Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-10-28
WONDERFUL ADVANCE
IN SCHOOLS FOR GIRLS
A Brief Survey of Education in
Our Country.
Great Development Made in Home
Economics in the East and
Middle West.

1t rs the washington irving dlgn
school and it is on Irving Place. 1t
takes in an entire city block and is
one of the most interesting buildings
in America.
Outside it is huge but plain and
attracts but casual attention. Inside,
it is extraordinary. 1t is entirely
different from any other school in the
world. There is no other school in
existence with such marvellous COM
pleteness of equipment.
To realize the wonder of this school
we must take a brief survey of
education in this, our country. In
colonial days all schools were for
boys and the "three RS" only were
taught. Late in the 18th century
girls schools were established and
these schools were taught by
DANES" of little education.
In 1889 the so-called double
headed SCHOOL, were established;
when the boys were dismissed the
girls were allowed to come in. The
first High School for girls was start
ed in Boston, in 1925. 1t was
short-lived. So many girls clamored
for admission that in two years the
trustees closed the school declaring it
a failure.
Following the Civil War. so many
bread winners were gone that women
were compelled to earn a livelihood
for themselves and for others
dependent. The attitude of the
world changed then toward the wage
working woman. This necessitated
training of women, and schools were
opened for that purpose.
In 1870 the Universities of Min
nesota and Illinois admitted women.
Oberlin had done so before that time.
Ellen H. Richards was the first
woman instructor in a technical
school.
Home Economics developed along
different lines in the east and middle
west; in the east with Cooking
Schools, in the middle west with Agri-
cultural schools. The first Of these
may be considered later. The Wash
ington Irving High school is one of
the last to be established and one
might well contrast it with the earliest
schools to his great satisfaction.
This great high school is for, of
and by the girls. The girls run the
elevators and help in the Offices.
Whatever school governing is done is
done by the girls. They arrange and
present plays and make the costumes.
Here the girls are taught how to do
things, and are given a place in
which to do them. From the be-
ginning to end the receptions, plays
and tasks belong to the girls. Theirs
is the thinking, the organization, the
work and the fun.
The scheme of education of those
in authority centers around the fact
that every pupil is prospective
home-maker. No matter what other
studies she may take up she is taught
home making.
On the opening day, as soon as the
girls pushed open the door of the
great hall, they saw huge Fireplace
with big logs burning cozily across
the audirons, and inviting roomy
settles on each side. Over the fire
place, cut in the woodwork, is the
new buildings motto: 1.-THE fire of
hospitality in the home and the glow
of cordiality in the heart The
big auditorium, on the first floor,
seats between fifteen hundred and two
thousand persons. In it the girls
gather for the morning assemblies
and meet for lectures. The school
greenhouse is on the roof. 1t is as
real as the Washington Irving Bank
which the girls conduct. 1t is fully
equipped and large enough so that in
it the whole botany class raise large
plants. On the roof also is the
tennis-cOurt, inclosed in wire netting,
and the big open-air gymnasium,
where there are not only gymnasium
classes and basket ball games, but
classes in fancy dancing as we'll.
The school is magnificent in its COM
pleteness. The Domestic Science de-
partment is concentrated on the
fourth floor and consists of four
Kitchens, an exhibition dining room,
laundry and a model apartment.
In each kitchen is a series of marble
topped tables with drawers and cup
boards for the kitchen utensils of
each cook.
Large cupboards and porcelain
sinks take up the remainder of the
room. The model apartment is the
pride of the domestic science section.
1t is composed of bath, kitchen,
a pantry, a dining room, living room,
had and q pI1rSaru The orirlc