The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-08-28
By DIR. HAROLD TASCHER

,
Editors Note: The following is
DR.. Tascher's third article on the
Social Work Laboratory at the Uni
versity of Montana at Missoula.)
1t is not easy to state just what tn
Social Work Laboratory really is. M
students and l accept every oppoi
tunity to describe it, yet for som
reason or other we find it difficult
II is simple in its structure and meth
cd hut its intricate pattern of &C
Ioperation plus the reasons why suci
a mechanism should actually exis
seems to defy and confound the imag
nations of most people. To us, IL II
merely a common-sensed answer u
the training needs of our young PEG
pie who wish to live happy and effec
tive lives in a conflict-torn world. II
is probably this large field of poten
tial application which confuses PEG
pie.
Upper Classmen Work in Lab
The Social Work Laboratory is
composed of college seniors and a
few juniors who enroll each quarter
in a class called Field Work in Social
Administration. Having had a back
ground of theoretical training in So
GEOLOGY, Economics, Psychology Polit'
ical Science and related subjects, they
wish to "try their wings" in real
activity" program The usual enroll
ment in the class is from 10 to 30.
They enter the Lab as 1t is conYen-
iently called with high expectations.
They anticipate a full year of prac-
tical experience. The course may be
repeated until they have total of
Is undergraduate hours to their cred
it. They may take as many as I'M
dergraduate hours of credit each quar-
ter. A minimum requirement of 30
hours of real work per credit hour
is required. In other words, student
usually expects to put in total of
$50 hours of time per quarter while
he is in the Lab. In the senior year,
he may put in as much as 45O hours
of work time. This is usually done
by students who expect to do some
type OF social work when they grad
uate.
Students Lead, Instructor Guides
Let us assume that it is the Fall
quarter of the school year. The first
problem is to organize a program of
action for the entire group. The Or
rector of the Lab-which is my Off
cial title to the memberships the
program going by selecting the mem
bers of the Executive Committee.
This group usually consists of three,
the General Chairman, the Vice Chair
man, and the Personnel Service Di-
rector. The Director, having come to
know the students quite well during
the three previous years, selects them
on the basis of leadership ability, re-
sponsibility,. tact and probable ac-
ceptance by the class as whole.
They assume administrative leader
ship Immediately with the Director
as a sort of ex officio member
of the committee. Each has his own
specialized duties in addition to serv
ing on the Executive Committee. 1t
functions very much like a board of
control. 1t holds regular meetings
each week.
Many Share Responsibility
The Executive Council should not
be confused with the Executive Com
nittee. 1t is a somewhat larger
group composed of the chairman Of
Ill of the operating groups active in
he field work program of the Lab |
plus the members Of the Executive
Committee. The General Chairman |
serves as chairman of the Council to |
centralized leadership. The |
'egular weekly meeting of the Council |
IS to hear reports on all of the oper-
iting groups, to check on difficulties,
md to outline policy for the several
groups. In this way, each group re-
,eives planning help from the several
group chairman, the several groups
ire effectively co-ordinated in order to
an entire group focus rather
han to allow each group to become
law unto itself, and all groups can
hare the experiences of the other
,roups. In addition, it gives all group
hairmen an additional opportunity
or leadership and group experience.
student Abilities Respected
The Glass Conference is the title
f the weekly meeting in which all
he members attend. 1t is the largest
roup In the Lab. 1t too is headed
y the General Chairman who, by
CRYING on the Executive Committee
nd the Executive Council, has every
pportunity to keep in touch with the
ntire program. To be General Chair
ian is real honor. 1t is a position
[ distinction and responsibility The
erson must be able to command the
aspect of the entire student mem
ership.
tudents Share Experiences
The Glass Conference is the central
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