The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-01-09
AND OVERS
SCHOOL CREDIT FOR HOME
DUTIES ALLOWED IN
THE STATE OH ORE(.O,

How teachers in Oregon bring
school and home closer together by
giving school credit for industrial
Work at home is told with compelling
interest by Hon. L. r. Alderman, state
superintendent of public instruction
United States bureau of education is
sending free at the request of teach
ers.
Building fires, milking a COW, clean
ing the barn, splitting and carrying
in wood, turning cream separator,
cleaning house, gathering eggs. feed
ing farm animals. churning butter,
preparing breakfast, sweeping and
scrubbing floors. busting furniture.
ironing the child's own clothes, bath
ing, arriving at school with clean
hands and face and with hair combed.
practicing music lesson. going to bed
by 8 O'Clock every night. bathing and
dressing the baby, sleeping with. Win
dow boards in bedroom; these are a
few Of the duties for which the teach
er at Spring Valley. oregon, allows
credit in connection with regular
school work.
The work is definitely measured and
allowed for. The child desiring credit
for home tasks brings to school a slip
signed by the parent testifying to
what has been done; ten per cent is
added to the final examination re-
suits Of all pupils, except eighth
graders. who enter and continue in
the voluntary contest to see which
can obtain the most OF such credits;
a certain number of accumulated cred
its entities the pupil to Il holiday, at
in this one school, at least. cash re-
wards are given to pupils making the
best record in accredited home tasks.
The experiment was So successful
in Spring Valley that it attracted the
attention of the county superintend-
ents of the state. who this year made
a special trip in Il body to observe the
results Of the home-credit plan in
this school. and then advocated the
idea everywhere. Already schools in
other localities have tried the plan
with success, modifying the details in
accordance with local needs. Il al
ways retaining the central principle
Of home and school cooperation.
Observers Of the work that is done
in Oregon agree that the effect both
on school and home has been unfail-
ingly good. The children take moro
pride in their homes; give eager as
sistance in the household to their fire.
quently overworked mothers; live
cleaner. healthier lives than before:
yet they by no means neglect their
school work in their awakened zeal
for home interests. Indeed, the evil
dence seems to be that the habits Of
industry and cleanliness thus encour-
aged in respect to duties in the home
are not only reflected in the pride
they take in sanitary school surround
ings, but also in increased ability in
studies. greater willingness to do the
on6 u h{rhar Iayroa 0r ~
curacy in all the activities both OF
homo and school.
The basic principle behind the work
of Or. Alderman and his associates
is hat education should make us
more willing and efficient workers.
EVERY person has some home duties.
chores, and the like. Under the prop
er announcement and direction the
boys and girls who are in school can
be taught to do these things we'll and
thoroughly. The more they do. we'll
they will become finer and more Use
full men and N, The giving of
school credit for home work. says DR..
Alderman. was like opening great res
crvoirs of power which as yet have
scarcely been tapped.
Certain it is hat cooperation he,
tween home and school is one of the
pressing problems Of the day. Ac-
cordingly this Oregon experiment
est sense the interests OF school and
life. is followed with close attention
by educators everywhere.
The United States bureau of cduca
ton has several thousand comics ~"
the OREGON booklet on hand for ~"
Distribution. They may be had @
request.