The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-08
OUR VACATION SCHOOLS
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THIS LINE
OF WORK IN INDIANAPOLIS.
The Experiment OF '97 I'm "A Public
school BuiIding-Mr. Merritt's Park
PInn-summer Kindergartens.

A year ago this month preparations were
begun for the carrying on in Indianapolis of
a July school after the pattern of the Chi
cago model conducted the previous year by
the Civic Federation. The first question TO
be decided was, Gould there be found in
our city a sufficient number of persons deep
~ enough interested in the plan to lend a
helping hand?" little investigation
proved tFrat a more bountiful response could
not have been expected. Once or twice the
reply was, ITO cut long story short. I'll
give you ten dollars" Even an answer
like that could be very happily endured,
and very willingly was the great business
pressure Of the donor accepted as a thor
OugHiy sufficient excuse for what might
otherwise seem a lack of interest. The
many little encouragements and valuable
suggestions Of many OF our business men
VIII always remain among the most pleas
ant membranes of the collector of the
money. Finally, eighteen $40 subscriptions
were obtained and the work of organiza-
tion was pushed. On the 1st of July 1O5
pupils OF all classes, of every grade, from
many parts of the city. presented them
selves. By the third day 10 pupils were
enrolled Many more applied but had to be
sent away, and the accepted members, who
were doing much advertising of their own
accord, were asked to stop 1t, since no more
could be accommodated. Some of the dis
tricts which were represented in the school
we're Meridian, Blackboard. West Washing
ton. West and McCarty streets, Home ave-
nue.. Buchanan. Merrill, East Washington,
East Michigan streets, northern extremity
Of Capitol avenue. South state street, West
indianapolis and Haughville. Concerning
IL -
attendance speaks for itself. When school
was about to be closed many one asked:
Are we going to quit already? | wanted
to bring my mamma next week; she prom
ased me she'd come then. VIII we have 1t
One hundred and eighty dollars is a very
small sum with which to carry out such an
idea; hence. in order to curtail expenses as
much as was necessary, the management
was obliged to dispense with one two
kinds OF exercise on its ideal programme.
Cooking was the impossible ideM exercise
on the girls programme, but sewing, al
though not a substitute, was equally val
liable. Handkerchiefs, shirts and aprons
were made with such pleasure that the les
daily were devoted to singing, in which all
classes were taken together. Stories were
pupils. One morning was spent at Military
Park, where drawing and games were the
order of the day. The fountain and the
rustic houses had an enchantment for
many. whose first acquaintance with the
park began that day. Another day similar
employments occupied the childrens atten-
ton in Garfield Park. There is no telling
what good and profitable time would have
been had in visit to the Polk dairy farm,
at Greenwood, If only the treasury had held
out Once a week everybody went to the
gymnasium at the corner of Illinois and
Ohio streets, and 1t did appear as If there
were some who never before enjoyed life Sc
much.
During the winter some of the members
OF last summers school occasionally met
their teachers. The first question they ask
IS. Are you going to have a school next
vacation?" LYDIA BLAICH.
Principal Of Vacation School in Indian
apolis, 1897