The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-22
go TO SCHOOL
IN VACATION.
BOYS AND GIRLS FIND m BET
TER THAN PLAY.
Twelve Hundred Pupils Voluntarily
Improve Their Time, Learning
Much OF Value-More Would At
tend but for Lack of Facilities and
Instructors. s.. \ .s 4,

Madison, Monroe. Blaine, Sheridan
and Bethel settlement are the vaca-
ton schools which are in session, and
least to- 1900 pupils, tho there were
5000 who signified their intention off
going to the summer schools when
the. civic Leagues adjourned in the
spring. Lack of funds for buildings
and teachers forbade wide ADVERTISE
ment Of the schools, but as it u.s. the
classes are as largeaas the teachers
can possibly handle. 100 ~
Sewing is taught in the four schools
every day, and there are two morn
ings a week for manual training and
cooking at each school, while at the
Blaine nature study is also part Of
the work. At Bethel settlement there
is nature study and civic league work
every day. The civic leagues meet in
the other schools every day. In the
corps OF teachers there are four sew
| ing teachers, two teachers Of mans
ual training and two of cooking and
two of nature study, while D.. H
Leagues except those at Bethel. The
idea of the proper direction Of the
| play spirit has been prominent in the
| work of the school.
\ 14 The sewing classes are full Of little
| girlssWho delight in doing the model
work and are still happier when they
can make a real bag or apron. They
pay 10 cents for their own supplies
and they are so fond of the work that
often some" attend an extra session.
! The cooking classes are crowded, but
so interested are the girls that many
reports come from home Of the prac-
tice work done. / There is no attempt
at fancy cooking, the teachers be-
lieving that there is barely time for
the plain boxing during the summer.
I Their mullins were delicious the
morning the class was visited, and the
manual training boys were glad to
get few when the shop closed. The
boys are much impressed with their
work, and SO fond Of it that where
Fairgrounds are. open and the ball
teams are playing no boy will leave.
There are nature classesgonly at the
Blaine building and Bethel settle
ment, and they are in almost direct
connection with the civic league. In
these classes the study of rocks, in
sects and vegetation is taken up. The
children are taken on excursions fire.
quently to gather material and ex-
anime the natural productsin its own
environment. Trips are also made tC
the public library and the university
buildings to look at the collections
The children have made aquariums
too which give added opportunity fol
study. These classes are held in the
afternoon and seem to have the great
est fasctnationsfor the young minds
There are always from twenty five
to sixty attending a civic league meet
ing, In them there are turn lessor
IN parliarne ntary work and a talk Of
Z some subject Of civic interest, as pub
lie ownership, and the child's rela
ton to the public. IN fact, the leagu,
helps the child to find his place il
society. The lessons are not thee
retical, but decidedly practical. TIL
N work is done from the floor. and MI
Fl Painter makes time tests sSin ever.
case. Several of the leagues hav
: been rivals In adjour1ling a meetinl
with dignity, grace and celebrity Whel
the record Of thirty seconds was mad
they were very proud, but since tina
time the girls division of the Monro
b school has decreased the time to fiji
teen seconds, beginning. from the tim
the president calls for the motion t
adjourn. This would be remarkabl
quick work for a body Of older pee
/ pie, but it demonstrates clearly tina
|, alertness and assurance are develope
/ by the civic league.
There are two Fairgrounds, tn
they are not equipped as such, unde
Ill the direction Of the civic leagues Il
the Monroe and Blaine Schools Base
ball teams have been formed and the
play every day on the ground.
A supervisor was engaged for tt
playground the board expected "A
4 equip for the children Of Bethel.
was only possible, however, to secu1
right of way to half the lot, as til
4 owner. of the other half seemed |
have disappeared, and SO no work hs
4 been done to make the lot pleasa1
and agreeable for the children.