Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-28
MARY e. TYLER
On Phases Of Work for Girls


THE work along social and educational lines
l. which is now being done b., many or.
ganizatiOns and persons for the younger
girls. that Is, from the ages OF twelve to
eighteen years, is one of the most important
of all phases Of similar endeavor, accord.
ing to Miss Mary f.. Tyler, girls. reserve
director of the Young Women's Christian
Association.
Zone Of the points because Of which this
work assumes great significance said Miss
Tyler, sis that the girls at that, age are
most amenabe to development along tine
lines which will prove to be of the greatest
value to them in their later life. In Phila-
delphia this work has been carried on for
only few years but the manner In which
the girls have responded to it is little short
of wonderful
"The girls for whom this so{t OF work IS
specifically intended are of three distinctive
types: First, the high school girls: second
the grade school girls; and third, the
younger ones who are in business or In
dustry.
Business Girls Responsive
"Of the three classifcations. should say
that the girls who are in business or in
dustry are the most responsive. Inc
branches which should be covered are rec
| reational. educational and social. the latter
with view to social service work later.
'"The object of the whole movement should
stand and APPRECIATE the ideals of Amer
| ican citizenship. HEALTH knowledge, spirit
and service are the four foundation stones
of the entire movement, and upon these
things the whole program of any work 1or
GIRLS of this age should be based.
ANY work of this kind should be as
democratic as possible. In our own work,
the girls elect all their own officers and
chairmen of committees, and only such
superyislon as IS absolutely necessary Is
boc rod
One meeting each week Is planned, and each
| one has a different subject. with discus
| sional meeting once month.
F'rankness Is Important
"In meetings of this kind, it has been
NV experience that frankness Is essential
IL the greatest amount OF good Is TO De
| achieved Questions which IT Is well to
discuss In this manner are such as: Stand
ards of honor in school, involving the best
forms of co operation with the principal
teachers and fellow pupils; seemy be.
bovior on the streets and with boys and
similar topics. The girls should be en-
couraged to speak frankly, and ] have
couragcment. They speak freely Of clothes.
peop'e and standards in the various matters
| which are constantly cropping up in the
life Of every one, and apparently they get
much out OF 1t. D.
social service work is best inculcated
nv DractlCul uppii'ulion VI 'hc
involved in 1t. / have done this by encOur-
aging girls to visit hospitals and other places
for social service education and thus teach
them not only the salient principles, but
also TO know thoroughly their own city.
Another excellent way to teach these val
liable principles is to get family, Of which
the girls will take care at Christmas,
THANKSGIVING and Easter, and still another
is bv making things for children in foreign
countries. 80.
NOT be neglected, and an out and out party
,houid be held occasionally In the case
of our own work this takes the form of a
bikc n picnic, a skating party, or what
arar form of harmless amusement is ap-
nronriate to the season. Through the busi-
ness meetings, which should form part
- this work, great deal Of parliamentary
law NAV be taught, the proper manner OF
namaucting meetings and many useful things
are absorbed in pleasant, if indirect,
A'"'''' Inculcating Idealism
."Thc young girl of this age is partic-
u,,rly amenable to idealism If presented
;m n manner which Is readily u,ia ,r,u.
and not in the abstract. Our own mcthot
g. that of an initiation ceremony, using
candles of various colOrs to represent the
things which we desire to teach, and it has
proved to be very effective. Stories Of de-
yotieusl .thinss.at just the right times also