- -
it
,10
PORTLAND'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING Hf
CREDITS ARE GIVEN (b J I1 TIPrf
TO PUPILS FOR WORK iWM I IC
DONE AT THEIR HOMES "
Incentive to Youngsters Is
Proving Highly Acceptable
to Parents.
By Marshall N. Dana.
. It ha Leen hlthrrto told that the
school board rented a cottage to be
used as a text In teaching boys to be
home builders, and girls to be home
makers, their combined practice to In
clude the fashioning of furniture the
sewing of garments and the cooking
of food.
More than casual reference has also
heen made to the opportunity afforded
by our Interesting school system for
young men to become farmers or for
Kers of Iron, and young women to ac
quire the art of millinery and the
sclTice of food chemistry.
2Sw comes a still more startling
reelMtlon. H It known thaf If Bobby
at home minds. the baby for jpother he
may get credits on his grade card that
will
Increase both his general average
his standing In the study he has
no nis sianamg
most trouble with
We of a slightly earlier generation
have no memory of school credits be
ing given for thin or any other kind of
home service, and this change may he
further proof that the "world do
move."
Credits for Rome Work.
Into several Portland schools has,
been Introduced the novel method of
giving credit at school for work done
at home.
"Care of the baby" Is No. 13 on a
Ionic list formally printed, which Is
used by Miss Abble Wright of room 15
at Sunnyslde school. Miss Wright was
first to Introduce the rystem at Sunny
side school, and one of the first in
Portland. Seven other rooms of the
same school have now taken it up. Its
success Is one of Its most conspicuous!
features.
. But to continue reference to "care
of the baby." frankness forces the con
fession that on none of a large heap
of "home work records" does It appear,
that any boy or ,glrl of Sunnyslde
sclmol engaged in this occupation. It
would, of course, be hinting at a long
xtinct superstition to suggest that Its
No. 13 on the list bars attention.
The things that are set down upon
. the card for which credit may be given
are as follows: Work in garden, splits
ting .kindling, bringing In fuel, milk
ing 'Cow, care of horses, preparing
meals, washing dishes, sweeping, dust
ing, bedroom work,- washing, Ironing,
care of baby.
Then follow six blank UneB on which
may be written other services not
l'sted. Here are the most interesting
admissions. One youngster has writ-
ten In bold hand that he did "moe
lawn" one hour of the seven days. He
Is also very devout, for on the Sabbath
he studied his Sunday school lesson
on hour. Monday 30 minutos, Tuesday
25 minutes. Wednesday one hour.
Thursday 30 minutes, and Friday one
hour.
meports Are Blgntd,
He is also careful in personal care.
for in a list printed below the other
items, he gives assurance by the re
petition of "yes' that, every dav h
brushed his teeth, on Saturday he spent
half an hour in hls.bath. He slept
with the windows open, and he at
tended church and Sunday school two
hours each on Friday and Saturday.
H also admits that he went to bed
before 9 o'clock each of the seven even
ings, and then apparently some bit of a
doubt seems to creep In, for he Inter
polates, "more or less."
This is, of course, lust a tvDe re
port. It Is signed in each Instance by
parent or guardian, and this Is the
evidence required by Miss Wright that
the work has been done.
Memory failed one boy after he had
ftudea eranas and cutlng lawn" to
his list, so he also writes for "other
things a total of 40 minutes,
The cards Indicate quite Interesting
ly that the good old custom of the
Saturday night bath has not been In
vain handed down from parents to
children through many generations.
Some of the reports, however, claim
credit for complete ablutions under
taken also on other days.
Credit on Bg-olar Bepqrt.
Understand that credit on the rcgu
lar report Is given for this work. The
plan delights the parents, for It gives
children incentive for home work I
helps the children, for they learn how
to do things that are useful. Also.
as was said. It raises their grade m
the my in which they are weakest.
fc'ometimes they indicate on the card
the study they desire to be helped in
If will not be surprising that one very
younft"J lady wanted her credit to be
applied to "spelling,? and -another to
. arithmetic. ., -i
come minor Business ventures are
also recorded. One boyo.rTJed paper
for three hours In a week, and spent
. half an . hour collecting1 "jthe pennies
: for the 'papers Several . girls . claim
credit for. patient plar.d practice. One
call attention to & ' minutes each of
" ") m coring im Dims, wany
uivt """o u" ci . uuuo, vuiei a
ivh';" sffiil:; hiV :--:r-t'-;r i5
wmr i J u JTi' attendance largest
xI-StI iltJl. SF -p SCHOOL CREDITS ARE
MT mtSs liteA l ALLOWED FOR WORK
care for the chickens,1 eet the table,
knead bread, make dresses, and there
,s one little fellow who faithfully adds,
this day I done my best
Other things for which credit may
be given are for table manners, care
of clothing and courtesy to parents.
