Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-08
WHY TEACH PUPILS
HOW TO LAUNDER?
Robert COwell Says Public is AS
suming Too Many Burdens and
Duties of the Home.
TAKE UP GREATER CITY MATTER

After holding another protracted
executive session, the Board of Edu-
cation went into public session at
9:43 last eveMng and disposed of a
lot OF business, ranging in Importance
from the establishment of a launder-
ing department in the Central High
school to the appointment of a press
agent for the board.
During a discussion of a proposed re-
vision OF the rules. started by ID. Il.
Jenkins. w. A. Foster suggested that
ways and means be provided for Furnish
ing the public with information regarding
the proceedings of the board. He said
a man had asked him why the board had
discontinued teaching American history
in the high school. which the board has
not done. Acting Chairman Cowell con-
tended that a member of the board might
be delegated to furnish the public in
formation of the boards work. The mat
ter was dropped without taking action.
COwelI on Laundry Work.
In connection with making an appro-
priation for 500 for apparatus for the
laundering department of the household
economics department of Central High
school. Chairman Cowell made this pub
lie statement: II wish II understood
that there Is no thought to use this de-
partment for washing the dirty linen of
the school board. I am a strong stickler
for teaching these branches at home.
Where are we to end7 We might teach
the mothers at the high school how to
teach their girls to wash, What will
these girls wash at the high SCHOOL,"
What other Members Think.
On the subject of laundering at the
high school members Of the board made
these statements for public consumption:
ID. e Jenkinsi 'T might explain that
the purpose Is TO teach the girls how to
wash and also how to iron. This is a
belated feature of the household econ
omics department of the high school. The
girls will wash the high school towels.
and other articles"
w. A. Foster: ITO teach girls how
to wash is to teach them how to handle
an important department of their pros
pective homes"
Superintendent Graft; This is greatly
to be desired. Laundering. cooking and
sewing should be extended to the grade
schools. There is an educational validity
In this work.
Miss Mary Mcintosh of the high school
faculty is now taking a special course
in laundering at Columbia university and
will have charge of this new feature at
the high school. beginning in September.
Would Revise Rules.
| Mr.. Jenkins secured the adoption OF a
resolution directing the judiciary and
teachers' committee to revise the rules
of the board. On this subject, Mr.. Jen-
kins said: II believe the rule that the
high school teachers should teach five
hours day should be changed to require
these teachers to spend at least seven
hours a day at this school. Many chill
dren spend considerable time in the after
Moons at picture shows and soda foun-
tains when they should be engaged in
supervised study. They need these hours,
particularly during the two first years
of high school life. 1 also contend that
the rules relating to eligibility of teach
ers should be amended. 1t Is q question
whether the product of our teachers
training department lie depriving us of
the services of other teachers who come
here well equipped to teach. Our teach
ers' training school certificates do not
meet the state requirements. Some
teachers who have splendid experience
and ability are subjected TO examinations
for our high school, while others. less
Iqualified, get in without such examina-
TONS understand"
Work During Summer.
In the long executive session the board
discussed the matter OF discharging foi
the summer twenty engineers, firemer
and janitors whose year of service ended
June 30. 1t was decided to hold another
executive session on Friday evening. A
committee of firemen waited upon tn,
board and presented the situation from
their standpoint.
The board took cognizance of the Soutl
Omaha and Dundee situation by engag
ing John M. Gilchrist to audit the &C
counts of the annexed school district
and ordered all supplies and material
moved to the central depots in Omaha
Payrolls for janitors of Dundee AM
South Side were allowed w. d. Watson
former building superintendent of tn
South Omaha schools, was retained in
similar position at his former salary o
. 4 10 III h. ~