Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-29
WOMEN'S CLUB WORK.
YIN PROMOTING EDUCATION.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

Der OF clubs supply additional cleaning
utensils to supplement those provided by
the school authorities, which often are Of.
the most primitive type. The feather
duster is taboo.
A progressive western club now gives
annual demonstrations in schooihouse
cleaning to which all Of the public school
janitors are invited. Some Of the most
in this demonstration, which is intended
to show the janitors how. the room should
be cleaned and the dust taken out of it,
instead of being merely shifted to other
places as was done by the old-fashioned
busting with a buster.
4
The subject Of ventilation also receives
attention and the club women are
anxiously hoping
Good Ventilation to see in all states
Also l. Promoted. one recently en-.
acted in Wisconsin which provides
bonus Of $50 annually to each rural school
which complies with the minimum re-
quirements as regards cleanliness and
ventilation. The school children also are
stimulated to take an interest in helping
to keep the school buildings and the
grounds in order. One club in southern
town gives an annual prize of So to the
library Of the school which has been kept
in the best condition throughout the year.
The establishment Of school improve
ment leagues in different parts Of the
country is a direct outgrowth of the edu-
cational work of the General Federation
Of Women's Clubs. In many small towns,
especially in the southern states, the
School Improvement League constitutes
the organized woman's movement of the
community. since there is no subject that
appeals more directly to the average
mother than the Improvement of the
school in which her child is receiving his
education.
In the rural communities these leagues
have accomplished much good by keep
ing constantly in touch with the newer
educational developments which the fed
GRAFTON is always ready to supply. BY
this means the schools receive help and
encouragement that reacts for the good
State Federation offers a prize Of 500
each to the local and to each county
School Improvement League which makes
the greatest progress during the year.
The subject Of home economics as ap-
piled to the course Of instruction Of the
public schools is
Home Economics being constantly
Pushed Forward. t pusn club women women OF Of
the country and they are largely entitled
to the credit for its initiation. In many
towns where there is as yet no provision
for the equipment Of domestic science
classes the club women have come to the
aid Of the municipality. The Civic Club
of Philadelphia, which has long been rec
ognized as one of the pioneer clubs of
the country in educational advancement,
first equipped model house in school
building In a tenement district of the
city. The club furnished a. bedroom,
kitchen and dining room and the children
were taught how to make beds, sweep
and dust a room and to prepare simple,
wholesome food
A laundry was added later, In which the
girls were taught how to wash and iron
clothes properly. special attention being
given to preventing the shrinking of
woolens and the fading of delicately col
ored fabrics and other matters which. the
home laundries should know in order to
properly care for the family wardrobe.
This laundry work was first installed in
a vacation school with volunteer teachers
from the club membership. 1t is inter-
esting to know that one of the first
teachers in laundry work was a college
woman with the degree Of doctor OF phi
losophy, who was yet capabl Of giving
practical instruction to her girls upon the
proper way clothing should be handled
upon the washboard.
).
While the work in the public schools
Is recognized as OF first Importance be-
cause of the enor-
Colleges Are Not nous number Of
v,t1c
Being Neglected. p nam e 1ho IN
women are not neglecting the colleges
and universities.
The complaint is often made that the
course OF instruction in the average wom-