Ono little boy sets It down that on
each of 7 days he combed his hair for
five minutes, which In Itself, we will
remember Is a considerable sacrifice.
Some appreciative expressions have
come from parents.
'The home record cards not only
offer the child a desire to raise his
school roo mrecord, but It gives the
teachers an insight into what the child
1h doing when not In sc ool," writes a
mother. "In looking over some of the
cards I find that the child soon learns
to do his regular chores In less time
each week, that he may have more
time for other work or play, and yet
fill out ills record card. This is a
great help to the parents."
Another mother whose little girl is
exceedingly active in home work said.
I think It is a splendid system. The
only disadvantage that has occurred
to me la that when credits are
measured In time spent rather than
amount done, the children are inclined
to dilly dally a little."
But in the main the plan of giving
school credit for home work stimulates
habits Of usefulness, encourages' indus
try, affords opportunity to discover in
dividual capabilities, and more closely
ties together the home and the school.
Hadley Introduced
Home Work Credits
Principal of Hawthorne Grammar Qot
Idea From Superintendent Alder
man; Systam Has Gained Popularity.
E. J. Hadley", principal of Hawthorne
school, was among the first to Intro
duce here the plan of giving school
credit for home work.
I got the idea from Superintendent
Alderman about two years ago when
he was head of the state department of
public instruction," gald Principal Had
ley. "At first I went from room to room
telling of the plan and there was an-
Immediate and good response. The
Idea grew and increased in favor. Last
year 219 of the boys and girls In Haw
thorne school were given credit for
work done at home.
"This credit Is not based on the
doing of the things they ought to do.
For instance, I do not believe a girl
should be given credit for helping her
mother wash the dishes. I think that
Is something she ought to do.
But when a girl makes a dress or
an apron, or bakes a cake or a loaf of
bread or makes especially good candy.
she thinks she merits credit at
school, especially If she is a little girl
who Is Just learning to do these excep
tional things.
"In the same way I consider that a
boy who cultivates a big, fat garden.
ana wno grows vegetables better than
other boys, or a boy who makes a fine
chair, Is deserving of credit. I have
had several boys bring me surprisingly
good samples of crochet work.
"In fact, both boys and girls bring
for my Inspection samples of what
they have done. The plan has most
certainly increased interest among stu
dents in work at home."
China Planning to
Reorganize Troops
Peking, China. May 23. President
Yuan Shlh-kat has drafted a "plan to
disband ' all the provincial trdops and
reorganize , the army on a national
basis. Carried outu the plan would en
able the central government to force
the provinces to send In tax monev reg
ularly. Instead "of spasmodically as at
present. - It would strengthen: the cen
tral goyerriment: tremendously and
i checkmate the"' praaaMt "stale's ' ri&t
i tendencies.
THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, : PORTLAND, SUNDAYS MORNING,
,:l li' s'Sjty f "Sivi3ifi, II VfeWV'-l I II INI- A I HI- Hit
v Cfercfe 'IIMM J lihzzrz
Top, left to right A recess entanglement, Sunnyslde school. Lorrin Andrews earns school credits
gardening at home. A better grade for feeding the chickens. "Drop the handkerchief" among
girls at recess, Sunnyside school. Principal Curtis in foreground.
Center, left to right Breadmaking, from an original text. Eleanor Bosserman gets credits for Iron
ing, wearing dress and cap made by herself. Ray Reierson says mowing lawn for credit at school
is fun.
Bottom, left to right Principal Curtis of Sunnyside school directs a recess game. Miss Abbie Wright,
teacher of room 15, Sunnyside school, who was first to Introduce there the plan of giving school
credits for home work.
HIGH SCHOOL TECHS
INVITE PARENTS AND
Tl
Gathering at Jefferson Gave
Opportunity to Demon
strate Quality of Work,
Members of the Jefferson High
School Technical club recently called
in their parents and friends to help
them enjoy their first annual banquet.
The gathering had educational import
ance. It gave opportunity to demon
strate for the benefit of school direc
tors, the superintendent and assistant
superintendent, to a visiting represen
tatlve of the national department of
education, the quality and amount of
work done In the departments of wood
working, drawing, machinery and
printing.
