Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-08-23
Harness 1t and Put 1t to Work for
Uncle Sam, Urges Lake =
wood, O., Teacher.
PRESENTSPLAN TO CONGRESS
Would Organize Boys and Girls Into
the "PubIic School Preparedness
Leaque"-Congressman Emer-
son Speaks for Plan.


lean is anxious to do something to
help solve the many problems that
face the nation at this time, and many
are the suggestions that are coming
from the four corners Of the United
States of ways to help. Congressman
Henry T. Emerson presented to con-
gress the other day the interesting
plan thought out by one of his constit-
uents, Mr.. Paul J. Bast, manual train
ing instructor in the Lakewood CO.,
high school. He sees great possibilities
in the productive power Of the millions
of schoolboys and girls throughout the
land.
"Give our schoolDoys and girls an
opportunity to feel that they are an
integral part of our industrial life" ne
saws. "and that upon them rests a re
sponsibility which can only be dis
charged by unselfish devotion and
service to the state. He suggests that
q nationwide organization be formed,
to be known as the "Public School In
dustrial Preparedness league" the OBJ
iect of which shall be to mobilize the
schOolchf1dren of the nation for such
industrial work as they can do, the
school shops and domestic science
rooms and such equipment as the
schools possess are to be placed at the
disposal of the state and nation. Boys
and girls from the ages OF twelve TO
eighteen years, not otherwise en-
ployed, could thus be employed to
serve in the general scheme of nation
al preparedness.
Organize to System.
The work must be carried on more
or less on the basis of a small indus
trial plant, with it's executives, office
force, and shop force. Books would
necessarily have to be kept and a
strict account of all incoming and out
going products must be had. Costs
could be figured as to what a saying
was being made to the government,
and would be the basis Of making com
parsons with other communities that
were doing the same work. With the
aid of a national sheet which would
publish facts and figures about the
work, rivalry would spring up to
keep the cost of production as low as
possible. This paper would also dis
seminate new ideas and methods to
help stimulate the work.
SchoOlteachers with industrial sense
who understand children should super
wise the Industrial establishment.
These teachers could enlist the aid of
trained workers, who for short time
would instruct the youthful worker in
the practical technique of the work.
Then for every district counting GER
tain number of schools a government
officer would act as an inspector, thus
putting the official stamp Of approval
on work we'll done. He would see that
the specifications were being lived up
to and his presence would give an air
of authority and inspire respect.
Chambers of Commerce Would Help.
The chamber of commerce of each
community should give itself whole
heartedly to this work and cooperate
with the school board in carrying out
the plan. If the machinery and equip
ment is not given outright the cham
Der should see that funds are raised
for the purchase. The interest the
men and women show and the support
they give to the cause will impress the
young workers. The sense of father
and son and mother and daughter
standing shoulder to shoulder in a
common work would give the cOmmu-
nifty a feeling of solidarity that will
be the finest asset of which the nation
can boast.
The work in any community would
fall into three divisions:
1. Work in the shop.
2. Work in the sewing room.
3. Work in the domestic science
room.
The articles which could be made in
the shop would be limited only by the
equipment the schools possess and
other machines that might be installed.
With such automatic machinery as we
now have much may be done.
The sewing room would not only
take care of Red Cross work, but also
do the sewing necessary to make cots,
stretchers, tents, shirts, khaki uni
forms, etc. Both boys and girls could
be employed in this work.
Domestic Science Departments.
In the domestic-science departments
equipped with pressure cookers great
quantities of vegetables and fruits
might be canned. The gathering of
such vegetables and fruit would be
done by pupils in private automobiles
and wagons. Pupils might even help
orchardists and truck farmers gather
their crops and for compensation be
given a share of what they pick, which
would be turned into the canning de-
partment of the school they represent.
The growers, stirred by patriotic i'm
pulse, would surely contribute a small
share of what they raised for such a
purpose. Both boys and girls could be
employed in this department.
The women of the community could
be real help and inspiration to the
c,;rlc nv SuDnryiSinp and holnino in