Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-09
CIVIC DEPARTMENT BEGINS WORK

Ltfft DEBAR EMENT BEGINS WORN
Initial meeting of the season of the
civic department OF the Rock Island
Woman's club was held yesterday in
the parlors of the Masonic temple,
where all department sessions will be
held again this year as was done last
year. There was an excellent attend
ance and spirit on the opening meet
Ing and the work of the department
was taken in hand at once. the chair
man, Mrs. F. o. Van Calder. presiding.
Reports Of the summer work were
given, Mrs. f. B. Kreis speaking for
the street vigilance committee. which
has assisted materially in keeping the
streets and alleys in sanitary cOndi-
ton; from the Fairgrounds, Miss
Blanche Mosenfelder speaking for the
Long View grounds, Mrs. Ford Cramp-
ton for the Denkmann square, Mrs.
Devore SimOnson for the Fifth avenue
grounds, and Miss Martha Foss for
the East End grounds The excessive
~ hot weather Of the past season in
terfered with the attendance at the
grounds, but Notwithstanding this
fact the grounds at the four places
were well filled with children through
out the day during the season.
The report of the municipal Fourth,
Mrs. c. L. Silvis, chairman, was de-
ferred until the October meeting. Mrs.
c. A. Schoessel reporting on funds re-
ceived and expended through the
treasury.
The election Of a membership nom
mating committee was q matter Of
business. Mrs. j. j. Ingram, Miss Har-
riette Johnson, Mrs. c. ". Foss. Mrs
c. E. Sharpe and Mrs E NJ Sala be-
ing selected as this committee.
Ia ~ he
G. H. Sherwood, told of Training in
Citizenship and Morals In Our Public
Schools" outlining in a concise man
ner the way in which these important
branches OF a child's education are
carried on. She cited the work done
in the schools Of INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.
and Two Rivers, Wis, as the best ex-
amples in the country in the training
of the child along civic lines In the
former city the work Of civiCs is be-
gun in the first grades of the schools.
where the child is taught duty in the
home, the duty of his parents to him
and likewise his duty TO his parents:
the observance Of the national holt !
days as a lesson in patriotism, and |
construction in the building of small |
pieces of furniture. The duty the
community owes the home is the side /
dwelt on in the second grades when /
the child is taught to appreciate the /
necessity of the miIkman, the baker |
etc, and his duty to those people who /
contribute TO his health and happiness. /
These facts are exempIif1ed I'D to the /
eighth grade. The fifth grade lessons |
deal with the food supplies, and the |
child is shown why they should be !
perfect, since they contribute to his |
4 health; he is shown the importance |
Il OF adequate state laws governing their |
handling, etc. Throughout the sixth
year the subject of purchasing is |
taught, and the child is shown whv il !
is best to buy in large quantities. Whv
IL IS best TO buy a superior article in |
preference to an inferior article. and !
SHOWN how much more valuable he is |
as a citizen when he owns his own
nome. After the sixth grade the vo-
cauonal school is conducted in each
ward and each school is conducted ac-
cordlng TO its needs. In one portion /
OF the city cottages surrounding the
school have been purchased and re-
furnished by the pupils: they are
taught 10 serve and take care of food
and TO produce it. There are print
shops, shoe repair shops. etc. In the
eighth grade the pupil is given text
book on civics. He is taught self
government, the children themselves
look after the small misdemeanors and
they are organized into small police
FORCES that keep the streets practfc-
ally free from disorder The system
as worked out in Indianapolis is most
perfect and excellent results have
come IRON II. In the schools of Two ]
RIVERS practically the same plan is
carried out with wonderful success. !