Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/332

 314 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

The Tyler Street Vacation School, carried on by Denison House and Ward XII Conference of Associated Charities (see reports of College Association 1894 to 1897), was opened July 8, 1895, and continued during the mornings of six weeks, the school committee granting the use of the building. A superin- tendent, nine teachers, and several volunteers cared for the 137 children who attended daily — about 50 per cent, of those enrolled, the cost being about 8650. In 1897 the best work seems to have been done ; 222 registered on the opening day. I quote from the report : "The daily attendance, owing to more cautious methods of admission, persistent calling at the homes, and prompt dismissal of pupils absent without excuse on two successive days, was this year nearly two-thirds of the members registered, as contrasted with last year's proportion of one-half."

The children were classified in three distinct departments : the kindergarten, primary, and advanced class. In the primary department " the work, largely manual, was grouped about one strong central idea. ' Our country ' was the principle chosen, and the children worked out their own ideas in painting, wood work, sewing, and singing. The result was shown on closing day in painted flags and strips, and pictured stories of Colum- bus, Miles Standish, and Hiawatha. The industrial work of the advanced class consisted in sewing and carpentry for girls and boys respectively. A new feature of the sewing room was ' mending day,' Friday, when busy groups were seen darning, patching, or replacing buttons on clothing brought from the family mending basket. On other days the girls did ' practice work ' on sample strips until promoted to work on useful arti- cles. A few advanced pupils learned something of cutting, fit- ting, and embroidery. The carpentry class comprised two divisions, with work similar in character, but adapted to indi- vidual ability."

But the striking success of the year was the science course by Miss Roberta Reynolds, of Radcliffe. Three mornings a week lessons were given on animal life, beginning with the monkey (illustrated by a living specimen), and continuing through the higher forms to the lower, in the following order :