The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-13

local measure, have made the same
provision.
One of the earliest of the school
clubs was organized in Philadelphia. A
large school building in the most con-
gested section of the city was selected
for the first experiment of the school
social center. The board of education
granted the use of the building and al
SO supplied the trifling additional ex-
pense of light and janitor service A
reading room where current periodi-
Gals were supplied and a course of
weekly lectures and entertainments
given. At first these were provided
gratuitously by women interested, but
within six months a club organization
had been formed consisting of the
adult population Of the neighborhood
and number of teachers of the
school The club had a trifling men,
bership fee and small fund was soon
in hand to pay for some of the enter
tainments and also to provide suitable
refreshments which added greatly to
the social affairs held frequently.
1t was a factory neighborhood and
many of the people were foreigners so
classes of various kinds were organ
lied. Many mothers were glad to at
tend classes in sewing, domestic sci
ence and the care of children. All of
this instruction was informal, devel-
oped as the need came and did not in
any way interfere with or initiate the
courses of study in the regular night
schools, which were purt of the organ
lied school system of the city. The so
cial center was a purely social organi-
zation with general helpfulness for it's
object. a @
AS the people of this club did not
belong to the class who went away
during the summer, the activities of
the social center did not end with the
closing of the school term During the
hot summer the big, cool building was
opened both in daytime and evening
Mothers and children, whose homes
were one close, hot room, enjoyed the
air in the high ceilinged halls and
school rooms, even though the school
yard was too small to afford much re-
creation space. In the evening cleo
trio fans cooled the mems reading
room and made it an attractive rival
to the corner saloon.
The board of education of Roches.
ter, N. Y, lately has applied itself to
the development of the school social
center, and has several striking exam
pies of this class of work Certain Of
the school houses have been equipped
with gymnasium, shower baths, chairs
and tables, travelling library from
Albany, and a set of table crockery.
Mems civic clubs for the young people
are being organized. During the early
part of the week these clubs rotate in
the use of the large assembly room
and various other facilities. On Friday
evening the men and women meet to-
gether, hear lecture, enjoy an enter
tainment or a concert and frequently
end the evening with a dance. Some
feed" They keep the gymnasium, pi-
ano and reading room in use most of
the time. Last winter. when amusing
features grew slack for the men, they
put number of debating bouts and
had several rival politicians demon
strating their powers of campaign or
atory by exploiting the principles of
their respective parties.
The utilization Of the public school
building for social purposes in the
small towns is being largely developed
through the village improvement so
cieties. The work frequently starts
by the installation of a collection of
books provided by the state travelling
library service. Certain evenings in
the week a volunteer librarian is pres
ent to exchange books. This frequently
leads to the formation of a literary
club and later on classes in dancing,
Delsart, amateur theatricals and many
other things may develop The advan-
tage of having furnished building al
ways accessible is in itself a great in
ducement in the development of such
work. When teachers are not available
for instruction in these small towns
courses of study from correspondence
schools frequently give excellent re.
suits, especially il the leader in the
movement can illustrate them upon
blackboard.
The establishment of vacation
schools directly under the auspices OF
the board of education is a social eff.
fort which is now past the expert
mental point in most of the largest
cities. These schools continue through.
out July and August, frequently open.
ing on the Monday following the clos
ing Of the regular schools. The hours
differ in various cities. In Cleveland
O., 1t has been found advisable to open
vacation schools at $3.50 o'clock in the
morning and close them at 1850
o'clock. Few Of these schools have reg.
ular sessions in the afternoon. al
though in most cases the buildings