New-York tribune., 1902-08-09
CHICAGO VACATION SCHOOLS
REPORT BY SUPERINTENDENT MELENEY
ON THEIR EFFICIENT EDUCA-
TIONAL WORK.


with a view TO improving the system in New
York.
Mr. Meleneys report is exhaustive. and OF ex-
ceeding interest to interested in educaonai
matters The vacation schools of Chicago nave
been supported from public funds Tney
were started by the womens clubs of the city. who
raised the first funds for them and have ever since
been the leading influence in their perpetuation
Miss Sadie American. now of this city, was one
of the originators and prime leaders Of the move
ment Mr.. Melaney says in part:
The vacation schools Of Chicago are supported oy
funds raised by association OF women ciLos'
the Merchants Association and representative ct1
school buildings for SIX weeks during the forenoon
ageG by board of control appointed as representa-
tVes OF the association and are unueT me sGRo-
Ra-5 % ~ E;7,r ny d -71a Foard Of Control elects
the superintendent and the teachers. VINO are Sc
Iected and nominated by the superlh5el i'
The Chicago vacation schools do not snow resutIs
equal 10 ours in special subjects oaI IN IN ciaS sT
corresponding TO ouI so-caed primary @ anu &c,
uaI training classes the work is much better thaa
blind children engaged n @manuaI @ VIZ 6 yasr seV-
teachers employed. ThrouGhout Ihe yea 80
deaf the object being to bring the chllqren I INTO
contact with the experiences ana NE ol 1+IT u 1IT
rity such as their later life is likely to be passed
in There IS also class of crippled children in one
school which I did visit These chlldren -9 are
conveyed the school and are given nist ~
similar to mat Of the regular classes T,SrTu and
70 eye-r7ive classes in sewing, WHICH 10 -
only subject taught here during the summer ,t,Irs we
institution is very similar 10 the Ethical Cuiture
school on West Fifty-fourth-st.
visited two typical play To4luS % ,,,,rsIo com
maintained by Hull House ana me @ 4i@ec}fon Of
Dr. Graham Taylor The children work IN ne Lles
two enT centres .n66ed and inadequateiy supplied
with directors. They compare untayoraoy 49, ~
done al The Jackson Park Sanatoriuu. in La IA
bida. the lake shore ChdTen rom
after Illness are brought daily and receive atTen Zen
ton from physicians and tFaallsc booI or a NAV
cannot be classed as Vacal9h SCIG ,0rrss7nn1s
ground hut situation. at least II coIL @ t
Ten in our city physically unable to enjoy the IN
struCtton that We give on tne peIS dIr generositv
e9IaiS 1 % a. y1- Is supported by funds raised by
a ron,n1ittee Of women and in my Judgment Is
noble charity. There can be no coGol Lti91 80
interest taken In the needs Of II ne rs0ns Who nave
contributed the funds for the support G W ~
srear CtrL closer together in their synpdthles anu
to erlIghen the community upon supleCtS ncer9
to the sociological problems Una. fy}1icagos in
T11y he expectation that the Board OF Edq-
there would support the & oaea 10 ciU had pre-
his Kind is realized by the Board Of Education
and school officials. and am intorea fs' fhs vaca
the intention Of the board 70 as ossib1e
The problem Of securing eftig,e,n,1tb s3pIer
than ours in New-York, as less Jhan ~ o,rnrt-
7-e-a -eo3lired this year the only question -
@ g '+T e7 an aaila Die force Of three times that
number who offered their serEIces CHl-y ne rhII-
aren +I aaI jIsI,reent It is evident that teach
~ f5rce acrt1ated by genuine educational spI.[;
a love of chdi en-. passion for lnveslls
abo5 and the limitation Of routing and system; M
vii accomp plish interesting results
- ,,,toaro no restrictions imposed Pubic
,oI raaCb.rs are free teach the vacauou
schools some of the principals offered TO con
5urt the summer sessions In their own ouIo4iie'
because Of their interest in their own pupi's a.
- -o-,r,unitv The opportunity TO do special
york in one subject a great attFacuoh -
teachers who had become expert IN theL I11osL
aalds Regular public school teachers WIN sPeI+Ai
talent or those who have devoted spare 1--IIo '7c
Ee,soD a love for nature study. art or 1. nlus.C.
saw IN the vacation schools an l.:4sl@4 cerrf
,"I1a - ~" No5Tsinad are to explained largely oy
this method Of securing 6i6 h n charge Of our
our vacation schools ahoL!u oe II - n--rri-,sis or
most progressive and entausaslic
a righ degree IN organization ana IN specs pt-
search. Teachers OF nature stlay' @ ela s-n1srr
in sur1 lines OF study in our puolc scAooLS % -
N N So .ItGIi5ons Each group OF special teachers
oJAeT lllst .- me firettion OF a supervisor IN
Chicago nature study Is the toundat ION 49, % a.
work and the superintendent OF me sclIoss 800
specialist in th!s department in the Norma! sloo @
IN my report for -svO urged te sy,oIIi5
en,1invfr. such d supervise. Supervisors shou49
he select ed six months before the term begins ana
- ohoGp 10 when 10 choose their teachers for the
coming year. Every specla! teaCI4eI sitol-Ir 90
seFe5ae ocaT5ri4s favorable Tor held They
20 3 c!S"Se - t.-ol conferences for the prepara-
non Of the course Of work 10 oe undertaken;
~ o,,rg s+IIteni teachers would welcome op
n9rT r3ie 5qtlS 10 work term with teachers known
ability. The cadets are or great assistance III INC
'Ii's Il was IMPRESSED by the interest the Chicago
teachers and children TOOK In sFta. coIIstn 80
operations ike the drainage caLal me NV R%tn @
system. the shipping building operaqG3hs zIii Foii
Museum ana Art Institute About 20 per cent OF
the school funds are spent on excursions ms ms
schools should devote Lit4e 10 10 go
more by classes than by schools tacn cidss
should have appropriate fields OF study OUTSIDE tne
classroom. The Chicago excursions are rlchly ed
Ucational. but when a Whole sthooi -1vs ~ II -
Glencoe much time spent in batnlng' Whlch
yorL CiT, 3ffords So r1uch Of interest ana nforma-
ton that well devised system of excursions
should be inaugurated here l approve very heart
IN, mo IIsa Of me stareopticon and the in
the school We ought TO make great use OF It IN
pare for a more practical use through the year
Much use is made OF pictures IN me me raeaI1on aIo
schools to illustrate the instruction ana 20 oIHas
ment the buildings; teachers contriuHte many ~ OF
pictures. which are moved from SchooI 10 schooi
this vear, on account Of the wet season: in fact
operations have been weIlnigh suspended. But
r+s of oIr ci+,, grounI n,ipht he cultivated with
success. I believe IL Is good idea.
the neighborhoods and the homes where their
scholars live. They make of all conditions
found ana of the occupations and industries OF
the people and of an matters that enter into the
experience Of the children. They thus enabled
make the school instruction harmontze with
sociological principles with the facts of their ex-
opinion as to the practical value Of this feature
Of their work. applied TO our New-YOrk schools
fact that the work is very limited in its scope
and distribution. They are thus aole there TO take
Observation-Disclosures bevond control Il was my
.Nrlp /