The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-22
A CoMsdUNTrY CENTER.

An excellent illustration or the SCHOOL
in social center work IL the La Salle-
Peru township high school at La Sale.
Illinois. according to q bulletin issued
bv the United States bureau of educa-
ton. ~
The institution serves about $4,000
people. the majority of them residents
of the factory towns of La Sale ana
Peru and the coal mining town OF
Oglesby. Not more than four or five
thousand live in the open country. Tie
community center embraces u well
equipped township high school build
ing and a separate structure for the In
dustrial arts, together with a well APP
pointed social center building and a
"lygiei.ic institute
The school is organized for both urban
and rural children. 1t includes col
lege preparatory, commercial. general.
teachers training, and agricultural
courses. For the latter, there Ii pro-
vided a Zine la -c-atory. lecture rooms
and experimental plots. While pri-
marily designed for pupils who intend
to become farmers, the agricultural
course is popular with students who ex-
pect to become rural teachers and are
striving for a broad general outlook.
The township high school contains
large auditorium used as an assembly
hall for the community. This is sepa
| rate from the regular high school as
| sembly room. Music and art courses
are in charge Of specialists who come
from Chicago frequently to direct the
| work OF the local teachers. Hot
| 1,,-
| ped dining room at a triflirg cost This
work is not in connection with the do
nestle science department..
! Then there Is the social center build
| ing, wcll-appointed structure. donated
by a local phi.anthl opist. that has just
been opened to the public. It is at
tached 10 the main school building by
a rooted gallery. A large swimming
pool and natatorirm with numerous
dressing rooms and shower baths may
be found in the basement. There are
club rooms, lockers. and bowling alleys.
On the main floor is fine gymnasium,
also an auditorium, library, and read
! ing rooms, with space for billiards and
pool. The school board OF the township
is planning to make this building of the
81 CdtCSt value u Tile COlIIIluIulys IL IS
! to be open evenings as well as in the
| daytime. Evening courses and contin-
uation courses are planned. It Is hoped
that an arrangement ay be made
with the employers OF boys above school
age whereby they may be allowed tc
| work In halliday shifts, attending
school the other half. The social cen
te.' building is under the immediate
idirection of an expert director.
The same gentleman who gave the
social center building to the community
has organized and endowed a unique
institute which lies on the edge or thu
school grounds and is to do its worl
for. the entire township community
While not Immediately under the di
rectlon of the school board, the insti
tute co-operates with. the school au
thorities in every respect BY an ar
rangement with the city corporation
, of La Sale, Peru, and Oglesby, as wei
as the country districts, the institut
has undertaken to direct the health af
fairs of the entire township.
. First of all, the institute inspects al
school children. A school nurse ha
been placed in the high school building
and other nurses will be placed in tn
ward buildings.
A remarkable laboratory has jus
been equipped and staff of physician
organized. The plan is to put a heait
officer in each Of the three towns t
look after contagious diseases. Thes
officers will call regularly at the schoe
> to aid the nurses in their inspection
work. A force of sanitary police OF
ficers will have charge OF streets an
alleys.
A large number of the factory work
ers are foreigners Of the poorer elias
living in sQualid homes. These home
are visited end when necessary a nurs
is sent to look after the sick. Ailin
children are examined free in this IL
stitute. The plan is to control the mil
. supply Of the entire township. TT
herds OF cattle will be tested for tubel
culosis and all dairies doing busine,
:, within the township will be inspecte
= and scored monthly, the result to /
~ published in the local papers.