Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-18
JULIA W. WILLIAMSON
On Preparing Young Girls for LIE


THE real object of the early training OF
L young girls through such organizations
as the Girl Scouts and others is the prcpara-
tion of them for the crises Of lfc which tnry
will later have to face says Miss iulla W.
Williamson director of the Phladelphia
Girl Scouts.
"A great many PERSONS" said Miss Will
hanson. ''havc a somewhat mistaken luea
as to the main object lying behind organi-
cations for girls such as ours. 1t is true
that great denl of attention is PAID 10
hikes and camping parties during the sum
mer. but back Of this is the idea or bringing
to all young girls. and those who are not
so young. too for that matter, IN" oppor-
tunity Of learning through work, but more
through play, to serve their community.
That such movements are well worth
while is shown by the enthusiasm with when
the girls enter into them and the tact that
so many Of them retain their interest III the
various organizations long after theN nave
obtained all that the organization can give
them.
Sell. Government Taught
"Of course. leaders are necessary to in
str,ct and to inspire. but one of the most
important things taught by all the orGani-
cations to which | refer is the principle of
self government and its practlcal hpphca
ton. In our own. organization each girl is
given a wide range for the gratihcaton OF
her own tastes, and at the same time the
work which she does goes toward the win
ming Of the merit badge
"The variety Of inclination in girls is
almost as diverse as the number OF girls is
great and therefore some system which Will
allow the individual latitude to express her
individuality and at the same time to pre-
nare herself for some useful work in her
community is an absolute necessity. 1t
would be mistake. for example. to ask
young girl who has strong tendencies toward
artistry to win the badge for chi!dnurse,
and to ask the girl of domestic tastes to
work for the artistry badge would be equally
erroneous. Therefore the psan of consulting
the inclination OF the grpand letting her
work for her badge along the most congcnial
lines has been devised and has worked out
most successfully.
Every Activity Provided For
"Thc organization which does not take
cognizance Of the essential differences be-
tween its individual members cannot work
to the best advantage. and we, like most of
tho others seek to overlook no activity of
girl life. Thus in our organization every girl
nav he winning her badge in different
manner. either in a group or in outside
work. so that it brings out both the group
and the individual spirit. In each of the
membership tests especial emphasis is laid
on three thngs-head, hands and helpful
ness.
lit Is the girl from ten to eighteen years
Of age to whom the group idea most appeals,
md therefore the most effective work in all
organizations is done with those between
these wears Great stress is laid upon good
bodily health. The fact is that we are now
educating our young girls in hcaIthful way.
and thus giving them strong bodies 50 that
when they ure given things to do which are
big enough and hcalthful enough they re-
Spond well.
life today: those of the home maker the
producer, the consumer. the citizen and the
| human being. and the training which the
| along these five lines. In the Scouts, for
example, of the more than fifty badges which
| are given for proficiency more than one
quarter OF them are in subjects directly
related TO the services Of woman in the
| home as housekcepcr, nurse or mother.
The Sense Of Comradeship
Into this work, which is often distaStcful
| because so much Of il Is solitary. is brought
| the sense of colnradeship, which is effected
by having the trimming done largely in
| groups Another element is the public
| recognition and the rcwarding of skill in
| his womans most elementary service TO
the world. so often simply taken for granted
and ignored. The spirit Of play infused into
| tho simplest and most tiresome of household
| tasks banishes drudgcry
'The element Of production must also bc
| recognized, because each year more and
moro women are entering the earning field
| in some capacity or other. Therefore handi.
! craft of many sorts must form n part of tho
program. OF course. II is out of the qurS-
| ton for any organization which rndcavors
to teach useful things in the spirit Of play
| to attempt to give instruction in any spe-
| ciaized line, but u program may have sew
eral things which might very well be used
as productive occupations among them