Evening star., 1912-09-12
THE SCHOOLHOUSE.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

Center Association was held in Dallas.
Tex. in 1911. While It was attended
chiefly by representatives OF the south
ern states, its influence was felt through
OFT the country, and last spring similar
gathering was held in Wisconsin, which
was the first state in the Union to have
a bill passed by it's state legislature pro-
viding that the schoolhouses should be
used for social and educational purposes
other than their original object. At the
meeting of the department OF superin-
tendence of the National Educational AS
sociation considerable attention was given
to the matter of the school social center
both with reference to the town and the
rural community.
4
The school, representing. as it does,
tends to To-
Tends to Unite calize many
Community Interests. END % ing to
the public welfare The fact that no less
than eleven different organizations. some
of which had seemingly antagonistic pur-
poses, were yet able to unite their infiu-
ence to secure the opening of the school
centers in Rochester, n. Y, shows the
value of the center In uniting community
interests. The Rochester schools were
probably among the first to be utilized
for political purposes. but from the or
ganization Of their social work rival poll
ticians have made their powers OF cam
paign oratory a strong feature OF the
programs Of the mems clubs, which meet
Friday evenings.
In the rural districts the social centers
enter directly into the work Of the farm
ar n C0lIarftOnG
bulletins of the Department of Agricul-
ture which are loaned when desired.
Sometimes members OF the local grange
come forward and give the results OF
their own experiments In an informal
manner that stimulates emulation. The
social center always enters into the COM
mLnity needs. In one town the men put
in a solid day working on the road. aside
from the service required by the super
visor, In order that the highway for
mile on each side of the schoolhoLse
might be In better condition. The women
Of the community, with the aid OF
teacher, provided a lavish dinner and
supper, which were served in the school,
house. after which an entertainment was
given by the school. The community
gained the value OF $50 work being do
mated to the public road, and the social
feature was SO successful that the
school center road day is likely to become
regular event in that community.
= =
The public school may become more
than a social center II properly developed
It may grow
May Become More into a COM
Than Social Center. indnstr,a, CEN
ter. In a southern state canning COM
pany having an outfit costing several
laIl nryo W.
utilizes the surplus vegetables Of the
community. This year the value OF the
vegetables and fruit put up by this
school plant amounted to over two thou
sand dollars. The products are sold to
hotels in neighboring towns and next
year 1t Is expected to double the capacity
of the plant because of the heavy de-
mand. Most OF the work of canning is
done by the older girls of the school. and
in this way many vegetables that would
be wasted in the farm homes are turned
to account and the school plays a practi-
cal part in the economy OF the eheire
community.
The school social center often serves
to improve the sanitary conditions OF tne
community. 1t may establish good heaitn
clubs the object Of which ie to teach the
methods of preserving health. In some OF
these clubs the harmfulness or patent
medicines Is discussed by some one CoHi-
petent to deal with them. The need OF
securing tr;nking water from properly
drained springs or from wells and cisterns
which have been kept thoroughly clean
as a preventive of typhoid and kindred Ills.
Of sleeping with windows open. OF having
all the rooms of the home well venulateo.
as well as a course in the relative value
of foods as sick diet and simple first aid
to the injured courses. such as are rec
commended by the Red Cross Society, are
also among the things by which the
school social center proves itself or prac-
tical value.
ono of the excellent things about the
deye.opment of the school center Is the
spirit of unity it develops in the com.
munity. In one small town the school
center was brought about chiefly through
the united efforts of a Catholic priest q
PRESBYTERIAN minister and the superin-
tendent of the Methodist Sunday school.
These three men were broad enough to
go outside OF the confines of their own
faiths in the development Of move
ment which added to the welfare OF the
community. The social center under
their cooperation developed respect
for each religious organization without
giving undue influence to either.