popular today too; let the kids be independent and equals)

Children sit in numbered benches, use numbered tools; lots of order

Teacher must circle around the room offering advice and assistance (normal for classrooms today), talking must be avoided (also normal)

Their work is given a "value" (aka a grade)

SENNETT:

Pragmatism addresses the quality of experience as well as sheer facts on the ground

Focused on a socialism that is based on improving the quality of people's experience at work instead of advocating a politics that transcends labor itself

Work which remains permeated with the play attitude is art

To work well ppl need freedom

Two types of experience

1. Erlebnis: event or relationship that makes an emotional inner impress
2. Erfahrung: an event, action, or relationship that turns one outward and requires skill rather than sensitivity

These two types of experience are related and should not be divided

Craftwork emphasizes erfahrung

Parenting as a craft has become the modern common sense of parenting

Craft of making physical things provides insight into the techniques of experience that can shape our dealings with others

• Applies to making human relationships

Suppose a continuum b/w the organic and the social (part of pragmatism)

In Pandora's story: the physical tools do the damage; material goods compose the "beautiful evil" that she talks about

• Contains a contrary: a virtuous god who makes everyday things yet whose person is ugly and inglorious

Pride in work cause large ethical problems (ex: atomic bomb)

• To avoid this ask ethical questions during the work process