It was said that the work is being
done not to' turn out mechanics ready
to hold salaried Jobs, but to give everv
boy who desires a broad foundation
of industrial training upon which he
may build In accord, with his Individual
abilities by means of further and more
specialized training;. At the same time
it wa evident that boys who do mas
ter the study offered will be competent
if necessary to. hold good positions.
President Has Enviable Record.
The president of the Technical club
of Jefferson high is Fendall . Young.
He has ' an ' enviable school record,
starting when be was eight and now
finishing bis second year In high
school, at the age of 16, at the same
time being prominent in school activi
ties. . ..
One purpose, of the club is to study
home Industries and to learn what are
the possibilities of transforming the
raw materials of this state into
finished, products. '
Two excursions have been conducted
byi'the club. One to Oswego, for the
purposes of ; seeing the heavy iron
pipes for the ity - water department,
and the other-to Goldsmith hill, to
see" how:' hydraulic force has trans
formed a rough and rugged hill into a
beautiful site for a some.
. 1 Knglneer "West of the Portland Kail
way Light A Power company delivered
before the club an address on tne fa
FRIENDS
) BANQUET
nama Canal, and W. H. Lewis an ad
dress on hydraulic grading.
Department Has Grown.
The department of the high school in
which the club was formed has grown
in numbers from 3 to 140 In four years"
time. Nearly 25 per cent of the boys
in the school take work in the shops.
The fundamentals of the following
subjects are taught: Cabinet making,
pattern making, building construction,
mechanical drawing, forging, tool-making,
machine shop work, printing and
bookbinding.
The department has entirely out
grown its original quarters, and there
Is now under way a strong movement
to secure the building of a structure
that will house all the industrial plant
and be especialy adapted to Industrial
training.
About Jefferson high school is a
large amount of vacant ground," part
of which might be utilized. The vacant
property Is now owned by . the school
district. The domestic science and art
departments could. also be housed in
the building.
Suggestion X Made.
There was general expression of
conviction at the banquet that the de
partment should have a building of its
own.
It is possible that action will be
taken soon on a. suggestion made at
the banquet, by 'Leon LaForge. head
of, the woodworking department.. Mr.
LaForge called attention to the fact
that while there are comparatively few
pattern makers, and machinists', posi
tions In Portland many were being
trained for such positions,, while on
the other hand there are 100 green
houses employing about eight times
that number of people," yet no training
In this line Is being given in any
school.
Floriculture would make a distinct
ly valuable adjunct to nature study
from texts, suggested Mr. LaForge. It
could be correlated with botany, and
made to serve a practical purpose in
the decoration of schools and grounds.
Related to such training Is the school
garden work already conducted. Mr.
LaForge was given an ova ion that
testified to his popularity among' his
students, when he rose to speak.
Mad Dog Recognized Friend.
Centralla, Wash May 23. Mad Dog,
an Indian . chief with the Sells-Floto
and Buffalo Bill shows, and John
Grlner, a resident of Centralla, met for
the first time in 35 years when the
circus stopped In. this city this week.
Grlner was watching the parade and
was Immediately' recognized . by the
Indian,' who made haste to hunt bim
up after the parade. Grlner used to
live in Dakota, while" the , Indian Jived
on a nearby reservation. -
E
PLANS
OF
ARE
Boston Journal of Education
Pays High Tribute to Con
ditions in This City.
Tribute to the work being done In
Portland schools Is editorially given
In the Boston "Journal of Education,"
In a recent issue. Some of the com
ments as reproduced In the Portland
School Bulletin follow:
"Portland, Oregon; bids fair to live
up to the aspiration of the Board of
Education, Superintendent L. R. Alder
man, the teachers, the Parent-Teacher
association and the citizens generally
to make that the best city educational
ly in the country. It is an ambitious
hope, but If left free to work out plans
and realize Ideals, Portland will give
all the other cities a lively race for
first place.
"Superintendent Alderman bids fair
to do for Portland what he did for
Oregon, and if he does' all aspirations
will be achieved.
"Already Portland has the most ef
ficient Parent-Teacher organization In
the country without' any question. It
is keenly alive, ardently devoted to
the schools, genuinely efficient in "ita
activities.
"Already the playi - and.' recreation
leadership and: equipment are of na
tional interest, and State Superintend
ent J. A. Churchill has given the state
a graphic portrayal, with Illustrations,
of the unusual phases of these activi
ties In Portland. Indeed, Oregon as
whole, Is doing exceptionally well In
these educational features.
'The new school buildings are
among the best in the country, with
every approved feature, from "no sta
tionary furniture m the lower grades."
and open-air rooms by the wholesale,
to recreation' rooms unparalleled or un
approached In Important . factors for
recreation In all weathers."
