Semi-weekly herald., 1913-12-29
not eager to organize clubs, but be-

not eager to organize clubs, but De-
cause the material to be used by these
clubs was not prepared. Consequent
ly my first summer was spent IN pre-
pairing a course in simple lessons in
sewing and another in cookery. With
this material to distribute, the work
was arranged under systematic
plan and from the beginning of the
isecond year has prospered.
The plan by which these clubs are
conducted is as follows: Whatever
there is group of girls who wish to
take series of lessons regularly, al
club is organized. Wherever it Is pos
sible, these clubs are affiliated with
high schools and we find that as a.
rule, teachers make the best leaders
for the clubs, though occasionally, we
have a woman who is a superintend-
ent's wife or minister's wife or Sun
day school teacher or house wife
who has real interest in girls.
| The clubs meet usually once week.
Reports of what the students have
accomplished at their homes during
the preceding week, are read and dis
cussed, the students giving their own
Experiences. Work is then planned
for the ensuing week. These future
lessons may be worked out in one of
several ways. In some of the clubs
the theory of the lesson is explained
by the leader, or by the pupils, and
then demonstrations are either given
by the teacher alone or by several of
the students. In many clubs the stud
ents take regular turns in giving
demonstrations.
The meeting places, of course, are
|optional. Many of the clubs meet
Regularly at high school or gram
mar school. building or at the home
of the leader or one of the students.
In other clubs it has been found more
Iconvenient for members to take turns
entertaining the organization. When
the meeting place is in school room
members contribute the necessary ar
. ticles of equipment and material fol
the evenings work if demonstrations
supplement the discussions. Quite
often, when the school room is the
Injecting place, each girl works Out
her lesson in her own kitchen and pre-.
pares paper which is delivered al
the next meeting. At these meet.
lings minutes are kept and sent to my
office. The expense of these clubs
are slight.
The college receives no pay for this
work, and gives no credit for the
courses, the work being solely means
of self improvement to the girls, ant
to carry to them as much education il
home economics as possible. Wher
taken continuously and thoughtfully
they will give to the girl who canno
otherwise obtain it, a general ele
! mentary knowledge of the subject!
studied.
The second years work was me
with such great approval and was s.
successful that we wanted to estab
lish the work upon better basis
Therefore the courses in in cooker,
were revised and instead of beini
| scattered lessons upon the variou
phases of the subject they are no,
arranged in logical order based up
on the outlines used in the regula
college courses. We have at presen
three courses in cookery, and fourt
: ready for the printer. The first tw
u courses cover the elementary field o
: cookery in general, dealing with tn
e five food principles. The third cours
is given to the more difficult prob
lens Of cookery including some fe,
lessons upon the balancing of ration
: and some special diets, while tn
fourth course is devoted entirely t.
! diets for special diseases.
e In sewing, the first course is mad
Iup of elementary steps often terme,
u model work or hand sewing and i
l. supplemented by finished articles tina
will illustrate the work. The secon
n course is tape and rule system o
;. drafting and making of under gar
II ments. A third course is under prep
e Iaration now and will deal with tn
: subject of alterations of patterns
care and cleaning of clothing an
q kindred subjects. Another good fea
n ture about our Girls clubs work i
that through its adoption man,
3 schools that cannot afford a regula
u department can give their girls tn
y elementary training. Often, too, tn
e Girls club created an interest in hom
economics which results in deman,
for such department in the higl
schools. During the past three year
five thousand girls in the state hav
been members of these clubs an,
Il have taken one or two lessons week
c