Evening star., 1914-07-11
MISS WILSON AIDS
CIVIC CENTER WORK
Taking Keen Interest in Sum-
mer Classes at Grover
Cleveland School.
PARENTS ARE JOINING
CHILDREN IN STUDIES
Plenty of Play Mixed With Work,
Besides Story Telling and
Theatricals.

4uCotl1 1Co1Ss
Under the patronage of Miss Margaret
Wilson, daughter of the President. one
Washington public school building is be-
ing kept open through the summer vaca-
ton as an industrial recreation and civic
center.
Among the officials who are interested
In the work of this school. as ex-
pertinent with view to the ultimate
adoption of the same scheme in all the
schools of the District. are Commissioner
F. L. Siddons. Who last year personally
inspected the work done in this summer
school and made a contribution toward
its maintenance: E. l. Thurston. the su-
perintendent of schools. who authorized
its continuance this summer. although
there was no appropriation for the work.
and Henry T. Blair. chairman of the
board Of education.
Outline of the Work.
This school is the Grover Clevelan1.
Sth and streets northwest, and its ac-
tivities include:
Plain sewing and dressmaking classes.
where the children are allowed to cut
out and complete entire garments for
themselves or members Of their families
Classes each Wednesday in cutting, de-
signing and draping, where some mothers
aid in the instruction while others learn
to make clothing for their children.
A roof garden for mothers and sicxiy
children.
Glasses in canning and preserving of
fruits and vegetables.
An outing club for seventh and eighth
grade pupils. who are taken on tours
OF public buildings such as the Capitol.
Congressional Library and the Corcoran
Art Gallery.
Literary and musical entertainments
each Friday evening. to which both chill
dren and grown people of the neighbor
hood are invited free. These entertain
ments are given by talent of the neigh
borhood- All the stage properties are
fashioned in the school,
Lectures. illustrated by the kinopticon.
on topics of peculiar interest in the neigh
borhood and on educational subjects.
Lectures on Various Gus branches nsona Of EN- EN-
they must prepare for actual work in
the world. with instruction how they can
best succeed in each line Of effort. by
men and women actually engaged in these
various emplovments-
Debating clubs. where the youths of
the neighborhood discuss subjects pend
ing before Congress which are Of live
and public interest teaching them to keep
informed on public issues of the day and
to form opinions of their own on these
subjects.
Are Taught Typewriting.
Classes in typewriting for children
during the day and in the evening for
young men and women who are en-
ployed during the day.
Instructions in basket weaving. cro-
cheting, embroidery. carpentry and other
manual training branches.
A class in paper doll cutting. doll dress
making and water COIOTnR Tor little
girls.
Shower baths for both boys and girls.
which are used by as many as forty
day.
Storytelling hours for small children:
Playground games, including sand
boxes. swings, see-saws, volley and
tether ball.
Training in folk dancing.
glee club for big boys. who sing pa
triotic anthems at the weekly enter
tainments.
pretentious performances each year FOR
the benefit of the civic center fund
There is no appropriation for this work.
The school department Of the District
allows the use of the school building.
that is all. The effort Is financed by
contributions from those interested in
the work. A bill has been introduced
into Congress and has passed the Sem
dustrial. recreation and civic center. and
as Supt- Tnurston was sufficiently in
terested to have the work at Grover
Cleveland School continued as an OBJ
ject lesson for the rest OF the Dis
trict. he authorized Miss Frances Farley.
principal of the school. to keep 1t open
during the summer. with Miss Cecil B.
Norton, teacher in the lower grades. In
charge. Miss Norton is enthusiastic
over the work, brimful Of ideas and
prime favorite in the neighborhood. Miss
Farley is gratuitously giving much or
her time assisting in the activities of the
center. as an adviser and in soliciting
funds for its maintenance.
Miss Wilson Keenly interested.
Miss Margaret Wilson has taken keen
interest in the organization and exhibi-
tons of the civic center. Last spring.
when a festival was being given by the
children to help pay expenses. Miss Will
son took part in the program, singing
four songs The children at that time
staged THE Silver Thread and won
high commendation for their excellent
rendition.
Miss Wilson is also particularly in
terested in the debates by the Boys
Civic Club. She has spoken her ap-
proval of this method to have the boys
keep themselves informed regarding pres
ent-day history. teaching them to think
and take an interest in public affairs
Ben S. Minor. treasurer Of the Wash
ington base ball club. is another friend
of the Grover Cleveland center. He is
now arranging so that when the Ma
tionals go away. July %, the boys from
the summer school playground can
have a game every week under super
vision at the base ball park
Best use of the roof garden at the
school by tired mothers and children
in the evenings has been thus far
hindered by the fact that the school
building is lighted only on the first
floor, but arrangements are being made
10 run a string of electric lights along
the stairs. so that the cool. breezy roof
may be enjoyed TO it's utmost during
the hot summer months
Last year the carpentry and other
manual training classes were under an
instructor from the Technical High