El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-02-07

to those who are enrolled IN the public
4LltooIs- 1 am not informed what the pri-
tEtsLe ana parochial schools are doing along
Fl Paso is endeavoring to provide for vo-
SG.LlioHal efficiency in the elementary schools
~ offering courses in woodworking and me-
c -,l.ilcal craving for boys, and sewing and
SoohIhs Tor girls. The time allowed for such
work Is from one to two hours week, and
~ Lar as this work goes it is being well
,ri oy corps OF good special teachers.
Lhese courses are carried from the fifth
through the eighth grade. In the Mexican
schools the work is begun in the fourth
grades, because of the advanced age of the
chlldren- On account of the lack of room
this kind Of work is greatly restricted in the
Sigh school, the course being confined to
Two years. and this cannot be remedied un-
~ provision can be made in the new High
School for vocational courses
1t is the hope Of this department that next
year the prevOcational work in the elemen-
t ~ oe-1eheu IN scope IN FL Paso, as else
where, by far the greater number Of pupils
school to engage in the business of max
ing a living and have come 10 realize
mar such pupils should receive all prepare
SSIOH possible for their life work before they
leave school. This means that they should
1e advised as to what work they are best
Ltled TO do, and that they should receive
some preliminary training in such work
Commercial 0rIS Important
situated it is FL Pasos chief interest
must continue to be commercial, and it
would seem that commercial courses fnvolv-
ing clerical service, simple bookkeeping and
seventh and eighth years, to those who cannot
enter High school, but who expect. to enter
business life. Opportunities should also be
t5 -nSI IN WOODWORKING, metal working. cleo
trlcal work, sewing, including millinery
pruning and book binding, and home max
ing in order to do this work the time al
Iotment would have 60 be extended and the
number Of special teachers Increased. 1t is !
understood, of course, that students would
elect the lines OF work which appealed to /
them most. Thus student might have a /
. tryout' in one or more lines in order to find (
n
with them literature and composition. applied 1
arithmetic, geography, history, civics. draw (
ing, hygiene and physical training and ele- I
sample Home Suggested.
IN the home making courses it would seem
wise to purchase or erect on q site near each
school, particularly in the Mexican districts
ff.-ip - 1883 sugI d. tnese people could
illoTu 70 rent or bulld IN some places such
houses are built by the boys, who also make
The furniture. The girls could plan the in
terror decorations and they could make the /
curtains, linens, rugs, etc. The girls should
thus nave well devised courses in housekeep-
ng not IN cooking alone, but in all things
that pertain to good housekeeping. Such
Work would not only teach children to live
broader and better lives but # should f1r- {
aish girls who go out into service with an I
adequate training for house work 7 believe I
Industrial education would helm greatly IN
Extension Courses Desirable.
another provision which most progressive
rs youth is that of extension courses which
Usually take the form OF evening schools Of
us NOIh curing the day may prepare
themselves for a higher grade of work Last
ear Houston, Tex, had in its night schools
oYv WHITES ana 1ScU negroes Fl PaSO has
10 such extension courses. It would seem
wise TO establish such night schools in which (
-t Least. the English language might be (
aught to young men and women of our I
oreign population. who must make their liv-
ng Dy working for English speaking peO-
lie. And 1t would be some help toward citi- d
eDship to teach these people to read our {
newspapers so that they might come in
ouch with American ideals.
Protecting Health of Children
Perhaps the most important demands I
made on a city today is that it should pro
ect the health Of its children. and that it I /
Nercises IN order that the next generation
lay De an improvement physically, as we'll
s Inentally' on the present one The public
-llooIS nave naaQe beginnings in such edu-
alton by providing for medical Inspection {
J a competent corps Of physicians. who ex- s
mine the children each year. by giving I
director OF physical training for the E =
7hOols It would seem that the next step I
ere shoula come IN the shape Of more and
etter equipped places for children to play Z I
Some of the school grounds are being J
oWly fitted up with apparatus, through Q
lie efforts Of the teachers and the local
aren't organizations, but we need a gem Z ,
al movement here for children's play .
rounds number Of them, easily accessible :
all thee hildren Of the city And this ! j
lould be done before the land is too much v
II Up by building sites. and before it be- q
llnes more expensive. This city could well a
ford to expend 500. 900 on such recreation +
aces for children 1t would be a good in =
.stment, Tor 1t would mean much for child 7
en- and women Of FL Paso.
believe that If this work is done II &
ust be begun and carried forward largely, o
IRE as in other cities, by the wOmen's or d
mutations; and I know Of nothing greater =
at this organization could undertake this !,
ring than campaign for Fairgrounds for q