Norwich bulletin., 1916-09-30
ADVOCATES SYSTEM SCHOOL
 CREDIT FOR HOMEWORK
Lebanon Supervisor of Agriculture
 Says 1t Would Benefit the Work.

The annual report of R. A. Storrs, supervisor of agriculture in connec- tion with the Lebanon schools, advo- cates the organization of a system school credit for homework. The re- port follows:
 The work in Lebanon has been di-
 yided into two parts-the work in the schools in teaching a9ticultural topics
 and the work. at home where the prac-
 tice is taught
 The work in the schools was car
 ried on very much the same as it has
 been in previous years, i. e., fifteen
 minutes day is given to instruction
 of topics laid out by the supervisor;
 these topics are related for a week,
 then it shifts to another topic. The
 subject in 3, years work, so a series
 of topics is chosen that it is hoped
 will bring some practical knowledge in agriculture or home economics to the pupils each week. A ma iority of the teachers in town were here last year and understood teaching the sub- ject and on the whole very satisfac- tory work has been done. The les sons followed the list of topics given additions by the supervisor where it seemed advisable and could be han dled by the teachers. Elements of Ag-t riculture, by Warren. was used as a reference book. The supervisor did not visit the schools as often this year as last, partly because the in spectors thought that it would be bet ter to give more time to the home work than was given last year. and also the teachers, many of them hav- ing taught the subject last year. did not require as close supervision The home projects last year were
 not as successful as had been expect ed, as the potato crop was 8 failure
 all over this section and there was very little showing in that line; the other lines of work did not turn out as well as they gave promise in the spring. However. in the prizes of fe~ed in New London county for boys and girls club work, boys and girls canning, poultry and sewing, and at the New London Corn Show last fall, with about eighty entries from all over the county, by both men and boys, ten ears selected by Lebanon 1 boy were adjudged the best exhibit l in the hall
 i This year there are nine who are 1 growing corn. four who are growing l potatoes, fourteen who have gardens, l nine who are caring for poultry, three | who are doing home canning and for ty-fve have taken up sewing. These l have taken up the work as laid out 1 by the United States Department of 1 Agriculture with definite directions i and definite aims in view. In addi- l tion to these there are quite a large | number who have done some work at home suggested by the instruction re- 1 ce1ved in school. such as building and l conducting a hotbed, putting down l eggs in waterglass, destroying mos | quito breeding places and other sim I liar activities that sprang from the l agricultural instruction in the school Many of the lessons also have been 1 designed So that they will help the l pupil taking up some one of the out l lined home projects. Those engaged
 in definite home projects have been 1 visited by the supervisor about once 1 a month, so that suggestions, advice l and encouragement might be given. A comparison with last years work l will show somewhat the progress of l the work. There was a total enroll ! ment in home projects last year of eight had dropped out. leaving only forty mine engaged in home projects
 in July. This year there vas an en-
 rollment of ninety-three with only
 eight withdrawals. leaving eighty five engaged in home projects in July. An- other comparison of interest is that while last year those engaged in the 1 work seemed to be grouped in three sections of the town, this year they i are scattered quite evenly over the | whole town.
 A system school credit for home
 work would be a great help to the 1 work, as it would give an added in-
 terest to the pupils in home work and also help to connect it with work in
 school better. So far, however a sys- J tenn that seems safe and practicable
 has not come to the notice of the su- pervisor. Something of this kind will
 be of great help in the work. but it
 must be thorough and fair to all.