The Detroit times., 1911-01-11
SOCIAL SCIENCE
By FREDERIC J. HASkIN

tractive TO the progressive public
school teacher who Is working for
something higher than mere mercen-
AIRY motives. Through the children
1t always Is possible TO Judge OF home
conditions. When these are not what
they should be, the means for their
improvement frequently can be de-
vised. The utilization OF the public
school building for social progress Is
an experiment being successfully
tried in both the city and rural dis
tricts.
In the cities the corner saloon fire.
Quently gives to the working man the
only available place for recreation
outside his overcrowdcd tenement
home. The opening OF warm, we'll
lighted school room in the evenings.
whore he can meet bile friends, dis
cUss politics. yeaf or play games. APP
3eals to social science students as a
practical splution OF The much dis
casssd working map's clob problem.
Ia the rural DISTRICTS there Is less
pSes. or tLr mems club room. but the
school social center circulates travel
ing libraries, and contributes Ia vari-
ons other why's to the social and In
tellcctual development OF the com
munity. The economical advantage
OF the utilization OF the public school
building for the advancement OF the
community Is demonstration OF The
frs; principles OF social science;
namely, practicability.
No other organization Is entitled TO
more credit in the development OF
social science throughout the country
than the General Federation of Wo-
mems Clubs. which extends not only
over this country but the whole civil
lied world as we'll. From its ineep-
ton the social science department
has been OF paramount Importance.
Probably every advanced movement
OF social reform made in the past ten
years was first discussed in the So
cial science department Of some wo-
mans club. Child labor, childhood
protection, police matrons, sanitary
housing, pure food, social betterment
are only a few OF the subjects under
his head receiving the attention OF
| the Federation.
The Curfew Law, considered so ex-
cellent a child-protection measure In
several of the eastern cities, is gen
orally passed through the influence or
women ClllDS. HG WOiutu VI oPO-
Kane, Washington, are now rejoicing
in the passing OF a curfew law as the
most important social science work
during the past year. With the cur
! few law comes the juvenile court and
kindred other measures.
| All large manufacturing firms now
| recognize the necessity OF social
work among their employees So
1 <sa nlnh hnncaa
| ton grounds and similar advantages
| have become necessary part o. the
equipment OF every large manufactur-
| ing plant. During the past Year one
! OF the largest dry-goods stores In
| New York, in addition to its other
outlays for the advantage OF its en-
| ployes, has engaged lady to act as
! social visitor among it's women EN-.
! ployes. She is expected to study all
! conditions affecting their interest and
| TO suggest new measures that will be
helpful for their Improvement.
! Mrs. Russell Sage is contributing
/ a valuable experiment in social
science in the Forest Hill Garden. 4
| model city planned for the middle
class business people employed in
New York Forest Hill Garden Is
suburb within easy reach OF the city
at low Communication rates. Ii Is to be
model town where the best possible
conditions for social and intellectual
development will be placed within tie
reach of moderate incomes Model
homes are being constructed which
will be sold at low rates but the
town is to be an ideal social center
with every advantage which science
can devise for the good of the COM
munity. The expenses will be met by
the Russell Sage Foundation Fund.
The work of building this model
town Is being pushed rapidly and IL
will be ready for occupancy during
this year.
Tomorrow-Nationai Tariff
Commission.