The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-19
TEN YEARS OF CHURCH
VACATION SCHOOLS
Example Set BY the Bapsts Has SpeadAn Instance Of In
tsrdenominationaI Cooperation Character Of
the Schools Maintained

The problem Of vacation Is stun.
bling block In the path OF educators
OF the New York federation 81
churches and christian organizations
through the Survey press bureau
1 This protracted period OF relaxed and
often undirected living now over fo1
another year, absolutely necessary
TO the welfare OF the teaching forces
lis for the pupils a time OF danger. In
tellectually. morally and even phys
ically.
In New York city alone. from West
chester to Coney Island nearly mill
lion children, herded together In ten
ements, under conditions during the
summer heat which the inexperienced
imagination cannot picture, are with
out occupation from June to Septem-
Der and with no playground except
the street. The restraining influences
which the public schools exert dur
Ing ten months or the year are during
vacation suspended and because chill
dren, like other human beings cannot
tolerate inaction, therefore Juvenile
crime and delinquency" are at their
food tide in summer.
the function Of the state to meet This
is undeniable, and in recent years the
state has realized this fact. But the
state was at least partly anticipated
IN this realization by the church. Ten
years in New York a group OF cler-
gymen and teachers from the Baptist
City Mission Society who believed
that the church had a duty to the
cty's childhood, duty for which the
already overworked public school
system had not even yet, made fun
provision, met and formulated a plan
by which certain churches In the
crowded districts, should open their
doors each morning during july and
August, TO children under fourteen
irrespective of creed, nationality. or
cotor. Here were to be conducted
schools, suited In their curriculum 10
the exigiencies Of the hot days which
should aim to keep the little ones or
the streets, and to surround them with
wholesome Inspiring influences. The
teaching force was to be enlisted. not
from the already fatigued men and
women OF the public schools, but from
young, enthusiastic college students,
who would, 1t was believed. convey a
lively spirit Of intellectual optimism.
more combative of summer ennui
than rigorous public school discipline.
In 1901. Ave such schools were omen
ed by the Baptist City Mission.
Thousands OF children Hooked to the
schools. In 1905. the federation OF
churches and christian organization
In New York city took up the move
ment. This was an advance for now
all denominations were to Join IN this
humanitarian enterprise. No special |
fund was provided for these schools /
but the board Of directors OF the fed |
GRAFTON contributed liberailv to their
financial support. In 1907 the fedora |
tion Joined forces with the Baptist |
City Mission, bringing two groups Of |
schools under the single Glfrectorship
OF Rev. Charles Ell. Sears. of the lata /
ter organization. This ARRANGEMENT |
remains tn force today. and the
schools, though distinct in support ana |
government, are identical in charac- /
ter and supervision,
The daily programme 60 s.u Of tvva
hours. the first of which, - &4ven up
TO concerted action. Be3 deyo4fon-
Al exercises are held which are strict
y undenominational in character. A
music lesson Follows during which
songs, chiefly on nature subjects or
themes, are taught with the
nope OF inhbiting the taste for rag
.ime Then comes Bible story
1ihicult feat for the leader, who must
n this be q teacher and not a preach
sr, II he IL to hold his children. Sim
PIE hero tales are selected to stimulate
ne children's natural love OF the won
ierful Once q week is given a prac-
.ical demonstration Of first aid to the
injured, and health talks on right
GOD, pure air, and cleanliness prove
II value.
The second hour sees the school al