The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-04-09
SOCIAL Center
WORK LAUNCHED
Better Farming in Vicinity
of Inkster Starts Move
ment in that Place.

Va S
and Patrons club of lnkster was held
Wednesday evening in the high school
building. The assembly room was
filled With members and friends.
The choice of subjects for the frs,
program was a happy one. The key
note was how to make the School 4
larger Factor in Community Life. The
program was as follows:
Piano Solo-Miss Paulson.
Paper-The School as a Social Gen.
ter. Prof. Bjornson.
DiscuSsicn-N. l.. Jewett.
Paper-A wider use Of the school
plant. c. H. C~ruttenden.
Discussion-Miss Kemerer.
Paper-Social Center Development,
Mrs. r. r. Montgomery.
Discussion-Miss Paubst.
Vocal Solo-Mrs. n. L. Jewe,,.
Miss Paulson's piano solo. Past and
Present" was Well rendered and en-.
joNed by all.
Prof. Bjornson's paper outlined the
development of Social Center work in
Public Schools and deal, particularly
With h use. in lnkster of the school
library by the community. the use of
the auditorium for lectures and enter
tainments. bringing in the old time
Spelling Bee and Singing School. in
mort the opening up of the school as
a common meeting ground for parent,
teacher and pupil.
In discussing Professor Bjornson's
paper. Mr.. Jewett brought out the fact
that none of the social activities of
the town take in the whole commune
ty as a unit and favored the use Of
the school as a social center to serve
this purpose. where old and young
could e on equal ground with a
common interest.
Mr.. Cruttenden showed that the
play instinct without organization and
supervision often proves a social detri-
ment and that such supervision could
De obtained in our school at very lit
tie cost and remarkable results. He
showed that school buildings. grounds
and equipment are expensive, not be-
cause OF their actual cost but because
they are used by so small a proportion
OF the community and for so . few
hours. days and weeks during n
year.. Erect swings. teeters Inc slides
on the school grounds and let IL be
used all the yea for a public play
ground. and see what big results and
how much innocent pleasure will be
gained in proportion to the slight orig
NAL outlay. He cited instances from
100 cities in the United States which
nave Fairgrounds. showing their sat
isfactory Improvement. Mr.. Crutten-
NS W q pea 1OT n WIUer
use Of the school building and grounds
by the community at large.
Miss kemerer dwell on the need OF
teaching children to play as we'll as
teaching them to work; the need of
teaching them fairness in their play
had made personal observation Of
the tact that fairness in play was fol-
lowed naturally by fairness in work.
she urged the cooperation Of teachers
and parents in directing the children's
play.
Older people are sometiems pos
sessed by the idea that the youngsters
do not want the grown ups to "but
into" their play n recreation. But
that grown up interference is not re-
sented. but desired and sought for
right here in 1nkster. has been shown
by n urgent appeals from boys Of all
ages that have come to Mr.. Jewett to
form a regular class in boxing. since
one enjoyable opening spent with the
gloves in the Council rooms in the
city hall. Only lack of time has pre-
vented Mr.. Jewett organizing such a
class IN the manly art Of self-defense.
But the interest shown over the mere
suggestion points very clearly to the
fact that supervision and help from
some of the older people who were
once interested in the indoor games
and sports. would be much appreciate
ed by the young folks. Regular exer-
else in the form of some interesting
game or play where the spirit Of COM
petition can be felt, is necessary to the
healthful development Of ali young
anlmals including humans.
MRS. montgomery presented a pa.
per on Social Center Development in
the rural school. Because of many
dir1erent nationalities represented in
the state it is difficult to bring the In.
terests OF the community together but
a meeting place on a common footing
is furnished in the rural school. She
spoke OF several progressive Farmers
CLUBS and their WORK in particular the
Niagara-shawnee club. Maxbass
Farmers club and the Farmers club
IN walsh county that built a town hall
costing $3.50 which the township
uses for religious, political and social
gatherings. That the rural school
should become the center Of the com
munity life she considered even more
important than the town school as a
social center.
Miss Paupst showed the need Of
special training and adaptation to her
work. OF the rural school teacher. She
must be a leader Of men and women
as we'll as a teacher of children. She
must have the ability and Initiative to
start things and the enthusiasm to
Keep them going. Instances were
given Of the cooperation Of the par
ents being secured through their in
terest in the children. Miss Paupst
said II parents would send samples of
grain to her by the children that
termination tests would be made as
carefully and thoroughly as though
the seeds We're sent to the experiment
station and without expense.
A desire has been expressed by the
teachers and students for a school
garden. Rev. John Still has kindly
offered the vacant lot back OF the
German Lutheran church for such a
purpose and as soon as weather per
mits II some kindly disposed and in
terested person will pillow and harrow
the ground the school can work out
its plan for a model garden.
"A May Morning by Denza. suns by
Mrs. Norman L. Jewett concluded the
program.
The adjournment Of the meeting
was followed by a social half hour
during which light refreshments were
served by the teachers. That a deem
interest il being taken in this new and
important movement was shown by
the large numbey that attended de-
spite the inclemency of the weather.
TO MAKE NOMINATION.