University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1912-11-21

What the Extension Society Is Doing and Plans
to Do for Social and Civic Betterment
In Columbia
In Columbia.

In 20
Still sits the schoolhouse by the road,
A ragged beggar sleeping;
Around 1t still the sumachs grow
And blackberry vines are creeping.
within, the aster's desk is seen,
Deep SCARED by raps official;
The warping floor, the battered seats,
The jack-knife's carved initial"
1t is the spirit of the little red
schoolhouse of which Whittier wrote
that is being famed back into life
today by throwing open the doors of
the public schoolhouses after school
hours. People are just passing from
the period when the schoolhouse doors
were closed at o'clock and stayed
closed over Saturdays and Sundays
and during the summer holidays, into
the recognition of the fact that the
school is property belonging to the
people, and needed by the people,
which has been put to only half its
possible use. Today in nearly two hun
dred cities of the United States the
school buildings and property are be-
ing Systematically used to further the
social and civic life of the people.
In Columbia some Of the citizens
recognized that the people living in
the north part of town were not get
ting their share of social and educa-
tional life offered by the University,
and so different social movements were
started. There was an attempt to
organize the Boy Scouts, different
churches organized sewing classes
and girls gymnasium classes were
started. A year ago these movements
were all united in the School Exten.
sion Society which was organized by
W. T. Cross, M. o. Hudson, Mr.. and
Mrs. H. S. Philbrick, Mrs. A. X. Rog-
ers, Mrs. Walter McNab Miller, H. J.
Davenport, Miss Esther Chapman.
Miss nellie Burgess and E. w. Kellogg.
I'VE felt" said Mr.. Kellogg, that
the natural home for the educational,
recreational and social life was in the
public school; And the, society was
organized in order to give the people
of the north side all the advantages
possible along this line"
N. T. Gentry was made president,
Miss nellie Burgess secretary and Ira
T. G. Stone treasurer Of the society.
Almost entire charge of the work was
given over to an executive committee
of which Mr.. Gentry was chairman.
The other members were ]. H. Burns,
Mrs. Luella st. Clair Moss, the Rev.
C. NJ. Aker, Mrs. George Shepard.
Miss Mary Wharton, w. W. Charters.
Mrs. H. H. Banks, w. s. Sinclair, Miss
Fannie NOVEL;, w. H. Hays, w. T.
Cross and E. A. Remley.
The reading room at the high school
was kept open every night last winter
and there were gymnasium classes
for both men and women, classes in
cooking, sewing, arithmetic and PEN
manship. During the year series of
lectures on hygiene was given and
musicals were held on Sunday after
moons. Two general entertainments
were given and several socials.
There are 500 members in the Co
lumbia Extension Society and about
$50 young men and women living in
the north part Of town have become
interested. Among these, there are
more girls than boys, possibly because
the work offered is more for girls.
Most of the teachers are University
students who have volunteered to take
classes.
The society wishes to offer any
work for which there is a demand.
Mr.. Kellogg said that II enough peo-
pie became interested, business
courses would be offered this year, a
literary club formed and perhaps q
dramatic club. C. B. Elliott Of Kansas
City is a director of the work this year
and the members Of the executive
committee are: Miss Mittie v. Rob-
nett, NJ. o. Hudson, E. w. Kellogg,
w. w. Charters, Miss Ella v. Dobbs,
Miss Louise Stanley, Mrs. o. w.
Boutwell,, Miss Ethel May Coffin, ].
E. Mcpherson and DR.. ]. B. Cole.
Although the school extension
movement has spread pretty widely
over the United States, New York
City and Rochester, N. Y. have gone
deepest into the work and have formed
many literary, social and civic clubs