Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-19

~ --1z r,Jn- since recognized that IN
austrfal clubs constitute a proper part
81 tine work OF the rural school. \
well organized club naturally contributes
10 the efficiency OF me teaching and
L adds a zest 20 the work OF instruction
which would otherwise be lacking. The
.lub is one Of the most important means
Or which the life of the community.
IS exempIified on the farm and in the
home. can be correlated with that of the
school. A school without a live club.
therefore. Is bound to be lacking m
initiative and in the human interest
clement which makes study a pleasant
diversion for the boy and girl and not
task. The value Of the club work as
! means of building up the interest in
the rural school and adding 10 its ct
Eiciency cannot therefore be overestl-
mated. Clubs may be made the means
81 introducing vocational training, eN-
banding and diversifying the curriculum
eorrelating the school with the home in
creasing the value Of the school as an
economic factor in the life of the COM
nunity and adding much 70 the social
life and welfare OF the boys and girls
resident in the open country
Prot II. w. 0dum, OF the Peabody
school OF Education. has aptly sum
married. some Of the more important
aspects Of club work and its relation
to the life OF the community. His sug-
gestions being so timely, they have been
reproduced here in part for the informa-
ton OF our readers
However great the indirect values OF
stub work may be TO the building up
OF a better rural life and larger rural
wealth. the first value TO emphasize
from the teachers viewpoint must be
that TO the school For the first and
essential function OF the school Is 10
teach. II anything serves TO assist in
teaching and serves TO make the teach
ing more effective and more comprehen-
sive and permanent. IL must be con-
sidered a valuable asset in the WORK OF
the school That which builds the
country school must invariably build
the country community and raise the
standard Of character and achievement
Thus IL becomes necessary for us 10
search out and find in what ways the
club work may contribute 70 the larger
school
IN the FIRST place. the agricultural
clubs g the boys and girls. together
with the household arts clubs of the
girls. represent two OF the i've branches
OF the larger movement for vocational
education, now nowhere disputed as one
cation. The school is. therefore. If il
be At an modem. duty bound TO .encour-
age and cooperate with all such work
consistent with its practical administra-
ton and supervision. In point OF both
numbers and Importance upon life. agri-
cultural education and household arts
are the two most important aspects OF
vocational education and IL may well be
doubted whether either can he taught
as well without clubs as with them.
IN providing interesting and practical
subjects in the curriculum and in offer-
ing an organization with which TO work
the clubs contribute TO the actual teach
ing Of subjects The problem of obtain
ing the interest Of the pupil and OF OBJ
tanning sustained application to work is
no little task Such interest may be OBJ
tanned, not only i'm the special vocational
subjects. but in reading. writing. litera-
ture. history and others through the use
OF related exercises and subject matter
The practical exercises that follow in
this manual are evidence IN abundance
OF the vast field TO choose from No
better use OF the principle OF appercep-
ton could be desired.
Closely related and not entirely sep
arate from the above value is that OF
correlating the school with home and
farm, an essential 70 the community
building school. The school that does
not make for better farms is not a good
school The school that does not make
for better homes is not a good school
for society. The home that does not
make for better schools and farms is
not a good home And the farm that
does not make for better schools and
homes is not . good farm Thus the cor
relation Of school. home and farm be-
comes essential The clubs work is es-
sentially = cOTrelating agency
The use Of the clubs enable the school
70 draw on the vast laboratories Of
farms and homes and hill and stream
around the school plant. thus increasing
the power of the school TO achieve with
limited money at its disposal. The clubs
require little Of school laboratories as
compared with other methods OF teach
ing vocational subjects. and enables the
ordinary schools TO become proficient In
such work. They also enable a larger
use OF the school plant and OF the school
time.
In the keeping Of records. the study
Of notes. community observation. ex-
hfbfts and contests. the pupil Is brought
into valuable social relationships and
exercised in social essentials. One OF
the earnest desires OF the good teacher
in the good school Is 20 educate for
social efficiency. The saving OF time
and the earning OF money in tde con-
tests constitute valuable economic helps
% the pupil and the school.
The school that teaches its pupils
well and yet goes into the homes and
upon the farms TO make better homes
and better farms, and TO understand and