Newark post., 1922-11-15
OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL
MAKING FINE PROGRESS
Great Interest Taken by Boys
and Girls in Practical
Handicraft
IDEAL. SURROUNDINGS

On last Friday representative of
the Post heard for the first time that
an Opportunity School really existed
in Newark, and straightway he took
his footsteps in the direction of the
attractive little building in the rear
of the Armory on Delaware Avenue.
When he arrived, the teacher, Miss
Helen Brown, was reading to the boys
and girls the Notwithstanding story
of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
While they were eagerly following
the strange and wonderful adventures
of the aforesaid Ali Baba, the visitor
had plenty of time to inspect the sur
roundings. He saw an ideal school
room, from the new and improved
type of desks which at least looked
comfortable, to the great big Win
dows which let in all the sunshine
and fresh air imaginable. Over in
one corner stood a queer looking OBJ
iect composed of a wooden cylinder
and a screen of fine crossing wires.
This turned out to be real workable
hand loom. Then a portable Victrola
and cabinet came in for inspection,
and the score or more of other things
which go to make up modern school
room and it's equipment.
The visitor was not exactly an old
man but he certainly did not have
these things in his school rooms. He
had hard, uncomfortable desks,
plenty of blackboard, and once in a
while some kind person would donate
particularly ornamental calendar
decorated with Pharoah's Horses, or
The Old Mill or A Platter of Fruit
or any of the old standard calendar
subjects. These were all the things
he had to enjoy in his school room
But this little room had real pictures
flowers, drawings, charts, exhibits
all manner of decorative things which
held the eye and made the walls take
on a "homey" appearance.
For here in the Opportunity School
the children are taught to do with
their hands-to make useful articles
in addition to routine reading anc
spelling and arithmetic. There are
l9 children now in the school. Here
they are given the chance to develor
their natural ability for handicraft
and all the help and inspiration
which is possible to give them is
gladly furnished by Miss Brown. She
is at once teacher, weaving expert
brush maker, cook and general al
round good fellow" to the kids il
her room.
Afta the children, carefree anc
happy~at the prospect of a whole
long Saturday staring them in tht
face, had romped out of the room
with their reports in their hands, tht
teacher had a few minutes to show
the visitor some of the clever worl
done by the boys and girls. FRS
she showed a small rug, woven upor
the loom over there in the corner ant
done in two colors. The mat was
firm and serviceable looking anc
mighty attractive. Then we went
over to the little bench where they
make the brushes. Unlike many such
exhibits, there was nothing delicate
looking about those brushes. They
were modelled after the good ole
"scrubbin' brush," and made no bones
about it. And such they were. Just
good, plain, businesslike brushes
which every housewife uses. Along
with the actual work of making the
rugs and brushes, each boy keeps ar
account of all handiwork supplies and
the money derived from the sale OF
the finished articles. Thus is in.
Volved very elementary but none
the less practical knowledge of book.