. Most of the carpets In India . are
woven by boys, who are told by men
watching them t how ' manjf knots of
each color v to, .tie Into. the warp, one
row at a time. ';.' ,
DUCATIONAL
PORTLAND
BECOMING
FAMOUS
MAY 24, 4 191.
Pupils Publish
Paper of Their Own
"School Boom Herald" Hame of the Is
sue Which Zs Belns; Printed at the
Sunnyslde School.
Some time ago the publication of a
"School Bulletin" was undertaken by
the schools, the printing being done
by the students in printing at Jefferson
high school. Now room 15 of Sunny
side school has started a publication
called the "School Room Herald" which
is nearly as pretentious as its inspira
tion. Here are some of the news items:
"The pupils of room 15 are going to
join the army. Miss Wright has taught
them 'how to march.
"Jack and Lynn have not received
the stilts they advertised for last
week."
"The privilege of playing basketball
will be taken away from anyone who
Is found throwing the basketball, or
any other kind of ball at the light
guards in the assembly hall."
"This paper cannot be run without
news nor can it be financed on fresh
air."
There are also some advertisements
whleh for unique organization are com
mended to the attention of the Ad club
experts.
"For Sale Six pigeons, two pair and
two squabs. Will have three more
soon."
"Wanted! Wanted! Five boys who
will play nice with the girls. Apply
to captain of girls' basketball team."
There is a notice of a spelling match:
The pupils of the eighth A class had
a spelling match Monday afternoon.
The boys spelled against the girls. The
boys won after a long struggle for su
premacy on the part of Fred Beers and
Ruth Powers. The boys outnumbered
the girls by seven at the start and by
one at the end.
Prizes Provided
For Juvenile Fair
Competitors Xnst Be Residents of Dis
trict ox Enrolled In the School; Bald
at Orient School.
More than 100 first and second
prizes have ben provided for winners
of competition In connection with a
juvenile fair to be held at Orient
school In the Pleasant Home district,
September 11 and 12. Entries will be
classified In accordance with the age
of the entrants, class A being of chil
dren between 11 and 18 and class B of
children less than 12 years. Competi
tors must be residents of the district
or enrolled In the school. Industrial
work, vegetables from gardens, canned
fruits, needlework, break, cakes and
.flowers are among the articles which
wm be exhibited for prizes.
Art School Exhibit.
Beginning May 24 and continuing for
eight days, an exhibit of work by stu
dents of the Art school will be made
In. the Art Museum near Taylor street
Classes . In drawing are expected to
especially be Interested in the exhibit.
Supt. Alderman Tells How He
Came to Originate - Plan
'Adopted Here. ,
"Nine yars ago when I was a school
principal, I noticed that one of my
roisiest cheeked, most vigorous appear
ing girls spent much time on the
streets after school. One day Mary's
mother was pointed out to me. She
was a pale, nervous little woman with
several children. Knowing that the
family was not very well to do I felt
myself burning with Indignation at the
circumstances' in her home. I thought.
What is the use of my teaching that
girl algebra and general history, when
what she most needs to be taught Is
that her mother is hfr best friend and
neds her help?" '
Thus L. R. Alderman, superintendent
Of Portland schools, explains hdw he
originated the plan of giving school
credit for home work by school chil
dren. This Is a plan that has spread
from Oregon Into many states and
many schools and has made Alderman j
more prominently known as a creative I
factor In the educational world than
anything else he has ever done. He
continues:
"At the algebra recitation the next
day I announced that the lesson for
the following dav would consist of 10
problems as usual, but that five would
be in the book, and five out of the
book, i ne rive om ui mr uwur
consist for the girls of helping cook
supper, helping to do up the kitchen
vti.rk after supper, preparing break
fast, helping with the dishes and kitch
en work after breakfast and putting a
bed room in order. When I asked for
hands up on all problems the following
day I noticed that Mary kept her
honds raised after the others were
down. 'What is it? I asked. "I worked
five in advance." she replied with
srarkllng eyes. ' I worked five ahead
in the book beside the 10 you gave us.'
From that time Mary s Interest In all
school work was doubled.
rr- i v,liM. nnnnora tor.
said Sup-erintendent Alderman If they
talked about sewing, ironing or garden-
lug. children wanted to do those things.
lit continued: .
"Every home has the equipment for
industrial work and has someone who
uses it with more or less skill.
"The school has made so many de- ;
mands on the home that the parents
have In some cases felt that all the
time of the child must be given to the
'school. But an important thing that
the child needs along with school worn i
la established habits of home making, j
What one does depends as much upon j
habit as upon knowledge. )
"In my opinion the giving of school j
credit for home work is like opening
great reservoirs of, power which as
vet have, scarcely been tapped."
