El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-03-20
Motor Car and Good Roads
Boost DOnG Ana Education
Itinerant Teachers 0 f
Home Economies
Get Results


The motor car and good roads have
made it possible in Dona Ana coun-
ty already to get results in education
which could not have been obtained
a few decades ago, and the employ
ment of itinerant teachers as, special
lists to go from school to school to
give instruction in domestic science
and agriculture has already brought
good results and enabled pupils to en-
Joy instruction which the schools
could not otherwise afford.
This is plainly brought out by
Mrs. Ruth C. Miller, state industrial
supervisor, in a report made on a
tour through Dona Ana county with
Miss Sadie Stuart an itinerant teacher
of home economics Mrs. Miller says
that last fall DR.. Mcbride, the super
intendent of schools, employed two
itinerant teachers for the school
year to give instruction I'm home
economics in rural schools and each
teacher has charge of five schools.
spending n day a week in each. The
object of the trip was to observe the
progress made under this method Of
instruction and to offer suggestions
in planning the courses and the home
projects.
Comments on the schools visited are
summarized as follows: San Miguel
District g.; School building is attrac-
tive, rooms well supplied with maps
and charts and the equipment for
domestic courses is satisfactory.
The grounds are large and well fenc-
ed and there is likely to be a school
garden this year. There is no equip
ment, however, for cooking and in
~struction has been limited to sewing.
Mrs. Waggoner, the principal, has CIV
en- excellent instruction in agricul-
ture.
La Mesa; Has attractive school
building, rooms we'll heated. There
are 16 girls in home economics class.
Equipment for cooking is to be pur
chased at once
Dona Ana: There is a handsome
brick building with large auditor
ium, furnace, indoor toilets and a
drinking fountain. In one corner Of the
grounds is a teacherage and two
teachers living there prepare their
meals in the cooking laboratory of
the school, There is an adequate
equipment for the home economics
work and the equipment consists of
cooking utensils and a kitchen cabi-
net, as well as dining table and
chairs, The supplies used in the cook
ing lessons are furnished by the
school board. Agriculture is to be
taught and a teacher is to go around
in a buggy to inspect the gardens Of
the various boys.
Mesilla: There is a large white
brick modern building with auditor
ium. Instruction is giveh every
cooking as well as sewing are taught.
In agriculture the boys have done
well and had an exhibit in the fall
Of their fresh vegetables and dried
and canned products.
Mesilla Park: Modern brick build
ing, with auditorium and two base
ment rooms, good furnace and each
room has an attractive window box.
The classes have studied sewing and
cooking and the class has prepared
lunch for the boys. In manual train
Ing the class has done good work
and an effort will be made to get a
teacher. Agriculture is be-
ing taught by outline.
Summarizing the results of her
visit, Mrs. Miller points out that inI
most cases the teacher has three
a day. The distance between
schools varies from 5 to IS miles and
he i~tinerant teachers receive 500 al
month and $50 for motor hire. Mrs.
Miller concludes her report saying
"The home economics department
n all of these schools aided material
y in relief work during the flu. The
method of giving home economics
Instruction is providing entirely salts
and the results are crafty
ng. In the industrial subjects in
Ichools which it would be imprac-
icable to employ a special teacher
full time. Dona Ana county is the
irst county to use this plan. 1t is
that the itinerant
eachers be employed for IL months
emaining in charge of the work
uring the summer. It is also recon-
nended that other counties will fol-
DIV this scheme of providing instruc-
in special subjects in the rural
chools wherever possible"
.EN -