The Record

Association Holds Successful Meeting

LARGE ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD PRESENT

Demonstration Shows Value Of Domestic Science and Manual Training

The meeting of the Parent-Teacher Association held Friday evening was by far the most successful one that has been held yet. Not only was a much larger crowd present than at any previous meeting, but all those present manifested a great deal of interest in the meeting and the subjects. Both the Domestic Science and the Manual Training departments are innovations so far as the school here is concerned and a great many people were doubtful as to their value as part of the high school course but if any such were at that meeting they had their doubts effectually removed. The principal addresses of the evening were made by Prof. Swenson, head of the Manual Training department and Miss. Reid, who has charge of the classes in Domestic Science. Both of these went into detail giving the number of pupils taking the courses and explaining the work which the pupils are doing. Miss Reid is one of the hardest worked teachers in the high school. There are about ninety girls taking instruction in domestic science, who are being taught to cook and sew and the work they are doing and the instruction which they are receiving will probably be of more benefit to them in their after life than anything else which they are learning in school. These pupils are divided into grades and classes according to their proficiency, the same as in any other department in the school and they are held as rigidly to the requirements as in the other departments and are given credits for the work which they do. That the teaching is practical was demonstrated to the satisfaction of all by the samples of the work of classes in sewing which were shown and was also demonstrated by the lunch served at the close of the meeting. A report was made relative to the hot lunches which the domestic science classes are serving to those pupils residing at a distance from school and who have to bring their lunches. Over ninety pupils are availing themselves of the privilege and the improvement in the school work of these pupils is very marked. One case was reported where a pupil only secured a mark of 40 before the hot lunches were introduced and at the first test afterward received a mark of 90. Prof. Swenson, in the Manual Training department also finds his time fully occupied, having a class every period of the day. The boys are taught to handle and care for tools, to plan and lay out their work and to put the knowledge gained into practical application. As the pupils become more proficient they are set at practical work and they have made a number of benches and tables for use in the different rooms of the school, especially for use in the domestic science room and the room where the hot lunches are served in the Lincoln school. The boys are also allowed to make articles for their homes and many avail themselves of this privilege. The lumber used in these articles is paid for by the student using it. That the boys taking this course are doing excellent work and some of them are becoming very proficient was demonstrated by the numerous articles exhibited. In addition to the talks and demonstrations of Mr. Swenson and Miss Reid, addresses were made by Messers Bunt and Warren, Mrs. Gregory and county superintendent of school Miss Ruth Gerhart, which were very interesting and much enjoyed. The association is not only doing an excellent work in bringing the parents and teachers in closer relation and in showing the parents what is being done in the schools, but the meetings are proving to be a source of very good entertainment. The attendance at these meetings is constantly growing, showing that they are being appreciated by the community.