The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-10

workings and the success of the same
will be OF interest 10 Rhode Island club
women.
AT the annual meeting OF the Rhode
Island State Federation a dec.ued I'm
teresa was manifested in the educa-
tional matters OF our own state-and II
was voted by the executive board OF the
Federation to take measures. In the
near future, toward the establishment
of free kindergartens In the mill yil-
lages OF the state. This Is one signif-
cant step forward on the part OF the
Rhode Island Federation and we may
predict that ere long the vacation
school issue will be urged as strenu-
ously by the Women's Clubs of our own
state, as IL has been by those OF Chi
cago, New York, Denver and other
large cities.
The arguments for vacation schools
are convincing and are given briefly.
as follows: With the close OF the
school year begins a period of danger
10 the morals and health OF the chill
dren OF the poor.
They are without playthings or lc-
climate pastime, beyond what the
street wnn afford and the streets affords
little that Is not evil. Parks are too
distant for them To use. and their homes
in the crowded tenements are not such
as to invite them to spend happy hours
therein.
An investigation i'm one district in a
large city proved that Juvenile crime
in the Summer months increased sixty
per cent in that district, and the legit-
innate inference is that II was due to
the enforced idleness of these months.
On the other hand. i'm another district
the police attested the fact that juven-
Ie crime had decreased SO per cent.
fhrDlIpin the pxictauaa nf "A bnVg' rItlh
which kept the children off the street.
This ldleness Is "A menace 10 any city
since IL demoralizes and Cegrades the
youthful element the growing citizens
thereof.
The vacation school meets the evils
OF these conditions and seeks to over
come them. IL is no sense a continu-
alton OF the regular work OF he school
year. No text books are used. II pre-
vents the formation of evil habits. be-
cause. through manual training, or
ganized play and excursions with ma
ture study, il holds the interest OF the
child. All attendance is voluntary
Now a word as TO the practical re-
suits OF these schools In Chicago. Dur
ing the club season OF 1913. the 43
Womens Clubs of Chicago. adopted as
their special work the establishment
on solid basis, OF summer vacation
schools.
AS result the sum OF $1,000 was Sc
cured.
Five schools were opened on July
9TH, 1898, and continued during the
mornings OF six weeks.
Six thousand children applied for ad-
mission where only two thousand could
be accommodated. In one case IL was
necessary To call In the police TO con-
troll the crowd OF parents and children
demanding admission.
Two thousand, four hundred and
fifty-four children were enrolled.
Six Thousand dollars was expended.
Forty-six hundred dollars FOR teachers
and supplies and 81, 400 FOR excursions.
The average cost per child was s2.S4
for the school proper and IS cents for
that OF the excursions. "A total Of S312
for the six weeks. and never was money
expended TO a better purpose.
From the children themselves came
the testimony: IT'S the best thing we
ever had From the parents came hun
oreds Of letters expressing their graft
tude for teaching their children such
beautiful things" and for relieving
them from the usual anxieties of the
summer.
Regarding the plan of admission,
cards OF admission were given to the
principals OF the public and private pa
rochial schools. surrounding the schools
chosen for vacation sessions They were
requested TO give these cards TO those
children who i'm their Judgment. would
be the most benefited by the summer
school
The truant officers OF these districts
We're also consulted and asked TO indi-
cate which children most needed the
schools
The regular attendance OF the chill
dren with their happy faces as they
gathered round the teacher at lesson
time, cared for their bird. watered the
plants. set the table, or brushed up the
crumbs after lunch. dttested their gen
uine pleasure in the vacation school,
while the letters from grateful parents
telling of awakened interest and in
creased helpfulness at home. spoke of
results which were even more satisfac-
tory.
Thus this school without books, was
brought about through manual train
in.. drawing, gymnastics. music and
nsture study all centering around a
weekly excursion.
The excursions were coniucted as fol-
lows:
The children after arriving at their
destination were divided into groups.
each class with its Geacher Some with
paint and brush attempted to record
what THEY saw others followed the bed
Of a one time river. still others sought
bugs and butterflies. studied trees,
soil, flowers and stones.
All this was mature study. SO COM
bine1 with pleasure as TO be a positive
delight, and the one great lesson il
taught was this: They were especially
encouraged 90 bring i'm things from the
streets or yards, surrounding thelr
homes. and so grew TO understand how
much OF interest there was Immediately
about them, and 40 TO seek for these
.hings. instead OF the excitements of
the street
A typical room. one i'm which the
teaching was delightful and the chill
drsn delighted. may perhaps be taken
as sample OF the nature study IN
this room the aquarium constantly had
live fish and polywpgs and frogs
snakes. frogs. fish. caterpillars grass
hopperS beetles, etc. were all about J
this room which the children were de- |
lightedly watching.
In drawing. the teachers sought 90
cooperate with the nature study |
teachers so far as possible.
The use OF water colors was found /
most satisfactory for outdoor work.
The study of music was especially |
emphasized and embraced a carefully |