The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-12-01
HIGH SCHOOL NEWS. J
By r. S. Vickers

Z By R. S. Vickers. Z
%%%%%%%%@%% %A%%%%% 49,
The end of the third month of the
current session of the Donaldsonville
High School has seen the practical
success Of so many new school en-
terprises and activities that it may
prove interesting to the friends of this
institution as well as to other schools
to see them briefly reeounted in the
Chief
First if not foremost among these
may be mentioned the janitorial work
Of the school, which in great measure
is now performed by the pupils. At
the solicitation of the principal, the
regular monthly stipend of $50 which
was formerly paid to a ianitor has
been turned over to the former in or
der that the pupils might be employ
ed in this work. To begin with. low-
ever, it was deemed advisable to- en-
gage negro janitor for the care of
the basement and the operation of the
furnace. After paying this man S12,
there remains balance of $38 each
month, nearly all of which is paid out
to the pupils who sweep the school
rooms, halls and stairways and care
for the grounds. A small balance is
put aside monthly for the purpose of
accommodating sufficient to keep the
grounds in shape during vacation.
A condition imposed on every pu-
pit accepting work from the school,
whether of the above nature or any
other, is that at least so per cent of
his pay be deposited in a savings ac-
count which, except in extraordinary
cases, must remain untouched until
the end of the session. This is for the
purpose of intoxicating habits of
thrift, which, after all, is the essence
of the whole plan.
And this naturally leads up to an
other enterprise which is closely re-
lated to the former-namely, the
school bank.
Last session in common with other
schools elsewhere which adopted the
same plan, we encouraged the pupils
to open savings accounts with the To-
cal banks, and although we succeeded
in measure, it was found that fire.
quently the pupils would become dis
couraged before being able to &C
cumulate one dollar, which was the
minimum deposit accepted by bank.
In other cases, they were prone to
draw out their money for trivial rea-
sons. Above all, the lack of ways and
means of earning money steadily was
the main cause of our efforts not
meeting with entire success.
Now, however, we have an alto
gether different plan, which, briefly,
includes a real school bank under the
name of the Donaldsonville High
School Bank, with one of the pupils
as a real cashier, which accepts de-
posts from the pupils in any amount
from one cent up. In order not to
entail too much work on the cashier,
deposits are received only between
certain hours after school on Fridays
and Mondays. The money represent
ed by these deposits is then taken
bv the cashier and deposited in local
bank to the credit of the school bank.
The advantages of this plan are
that the pupils are afforded the con-
yenience of being able to deposit with
out having to go out of their way;
that their savings, however small, may
be deposited at short intervals-only
four DAYS at the longest-and that all
feel quickened interest IN deposit
ing in a school bank managed by one
of their own number, and naturally
desire to see it succeed. Furthermore,
valuable business ezpeT1e IS galned
BY the pupil who serves as cashier.
This enterprise is only little more
than one month old, but the number
Of depositors has, already reached
seyenty-five and the amount of the de-
nosits about $10a, and both are
steadily increasing. The backbone OF
the plan is, of course. the payroll OF
the pupils employed by the school.
The Donaldsonville High School Co
operative Store is another student en-
terprise which is making good and
serves to train the pupils in practical
business methods. The store is stock
ed with every variety of stationery
used by the pupils, as well as tops,
marbles, balls, etc., and even some
canned goods put up by the domestic
science department of the school. me
cooperative idea is carried out by
giving in exchange for every purchase
= nrinted coupon which certifies to the
amount of the purchase and prom
ises to pay to the bearer upon presen..
tation Of the coupon at the close OF
the school session a proport1onate
share Of the profits of the store. AS
the entire net profits of the store Will
be divided among the pupil purchas-
ers. it is expected that dividend OF
about 20 per cent can be paid by the
end of the session.
The idea contained IN TINS plan
carries with it great possibilities, and
with careful attention can be develop
ed into something permanent ana
substantial especially with the active
cooperation of live domestic science
department. L..
It having been our observation that
the more than one hundred pupils OF
this school who live at such distance
as to render it, necessary either to
bring lunch or money for its pur-
chase. were not in many cases getting
the nourishing food required by the
growing child, with the consequent
impairment Of both their health and
their efficiency in school work, it was
decided to open a lunch room IN the
school under the supervision OF cne
domestic science department and
serve warm. nutritious food to the pu-
nils at a nominal charge, barely SUIT
fieient to cover the cost OF material
and service.