The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-09-19
STATE FEDERATION NEWS
BY Mrs. Homer L. Settle, Payette
State Press Chairman

by MIS-. DCttANt 4 ~ WV
State Press Chairman
This week l am going to reprint
from General Federation News" an
article by Mira. John d. Sherman,
chairman Of the department OF APP
piled education.
Applied Education, as a general
federation title, seems to be so little
understood that a definition, from
our view point, is justified. The
definition is found in the purpose OF
the department.
"This purpose in brief is to make
the education Of public school child
rem more practical. In this 1921
civilization practical can not be ex-
actly defined. Nevertheless applied
educatoin' includes certain es-
sentials.
"It must be real education, Of
practical value, as contrasted with
academic teaching by schedule.
at must give the pupil facts and
training that will always be useful.
1T must not be limited to child
rem of school age, but when needed,
extended to grown ups.
ut must deal with the realities
of the environment of the individual.
''It must make clear the homely
truths of everyday life.
cit must concern itself with the
nature and working of the physical
world around us.
'It must give full value to the
educational, economic and spiritual
worth of natures methods and pro-
cesses, and it must be education that
results in a tangible, vital force in
the consciousness of the individual,
giving power to develop that con-
seriousness into principle and habits
that will control the life of the in
dividual and the community.
ut must plan to extend activities
of the department of applied educa-
ton by means of open county con-
ferences to be followed by commun-
ity cooperation on group basis.
Open County Conferences
The aim of the open county con-
ference is to bring together the
women of each county for the pur-
pose Of showing them some Of their
community needs and how they may
cooperate thru community groups
for the common good; and of the
ways in which the federation may be
of service.
Following the open county con-
ference a county chairman should be
such chairman in CO.
operation with some local woman to
call meeting in each of the various
communities and present the general
plan.
I'm communities where a home
demonstration agent is available she
should be asked to attend this meet
ing, also the school superintendent
and federal or state specialist along
all the lines of the activities of each
division of the department.
"This group of women discuss
home and community needs as they
themselves see them and determine
upon a program of work. Chairman
of lines of work to be selected on
their knowledge of or an interest in
the particular work to be under
taken.
Where there is a home depart
ment agent she should bring the
necessary technical knowledge, act
as advisor and train. the volunteers
who in turn develop in their groups
the pieces of work in which they
have been trained.
This plan, it should be remem-
bered is not limited to agricultural
counties, but is also for industrial
and communities. We hope
to reach industries, wage earners,
who are prospective homemakers,
and wage earning mothers, as we'll
as the women in the agricultural
districts.
Each group may formulate addi-
tional methods of work and organi-
zatiOn suited to the needs of the COM
The organization of clubs
and membership in the federation
will naturally follow the county con-
ference and community group
activity.
''The beneficial effects of the open
county conference, followed by COM
group cooperation, cannot
be overestimated. 1t helps the
women to see for themselves their
own home and community needs,
and show how these may be i'm
proved. This program of work is
based upon action, instead of theory
md actually functions in the lives of
women Of the community. It stimu-
ates self activity and initiative, in
spires and developes leadership,
oroadens the outlook, increases the
individuals responsibilities to the