The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-06
THE VACATION SCHOOLS
PROVED A BOON TO MANY.

Vacation school teachers: Just a few
lines to let you know that / am one OF
| the many mothers in this distrist who
| think that the Vacation school has been
a wonderful success. 1t has taught man
ners and morals to our children.
I'VE never could afford TO take our
children into the country and we can't be
thankful enough for the good you teach
ers have done to our children.
They have been kept off the streets
and we don't have TO drive them 10 school
1.-The teachers have treated the children
as though they were their own. The chill
dren never get tired telling US what they
| saw on the excursions.
1T was just grand
Hoping that n vaction school will be
| in every school building next year, 1 am
yours respectfully
/ "ONE OF THE MOTHERS"
The above characteristic letter express
es perhaps the opinion Of every Intelligent
parent in this city. whose children have
been pupils I'm the Vacation school and
summer play grounds, and certainly every
boy and girl who personally benefited by
the vaca ton school movement would add
In response to this letter the emphatic
though homely expression "Thems my
sentiments. too"
Assuredly $500. the sum appropriated by
the city council 10 carry on the work was
never more wisely expended and the re-
turns have amply justified the expense.
MIR Augustus n. Rose, the principal uf
the Vacation schools. has been untlr-
ing In his efforts TO make the schools
success. His labor has been constant: his
enthusiasm unbounded. and he has, more
over won the hearty approval and coop
GRAFTON OF the teachers and committee
alike
HIS reward is found IN the scores OF
testimonials from grateful parents and I'm
the happiness OF the children to whom the
close Of the Vacation school and play
grounds and the weekly excursion into the
country brought genuine sorrow. To
them, the six weeks Of the schools seem
cd all too short. Indeed, they wished IL
could always be summer aud no school ex-
cept the summer school.
In dwelling upon the results or the sum-
mer schools a prominent member OF the
school committee. and OF the Vacation
school board. declared 10 the writer
that the work had been eminently salts
factory. $50 satisfactory has it been"
he said. that we expect TO extend the
work another season, for II we have va
cation schools az ALL we must have more
or them
Mr. Rose" continued the committee
man" has been the right man in the
right place: we knew that he would be
when we put him I'm charge OF the schools:
we knew hts value and he has proved IL.
''IIe had had excellent assistance. too.
and the teachers. all OF them, have done
conscientious work"
AS Is we'll known there has been but one
vacation school In session during the sum-
mer. and that in the Charles Street school
building.
n,,..... -. ,z... a.. ...... .,...
grounds AT the Willard avenue and At
wells avenue school buildings.
The fascination of the plavcrunds lay
I'm the physical culture. the kindergarten
games and songs and the nature studies.
while the charm ~ the Charles street
cal school without brooks. whore the hours
were spent I'm creating wonderful things
I'm hasketry. carpeufry. drawing etc.
bows was varied bv the outdoor gym
nastic works. nd weekly baseball matches
in a convenient field nearby.
over 300 children were enrolled at the
Charles street school and scores were
refused admlttance because OF the lack
OF nccommodet tlons.
The supreme delight OF both the BOYS
and the girls however. was the weekly
excursion into the country where under
the guidance of their teacher. natures
ouen book was revealed TO them In light
hitherto nndreamed .,. ~ perhaps ,nu IN no
60 come so near 20 the hearts 81 her
nunlls. Out under the same blue skv
she walks and talks with them, by the
brookside hears tho same birds. secs the
same woods and fields and listens 90 their
simple tales Of home. whether sod or
happy.
A nrominent educator. whose close con-
nection with the famous vacation schools
~ Chicago hns made him q recognized
authority on the subject. made this signi-
fcant statement.
''The one great lesson that the vaca-
tion schools teach is that this class of
children can be reached only through per-
sonal contact with the teacher. Advice.
direction and admoniticn mean nothing 20
them teacher must come down 20
tho children. nlav fheir vames think their
thourhts. and Eraduniiv lead them 90 un-
dfrstpnd tho natural laws ~ the creator.
~ believe the time II not far distant
when the neonlc Will awaken 90 tho fact
that in congcSted and rovertv stricken
districts vacations arc Tho devils seed
tir~e. md that tho srhecls should be kent
open the year round with a change 10
the course 81 study 20 meet the demand
- 49, ~-~cN~e