The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-09-04
By DIR. HAROLD TAsCHER

ON%~@@s
Editors Note: The following is
| DR.. Tascher's fourth article on the
Social Work Laboratory at the Uni
versity of Montana at Missoula.)
The Social Work Laboratory has 1t!
office in Room 212, Craig Hall, of the
university. 1t is an ordinary class
room converted into an office with its
lown unique arrangements. The equip
ment consists of large table, small
study table, a large desk, about a
dozen ordinary chairs, about twenty
classroom chairs with writing arms, a
large cabinet, a typewriting table and
typewriter, several cardboard files, a
long laboratory work bench discarded
from the old Science building, two
large blackboards and two bulletin
boards. There is nothing imposing
about the equipment. The arrange
ment of the equipment and the way
| it is used is significant, however.
InformaIity Dominates Meetings
The most useful bit Of equipment is
the large table and regular chairs.
The table is located in the fore-center
of the room. The class room chairs
are arranged in three rows in front
of this table. At the right of the
table placed near the side of the
room is the small study table which
is used exclusively by the reporter
during class. conferences. AT the left
Of the table near the other side of
the room is the directors desk. When
the class conference convenes, the
members of the executive committee
take their places at the table facing
the members. To their left is the re-
porter. To their right is the director.
The room presents an appearance of
controlled informality with the spot
light on the executive committee.
The long work bench is in front of
the room. On it are little painted
devices which hold the manila folders
used to keep the current records of
all of the operating groups.
Instructor is A Group Member
When the executive council holds
its weekly meetings, the executive
committee takes its position at the
head of the table. The various chair
men pull their chairs up around the
large table and the general chairman
leads the meeting. The director joins
the group around the table. The
meeting lasts for one hour, no longer.
Lab Features Group Leadership
The executive committee usually
meets in the office of the director
located next door to the laboratory. |
1t too meets regularly for one hour |
each week except for special meetings !
which are occasionally called for spe- |
cial problems The general chairman
regular office hours each
week in the laboratory. Conferences
with the various chairmen of the
groups are held regularly to check on
he work of each group and to give
what guidance is needed. The stories
Of the reporter are also checked be-
fore they are released. And occasion
ally, the general chairman meets with |
the various groups or interviews the |
supervisors in the agencies. Office |
line not spent in the above ways is
spent in routine office work check
ng records of work done, this reports,
yping records, etc. There is always
much to be done.
The vice chairman and the person
lei service director have their own
pecial work to do in addition to serv-
ng on the executive committee. The
ice chairman is available to assume
Iirect leadership of the executive
committee, the executive council and
he class conference If the general ,
hartman is not present. Ordinarily,
he duties involve supervision of all
outline functions of the Lab in order
o allow the general chairman free
ON to meet with groups and to keep
n overall view of the program.
lab Provides Help for Members
The personnel service director
service records of all mem
ers of the Laboratory and with the
eneral chairman and vice chairman
ecommends to the director what spe-
ific training needs the various mem
ers seem to require plus what quail
y of work they seem to be doing
he reports of agency supervisors are 5
lso used In this way, the students
assume responsibility to
rade the members of the class. All
Iembers are interviewed twice each 8
uarter by the executive committee
bout the quality of their work. In