The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1950-04-07
STATE INSTITUTIONS /.
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
By GRETCHEN G. BILLINGS

of articles about these institutions based on
visits to the establishments. visited Warm Springs
and in short time realized that state institutions must
be the interest of all the citizens if they are to do the
job they are set up to do.
do not want to become cumbersome nor overly
sentimental. want to try and present them l see
them. 1t would please if able to pass to
the readers my reaction as from place to place.
My first attempt follows When | sat down to
write it found myself with pages and pages in front
of me- Trying to cut it would necessitate leaving
out great deal However there to the ad-
visibility of putting than just generalities down
if real job is to be done. The institutions are filled
with human beings, so inasmuch as possible would
like to deal with the human side well the physical
side. This story am going try and do in two parts
and shall start with the inside and work out
Thursday March 80, l drove the short distance
from Helena into the valley keep 10 am appoint
ment with Mrs Elizabeth Steed, superintendent of
the State Vocational School for girls. AS | came into
range of the buildings the sight that met my eyes was
pleasant To all outward appearances the five
buildings might belong to country club. The brick
and many gabed structures looked like very desr-
able place to live, and somewhat Gained my fast-bea
mig heart entered the administration and school
building my first visit to institution ION my
own"
The feeling of calmness did not leave as l glanced
around the hall in the administration building. | had
made this trip to assmate much of the atmosphere
and actual operation as could-and above all |
determined not to jump at any conclusions But there
was an atmosphere" here and liked it, it made me
feel comfortable
went into Mrs. Steeds office and felt very well
come. She had appointment in town to bring one
her girls home from the hospital she turned
to her assistant superintendent Miss Ruby A.
Miller
Class Routine
1t was class time, of course and Miss Miller had
handle the home economics class because the regular
teacher in Great Falls with two students from the
home &C. class who had earned trip to FILA
vention. We looked into the home economics room
large, clean, well-equipped place, not unlike large
home kitchen.
While we went from class to class and met the
teachers Miss Miller told she having her class
build dream houses They picked their country and
climate and proceeded accordingly and it appealed to
their imagination.
My last stop after meeting all the teachers was the
tipping class where | remained the hour left before
lunch discussing the school with Mrs. Hoffman, the
teacher and watching and talking with the students
Glass atmosphere is much the same as in any class
anywhere. Watching the girls interesting. AS |
look back on high school the attitude of the girls
pretty much the Some of them interested
and worked others dreamed others half hearted
about it, but then it was beautiful spring day. OBJ
serving them you wondered what there that they
could have done to put them into this institution.
They could be any girl anywhere. As we talked l
found some looking forward to graduation from
high school this spring. Some of these girls could
have been finishing their work in a high school "out-
side but felt security in staying at the institu-
ton until they had completed their These
girls have plans and great hope for the future.
At this time there a group of girls who were
enjoying something immensely from the hilarious
laughing coming from another room. We inquired
and found it was the dramatcs class in action.
Lunch a Maria Dean!
Everyone left the class about noon for lunch and
assembled in the lower hail. Coming down the stairs
could Mrs. Steed had returned and was the CEN
ter of attention She had just announced that she
bringing a guest and would eat in Maria Dean cot
tage This met with the instant approval of the girls
in that cottage, and it also obvious they weren't
nearly as interested in the guest they in the
fact that Mrs. Steed would be there | told this
was the cottage where the younger girls housed
There are two cottages and the 60 girls divided
into junior ages and senior ages. Some senior girls
stay in the junior cottage to help the matron.
At last everybody ready to go to lunch. There
were so many girls and much conversation sur
rounding Mrs Steed | could but get in line and follow
out the door when she called ''lets co. fell in be-
side the superintendent the girls swooped by us
with much laughing singing and holering
Cottage Imparts Home Surroundings
+oo oo+tam milo xpd