THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
5
high time we should cease having boys or girls devote the entire three
years to the so-called detail with a little academic smattering. A
definite systematic course composed of one vocational subject including
allied subjects, vocational or otherwise, is the the thing that the stu
dent needs.
5 Agricultural Group: This group should include farming, dairy
ing, gardening and things related, or part of these subjects. If the de
partment is to accomplish the results sought in this group the organi
zation must be wonderfully changed in plan, system and instruction.
Far better results would be attained if the work of this group could in
some way be placed under the direction of our experiment stations of
the State Agricultural Colleges. Most of this work as at present con
ducted is a failure financially and otherwise.
6 The Trade Group might very readily be placed under the direction
of the strongest trade man, or subordinated to the mechanical group, or
subdivided and placed under other groups; but the work must be
under the most efficient supervision.
7 The Religious Group should include instruction in the work of
our ordinary religious services with which we would not inter
fere, but much improve in moral training, personal conduct and be
havior, social life and sex-relations (eugenics). This group should be
under the disciplinarian, but all religious instruction and much of the
other should be given by the heads of the church work. The sectarian
side of the question could be completely avoided by following the Gary
plan of religious instruction. For illustration, students, and even em
ployees, could on entering be classed with the church of their prefer
ence. The direction of this church work, as provided already, could
give all instruction in anyway touching his sectarian work and approve,
or provide the other work for his church students; the school merely
requiring the attendance as now. This would provide courses given
by the church officials and assisted by such help as might be mutually
agreed. The present plan does not provide, in many instances, for
training in the common affairs of home life, the r.ocial relations or sex
relations all being weak points needing much instruction and direc
tion. Our present moral and social work requires more vitality,
effective instruction and interest.
Thus we outline briefly the educational groups; but the. thing we wish
to impress strongly are first the building up and strengthening of im
portant lines now neglected and the necessity for closer and more effici
ent direction and instruction of employees. There are schools with
many workmen or foremen with no instruction or skillful direction.
This method results in a waste of money and dwarfs the student. We
have many efficient heads, but need more skilled direction even if we
must have fewer workers.