The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-10-09
THE LABORATORY PIONEERS IN
PRIESTHOOD EDUCATION
BY DR.. HAROLD TASCHER

BY DR. HAROLD TASCHER
Editors Note: The following is
the eighth article by DR.. Harold
Tascher on the work of the Social
Work Laboratory at the University
of Montana at Missoula)
The story of the Laboratory Play
School in Missoula illustrates the fine
determination and ability Of parents,
particularly mothers, to provide for
the physical, mental and social devel-
opment of their children before they
enter the elementary school. For
three years, they co-operated with the
Laboratory to maintain and develop
a program of pre-school education. At
the beginning of the fourth year, they
have the satisfaction of seeing the
ablishment of an integrated pre-
school program at the University with
the best facilities the University can
provide. The reorganization of the
pre-school program is credit to their
devotion to the needs of childhood
and to the educational leadership of
President Melby and Dean Anderson
of the School of Education. For three
years students in the Laboratory car
RE dthe responsibility of the practical
program. They, too, deserve special
credit for without them, this story
could not be written.
Leadership by School of Education
During this school year, the pre-
school program of the University will
provide pre-school training for ap-
proximately 70 children on the cam
pus. The program will be supervised
by a governing board consisting of
DR.. Walter Anderson, dean of the
School of Education, Helen Gleason
chairman of the department of Home
Economics and myself, director of the
Social Work Laboratory Dean Ander-
son will serve as chairman of the
board. Mrs. Jessie Perkins has been
employed as head teacher who will
administer the program assisted by a
corps of assistants supplied by the
Work Projects Administration and
from fees and by students in training.
The program is to be known as the
University Nursery School.
Adult Education vlsuaIzed
The Laboratory Play School as de-
veloped by the Social Work Labora-
tory and the Mothers Club and the |
University Nursery School as devel- !
oped by the Home Economics Depart |
ment and the Work Projects Admins
tration have been consolidated into
one program. Students in training
for social work, teaching and home
economics will have ample opportun-
lty for laboratory training Students
In music, physical education art dra-
matics, psychology, etc. will also have
laboratory facilities, and /
parents of the children in the school
will have ample opportunity to work
with the program, thereby extending
adult education facilities of the Uni
versity, particularly in the field of
parent education.
To Serve Low Income Families
The new program will continue the
essential features of the two former
programs Three groups
IF children will be served. The nurs-
cry school program as developed by
he Department of Home Economics
will serve 80 children from to
years old with an all day program
rom 10 to 4. Lunch, rest, fruit juice !
md cod-liver oil will be provided as !
However, 20 children will
,e recruited from low-income bracket {
antilles without fees and 10 children
will be enrolled from upper-income |
racket families at SIS per quarter.