Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-05-10
CIVIC ACTIVITIES IN
W|LLMAR SCHOOLS
As Outlined By Superintendent
Foster in Report to
Government,

Inc following article was prepared
for the Bureau of Education at Wash.
ington, as an outline of civic work
done in the grades of the Willmar
schools:
We have recently been asked if the
Willmar Public Schools offered a
course in civics in the elementary
grades. If civics in this connection
is to be defined as "The Science of
Civil Government" I must answer
no; but if we are to understand civics
in grade to mean the dynamics of
right conduct, l should answer yes.
We have no course, which covers more
than one month, which is spoken of
in connection with the word civics;
but we have work which is regularly
outlined by the year, which is intend
ed to inform our grade boys and girls
regarding their civic environment in
such a way as to stimulate their nat
ural desire for action, and lead them
to grow into civic consciousness.
Beginning with the first month of
the school year, some general topic
is given for study by all of the grade
rooms of the system each month. For
instance;
In the fall a County Fair with it's
exhibits by young and old is taken for
September's work.
Following closely along this line of
work, fall flowers and vegetables are
taken for the month Of October.
This, in turn, is followed with the
study of trees Of the city just as they
are losing their leaves in the fall;
and reported upon at the regular
teachers and pupils meeting in No
vember.
For later November and December,
story telling, relating especially to
the Pilgrims, Thanksgiving and
Christmas, is studied throughout the
system.
For the winter month of January,
great people of today, local, state, ma
tional, and international are consid-
cred with relation to the effect which
their life's work is having upon US.
February, the month of great birth
days, is devoted to storing the mind
with beautiful and appropriate mem
DRY gems.
March and April are devoted to the
work of bulbs and what is especially
called civic helpfulness; closing the
years work in May with final study
of birds.
These topics are given intensive
study by each grade room during the
month for which it is the special Or
der of the day; but is not wholly
dropped or confined to that months
work alone. At the end of the period
of study the grade teachers, together
with several representatives from
each grade room, appear in the as
sembly room Of the high school build
ing for report of the months work,
and a final discussion of what has
been done. In these discussions and
reports the pupils of all of the grades
take an active part. The representa-
tives from each room outlining to the
rest of the audience in detail what
their room has done. These reports
and discussions include means of rec.
ognizing, classifying, and growing
fruits, trees and vegetables, together
with comparisons and discussions of
| varieties, adaptability to local condi-
tons, and means Of propagation. In
the story telling meeting, the children
from each room reproduce several
stories which they have learned dur
ing the month. Beside the content
of the story, considerable effort is ex-
pended in preparing the pupils to be
able to stand before an audience and
deliver message in an effective man
ner. This same end is carried out in
regard to memory gems in the month
Of February.
One Of the very interesting months
Of the year, is the month of Janu.
airy when the pupils are searching
their own minds, questioning their
parents and friends, and reviewing
the magazines in school, and library
and home in order to become familiar
with the Worlds workers of today
and with the work which they are
doing, and it's effect upon the people
of the World, especially our own com
munity.
In March and April the thought is
more pecif1cal1y-civic helpfulness
and in this the pupils first study and
memorize civic creed; discuss prob
lens of local civic administration
and then organize into Junior Civic
League or Civic Clubs in the various
rooms; plan lines of effective civic
activity, which they endeavor to car
ry out. In this work they strive tt
enlist the sympathies and cooperation
of other rooms in the buildings of thu
system, the private property owner:
in the city, the school board, com
mercial club, and city council. Ii
this connection the following activ
tiles are among those which hav'
been undertaken by the pupils of tn
Willmar schools this year:
One ward building organized tw'
teams of boys, during the white
months, for the purpose of competin,
with each other in keeping the walk
free of snow on two sides of tn
school block. These teams wer
faithful to the undertaking, and ate
every snowfall strove faithfully t.
free the walks on their side of tn
h1oclx hafora the othor foam cou1