Midland Cooperator

These are some of the people who will train recreation leaders for local cooperatives at the sixth annual National Cooperative Recreation School at Ames, Ia., June 14-27. Many cooperatives in Midland territory plan to send representatives to take advantage of the high calibre professional instruction to be offered in a wide range of activities. In the picture, left to right, are: James Norris, dramatic leader; Alice Schweibert, folk dancing; A. D. Zanzig, music and song leading; Marion Skean, singing games; Ruth White, pianist; Ruth Chorpenning, dramatics; Frank Shilston, director of the School; Carl Hutchinson, president of Cooperative Society for Recreational Education. Also on the staff will be Neva L. Boyd, group organization and leadership; Darwin Bryan, play party games; Margaret Gardner, puppetry; Lois Epps and Gwen Fife, crafts. Write Mr. Shilston in care of Midland for detailed information on the School.

Ames Recreation
School Offers Big
Chance For Co-ops

BY FRANK SHILSTON

Next month comes the National Cooperative Recreation School at Ames, Ia. Its staff will teach the techniques of recreation which cooperators will find valuable in promoting interest in their organizations. By sending a delegate to get this training a cooperative association may reap many fold the initial expense involved.

This is an opportunity of which some cooperative groups will take advantage. They realize that nowhere else in the country, or perhaps in the world, can such a high degree of professional teaching skill and cooperative enthusiasm be found combined in one school. Yet at most doors this opportunity will knock in vain, for we are not yet aware of the part recreation can play in building the Cooperative movement.

Many Activities Taught

Taught, are a great range of activities, enough to satisfy any choosy organization. Subjects have headings like these: group organization and leadership; theory and practice in dramatic directing and acting; play party games; songs and singing in everyday social living; promising approaches to music; folk dancing; puppetry; crafts; story telling and singing games. Unfortunately, twelve days are not enough to digest all these subjects, so a student should concentrate on two or three.

In recognition of democracy and the desired cooperative spirit the students, as soon as they arrive, have the same rights and responsibilities as the staff and others. They may make suggestions, collectively rearrange the whole program, and attend a few, or as many, of the activities as they desire.

In meetings the cooperative principle of one vote per individual prevails regardless of position. And within the various groups, and class rooms, the same technique and spirit dominates. No effort is made to fill a student as you would pour oil into a car. Emphasis is placed on bringing out the best in him and getting it talked over and applied to the task at hand.

History of School

The school is conducted by the Cooperative Society for Recreational Education. This body was formed five years ago in Columbus at the first school of national scope. Members at the school felt the need for better trained recreational leadership in the Cooperative movement, and each year since then a national school has been held.