The Washington times., 1914-02-02
PUPILS NOT TOBE
DENIED VACATIONS
Superintendent ThurSton Is 0p-
posed to Vocational Schools
in Washington.

Washington school children need not
fear that their vacation will be taken
from them. They may rest content that
they will be allowed to roam at will
and enjoy the various activities and
nleasures that have marked the sum-
ner months for their past.
No vocational schools, as a general
thing. will be put into operation here,
following DR.. PhIander P. Claxton's
Tlan, because Superintendent E. L.
Thurston thinks it is too hot in sum-
mcr to ask any child to take rake
and hoe TO a vacant lot to spade up a
garden.. ef, carry a sprinkling pail to
coax sprouts into corn, beans. peas,
labbage .snG the like.
The Rrogram for summer work for
public school children recently advocat-
ed by Clyde Alison Mann. secretary tor
the American Society for Thrift, and in
dorsed by the Commissioner of Educa-
ton, is considered almost impracticable
for general application to the Wash
lngton schools.
Commissioner -CIaxton characterizes
the closing OF public schools during the
summer as primitive and prepOster-
GUS" pointing to the fact that the
school represent s.. 200, 900 worth OF
grounds. buildings and equipment which
lie idle for one-fourth of the year.
The problem of keeping city boys
from three months of contamination in
city streets is admitted by the COM
missioner TO be an important factor of
today. The commissioner threw a
scare into thousands of children with
visions of plying spade, rake and shovel
during the three months.
Use For City Lots.
According TO the commissioner a vo-
cational teacher could be employed at
each building to teach the youngsters
something of gardening and nature
study. supplementing the, text work
with field work in the production OF
vegetables on vacant lots. The idea is
expected to find favor all over the coun-
try and is likely to follow up the ex-
perimental work started in many COM
munities.
The idea of vocational work has been
touched here in connection with the va
cation schools said Superintendent
Thurston. Some of the buildings have
been kept open during the summer for
teachers in vocational work, who have
supplemented the class and text work
with field work. Some lots have been
cultivated and. on the whole, the re-
suits have been gratifying.
attendance has been voluntary, and
halliday games in connection with the
study periods have taken care Of many
children. But the project is in an ex-
perimental stage"
Many Work In Gardens.
For the last six or seven years, some
work has been done in school garden
ing. B. W. Murch, supervising princi-
pal Of the fifth division in charge Of the
summer Fairgrounds, began the first
vocational schoOi work for Washing
ton.
We have had work of a vocational
nature In connection with the play
grounds for several years. said Mr..
Murch, ''The Grant and Tonor schools
have taken up gardening near the
grounds OF the Naval Observatory, and
some creditable work has been accom-
plished.
In orr playground work, the children
have been taught basket making, and
other work of an industrial nature. The
girls have done fancy work of all sorts,
and the boys have been allowed to work
at whatever they chose.
THE Blow School, in the northeast
section of the city. also has done some
gardening, and all the schools have
their own flower gardens for fall and
spring flowers
The Normal school has taken the lead
in the gardening work. however, and
has done much under the guidance of
Miss Susan 3. Sipe. 4 plot near the
Agricultural Department has been given
over TO the work and the results have
been satisfactory. Children in the south
west section of the city also have work
ed the Garden in summer time