The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-10-23
FEDERATION OF
A NOMAN'S CLUBS
CONTINUED from First Page.)

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Mrs. Jessie G. Gum Of Butte gave
an informal talk upon arts and crafts,
which was followed by . general dis
cussion. She explained how classes
in the different arts could be con
Quoted at q nominal cost by the club
women, especially classes in china
painting, water colors and embroid-
cry. She told how many women, who
would not be interested in the study
clubs could be induced to become In
terested in the study Of some Of the
arts.
Mrs. Lockhardt talked upon china
designing and metal work.
Public Fairgrounds" was the sub
ject Of q most excellent paper by Mrs.
W. A. Jennings OF Livingston. She told
of the good accomplished by such
Fairgrounds and what boons they were
to the children of the crowded cities.
Close attention was paid to her and
the delegates decided to have her pa
per printed and distributed among the
club women Of the state.
What was termed by one Of the del
egates, the best paper read at the
conventiom,'' was that given late in
the afternoon by Mrs. j. J. McCor-
mick Of Billings upon the public school
system, pointing out the work the wo-
men of the state must do in improving
it. Her paper was ordered printed and
sent to the different clubs. She spoke
in part ~ follows:
THE trend of educational teaching
in the past has been like the religious
teachings, to segregate itself from all
the practical workaday life Of the PEG
pie. All education has been along
strictly literary and culture lines. This
system grinds all children through
the same process Of study. 1t sends
the high school pupil out into the
world where he must find work and
make a place for himself without any
knowledge of even what he wants to
do; and the world o knows that, mo
matter what he thinks he wants to
lido, he can not do any useful thing
we'll.
at is estimated that than
three-fourths Of the American people
earn their living by some kind OF
hand labor. The cry that is going up
all over our land is for skilled con
sciencious labor, not only in the bust
ness world, in the trades, in the fac
tories, but in the home and on the
farm-in fact everywhere that labor
is needed.
There has been this perhaps not
wholly unmerited criticism, that the
school life of the child does not pre-
pare him for the active duties of cit
izenship.
There is a widespread feeling
among parents and children, that thu
last years of elementary school d.
not pay; that what the schools offer fol
children destined for industrial lift
and domestic pursuits has no direc
value.
cat the close of the fifth or sixth
school year the pupils have attaines
a moderate proficiency in reading
writing, spelling, simple calculation
and have some knowledge Of geogrs
ply and the history Of their own cou
try. The last years of elementar
course are devoted largely to an ampli
, fed study of4these same subjects. TIL
parents and children can see no imme
diate application Of these studies t
|. the problems that are confrontin,
them, so the great mass of our boy
and girls are not remaining even t
the end Of the elementary schools an
large numbers Of them are leaving q
early as the fifth and sixth scho<
year.
/ .The uniform testimony Of emplo!
ers Is that u high school pupils an
college and university men and wome
3 are almost wholly lacking in industri,
intelligence and that most high scho,
pupils cannot add correctly. write
) legible hand or spell the drdinal
words.
"That education is the work Of
lifetime and not of a few years
youth, is also being universally co
! coded. II will be impossible to
high standards Of excellence worth
Of a great people. unless educatit
be extended through adult life. Ho'
ever excellent the instruction Of o
! children, the parents. home, enviro
J. ments, and public. sentiment, will
powerful forces In deciding the stan
ards of a country: This age is n
seeking heroes. The great demand
our American homes, In all the lin
Of industry and business, is for he
est, intelligent, faithful service. HON
es are broken up, children left imp
s, vided for, farms : idle. busine
n halts, awaiting the man who kno'
and will faithfully do.
I'd "Another serious difficulty Il
faces this country, is scarcity of t
to right sort Of teachers. Cities Will