Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-18
Educational Notes

Boys in the high school at McComb
City. Miss, earn from SIC to SIS a
month regularly while attending
school. A plan of cooperation has
been drawn up between the high
school and the Illinois Central rail
road. whereby the boys attend school
one day and work in the railroad
shops the next, according to informa-
reau of education. The "student-ap-
prentices," as they are called, are paid
for their wcfk in the shops, the mini
mum wage being Il cents an hour.
After four years of combined high
school attendance and shop work the
boy is prepared to enter college or
draw mans pay at his trade.
Railroad and school authorities
both agree that the plan works we'll
The railroad official in charge of the
boys said: After actual tests it is
shown that the plan of cooperation be-
tween the Illinois Central railroad
shops and the McComb City high
school is not on.y feasible but that il
is working out in a manner entirely
satisfactory. | believe il to be for
the best interest of the railroad com
pany to fiji all vacancies in the ap-
premiership system as far as possible
with cooperative apprentices" Su-
perintendent Hughes Of the school
system is equally enthusiastic over
results from the schools point Of view
He believes the plan offers one solu-
ton Of the problem Of keeping boys in
school; that it fosters q boys spirit
of independence and satisfies his com
mendab.e ambition TO get into the
game of life
The McComb City plan is another
indication of the strength of the pres.
ent movement for systematic voca-
tional education in connection with
the public schools It is noteworthy
In that Il does not lose sight of the
need for continued cultural training
for the boy'who may want to earn his
living in the shops.
There is a new official in American
city life-the civic secretary" He
represents the link between education
and life in the big cities. For a mum
Der OF years American educators have
been striving to bridge the chasm that
seemed to exist between educational
Influences and the everyday lives of
the people By means of evening
schools. Libraries. extension lectures,
and more recently civic, social. and
TeCreatonal centers. much has been
done. 1t has remained to combine
these connecting educational forces
under one active officer, and this has
been accomplished by the new posi-
ton Of civic secretary.
The civic secretary" at Duluth,
Mimi. is appointed by the board Of
to Information received at the United
States bureau Of education He has
charge of all the local social center
work. Plans to secure the same sort
OF officers are reported TO be under
way in several other cities of the
middle west The official may not al
WAYS be called the civic secretary"
but his functions are generally the
same. He organizes educational ex-
tension work; gives intelligent and
sympathetic aid TO play and recrea-
ton; stimulates discussion OF public
problems; in short, he consolidates
and directs the civic agencies OF the
community for the benefit of all the
citizens
In Superior. Wis. city exposi-
ton" l. planned by the civic secretary,
who is here called director Of the
civic center department" In this city
exposition not only the local indus
tries but the educational and NUM-
cipal institutions viii have an oppor.
tunity to exhibit their methods and
results. The exposition idea Is only
single item in large program mapped
cut by the director There VIII be
various social and recreational activ-
tiles, lecture courses, civic and ward
improvement clubs, and 8 clipping bu-
reau will be established TO collect in
formation on social, civic and muni-
cipsl matters.