The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-08
THE WORK OF THE
VACATION SCHOOLS
Is Fine Thing for the Chidren-More Play Than Work and
Yet Helpful and lnstructve-The Funds Arc ~,
at a Low Ebb Just Now sa

school work last year are continued this
year and are very popular. Although the
classes were intended for not more than
sixty pupils, they average 100 daily and
the teachers desk is always surrounded
by dense circle OF little workers waiting
to have new thread Joined In the weav-a
ing, new strand in the basket-or athard
corner arranged in the sewing. 50
Both boys and girls are Interested lin
the rug work and the boys, do quite 4as,
skilful weaving as the girls. The chil-1
dren are encouraged to make their own
choice: of colors and borders and al
though there are some startling combina-
tions, the rugs as whole are very pret-.
ty AS the little looms are very small
the rugs are diminutive, and it is inter
esting to find what varied uses they are
put to. Some matronly little girls use
them as carpets in their doll houses, but
by far the greater number prefer to put
them to some practical use. Lamp mats
seem a fitting use for the pretty squares.
and great many homes are ofnamented
with such treasures. In some homes
where there are pianos, the little square
is found convenient as a rug to place IN
der the pedals, so saving the carpet with
out injuring the rug, which. is fitted for
life long service. Most of the boy rug
makers are ambitious to make; several
rugs and sew them together into one
large and serviceable one. In the matter
of colors, red takes first place, closely
followed by maroon and blue. One ambl-
tious little girl wove an American flag IN
her rug, and some vary the border from
stripes to blocks. . tz' =.
The basket work is usually done on a
small scale and many pretty little bas-
kets are made, but in one school a broth
er and sister are trying to. fashion two
| large baskets in which to carry their
luncheon when they take a long journey
in the fall to Washington. ~ ~ >sr-..
A reading room. with books and period
icals is provided In each school. and is
| we'll patronized during rainy hours.
There are far too few books, however
and Mr.. Painter wants a greater supply
of good magazines for children and iboys
stories. -, -, <::@' ~ 2:
Quite the most popular book IN the
libraries is Bart's Cartoon book, which
is seldom left for many moments on the
shelf. The boys particularly enjoy the
comical faces and, although the point Of
many of the political hits quite escape
them, they are delighted with the pic.
lures. - =. :.''
The reading rooms are only one depart,
ment in which there is need of better
equipment. The funds are all too small
1 for materials and tools. The children
are expected to purchase the materials
; used in their work at cost price, but ever
so there are many expenses Of equip
ment which they cannot be expected tt
share, and which. find the workers un
comfortably hampered. The 1mpro ovenaen
League has been very generous in 'givint
to the work and the citizens committee
consisting of W. L. Harris, DR.. G. M
Jordan and DR.. M. D. Shutter, has col
lected a goodly sum, yet there is grea
need Of more: To make the schools tn
success they should be, two more teach
ers are needed in each school, but ther
is no money Forthcoming fer their sal
aries The teachers all work for merel
nominal wage, but those best fitted TO
the work are least able to do without an,
recompense at ALL and the hours are Ger
tainly taxing enough to. make the Wor
worthy of better remuneration -
ID Even the slender salaries which tn
teachers are now receiving have bee
drawn upon for materials for the work
and it. is feared it may be impossible t
continue the work as long as planned TO
lack Of funds. ~ .-..ss-
If generous citizens could only. see tn
N work and realize how much these school
are doing in giving the children Of tn
crowded and uninteresting districts
healthful and interesting occupation fo
, hours which would otherwise be spent j
, loafing in undesirable neighborhood
they would surely contribute generousl
to the work. 3 ( - - : %4''i% p: s'f>h,
| The efforts made to lncillcate' habits
, domestic order and, respect for .proI
. erty are worth more than the teacher
> hire as an aid to the city in. the prever
5 tion Of vice and papuerism. Children {
all classes mingle in this work and thos
, Of the better families unconscious
I bring the influence Of their surrounding