The Mankato free press., 1915-04-30

/ the activity OF the department
| Some of the features OF the Grand
Rapids plan of working through the
English classes would be feasible for
the upper grades, This would be of
special help to the teachers OF these
grades who were Interested In voca-
tional work.
"A cumulative card index should be
Kept for all pupils from the sixth
grade up through the seventh. Some
form following the one now I'm use In
the high school would be feasible.
"All work permits should be is
sued in conference with the director
OF the work. SO that he could investi-
gate the case and establish connec-
tions with the child and the parents.
System Of Course Conferences.
The present system OF course con-
ferences should be maintained and
extended down into the sixth grade
A. More time can profitabiy be given
to this work. All pupils who are ap-
preaching their sixteenth birthday
should be reported to the director and
sent TO him for conference before the
day on which the pupil becomes six
teen
''There should be collected a large
amount OF material, which will be
usable In the conference work and in
the English classes. This should be
IN the form of statistics and facts
about conditions in this community
and pamphlets for teachers and chill
dren and books for the use of both
The collection of material and sta
ffofiQQ fefaa an fhfo WAR ohn,,ld
be continued. isns2,
"A systematic attempt should be
made 10 get into conference with the
parents Of all children In the grades
before the end OF the eighth school
year.
There should be working agree :.
ment between the school and busi-
ness men of the city whereby infor-
nation essential 10 good counseling
should be provided and the school
should In turn give service TO the
employer when opportunity offers.
Modify Attendance Law.
The compulsory attendance law
should be so modified as to require an
alternative of attendance at school or
work under the advice of the voca-
tional director until eighteen years
AS at present. poverty should not be
grounds for issuance of work permits
under the age Of sixteen. but proyi-
sion for part time work on pay should
be arranged. II this is not possible,
the. state should come to the aid of
needy parents for the time of these
children, while I'm school, Any such
expenditure will be many times re-
paid 10 the state. by the greater eff
cheney and the diminished later bur-
den of caring for the inefficient.
1t seems TO me that this matter OF
helping the boy or girl to get the
right start is the most Important work
the schools can do and will fully Just
lily whatever added expenditure OF
money and effort win be necessary.
There Is no doubt of ID from the
child's point of view or from the
parents. The employer and the man
ager OF business should welcome II
and society in general should see in
10 something that win do something
TO diminish the inefficiency and suf-
fering I'm the community and to di-
minish the poor, house and relief
costs. The schools should welcome II
as lending motive to their work.
whichNis not often seen now"
Dr. j. A. Hancock of the state nor
NAL school, who led the discussion.
spoke OF the "blind alley jobs" which
Kept young people from developing
Last nights meeting was the last
one for this season and officers were
elected as published above.