1 i
Group Meetings
PrnT7P fl Nil P.PP.SH
xiuvo a ououcdo
Teachers of Bnmber of Public Schools
Meet and Speaking and Music Are
restores of Day.
The success of the group meetings'
Serman in the Portland schools was
tnniifi wrinnmlv afternoon by
the teachers of Brooklyn. Llewellyn
.i ..tin, o Rrvr.w
lyn. The occasion was pleasurable both
pfessionally and a-eUlly. Able- ad-
dresses were given Dy iis uimicic on
the Cooley Webster grammar; by Miss
Gray of Sell wood on Aldine's primary
language, and a report of the- home
work record slips that have proved
very popular In Sunnyslde school ' by
Miss Wright. The addresses were fol
lowed by songs from Miss Cormett and
Miss Luke of Brooklyn, school. Mrs.
Allhands of Llewellyn acted as chair
man. Refreshments were served.
IN PROPORTION TO ITS
SIZE IN M'MINNVILLE
ThIrtv-nnA Ppr f!pnt Ic- Rdp.
fill .J UIIV I VI UVIH IU
r rA Arrolnot O F Dnr lnnt
Elsewhere.
McMlnnville boasts a larger high
school enrollment in proportion to
school population than any other com
munity in Oregon. A statement which
tiie Commercial club hus received
reads:
"According to the latest high school
directory Issued by Superintendent
Churchill. McMlnnville excels every
other school in the state in the follow
ing respect: There are enrolled In th
public schools here 720. of, which 224
are enrolled in the high school. ., Thus
31 per cent of the actual ttendance in
the city is in the high school. No
other town in Oregon has more than 2S
per cent of its school enrollment In the
high school.
"Our graduating class. of '14 Is by
fai the largest in the history of the
school; 45 members.
"Another feature of the present sit
uation Is the fact that of the 45 mem
bers, 25 are boys. This is almost
unique In Oregon.
"There is a splendid feeling of pride
locally in the high school. The school
has been adequately supported from a
financial standpoint, and although It
has cost money, the people feel that
they have something for their invest
ment. Under Superintendent W. II.
Rutherford, who Is one of the best
school men of the state, there has been
developed a strong course of Indus
trial work, which now affects every
member of the high school, and many
In the grammar grades. 'Bonds have
jagt been voted for a new buildln
bg uged M a B0-called Junior
. to
hign
Bchool. This Is something not before -tried
in Oregon, although the plan has
been In vogue recently In California.
"At the present time school men rec
onlae the fact that we are making too
decided a break In the methodology of
the grammar grades, and that of the
high school grades. Too large a pe?
i cent of our eighth grade graduates fall
I to survive the change as we now make
: it. and do not get along well with their
I freshman year In the high school. In
j the Junior high school the plan will be
siJch as to gradually accustom the stu
i dent to this same change from ihs
' room wnere is u..c.j .
"Trk1 tont.n;
"P0"8. "teachers as In the mod'
- ""t, : hope to bridge
I . . fnr rnaA work a larsr.
j ay - - - ; w
. r ,,
Faculty Members
Have Ball Fever
Contagion of the XMamoad Gets Ptrm
Bold on Teachers and Beal Ball
Game Zs the Outcome.
Baseball Is a contagion. It Infects
pedagogues and makes them attempt
athletic stunts not warranted by tiiclr
muscles or suggested by jheir training,
A team of the principals' club met wltlt
i a itam oi ine jenerson n."
faculty last Tuesday. A good and "
, tlialllMtlc udlOTCe of root, WM ,u
team of the Jefferson high school
organized from among the ertwhi?e
pupils of the players. Under Impulse
of their encouragement the nenr-lm-posslble
was attempted in almost every
play. There were Jolted equatois and
bruised palms and legs skinned , by
sliding bases and hearts that over
I thumped with exertion. The principals.
siartea
authoritatively. Perhaps the
. faculty members were a little intimU
i dated. For thrVe Innings they secrard
! hold the game in the hollow of thelf
mltU to -peal. But after the ; third
'""" '" . . Vi.
their enthusiasm to decrease. The prln ,
cipals piled up nine runs but the fac
ulty got 12. At the entr or tne seven;
innings each side uttered the hlstorle
"enough." . .. t
By Installing his hot water, boiler
in his bath room instead of bis kitchen
a Pennsylvania man heats the tormarV
without additional expense. ' - -. :,!,,;
Hi