Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/333

 THE MO VEMENT FOR VA CA TION SCHOOLS 3 1 5

Elephant, camel, cat (with comparison with larger members of the same order), rabbit (with a general talk about squirrels), rats, and mice. Other forms specified were as follows :

Birds : Specimen, thirty skins of New England birds (which the children learned to recognize). Superficial classification based upon bills and toes.

Reptiles : Specimen, a horned toad.

Amphibians : Specimen, tadpoles, frog, toad.

Fishes : Specimen, gold fishes.

Crustaceans : Specimen, live crabs, and many dried and alcoholic specimens, given by a friend.

Mollusks : Specimen, clams furnished by pupils.

Insects : Specimen, mounted specimens lent by a friend.

Echinoderms : Specimen, star fishes, sea urchins, sand dol- lars.

A large cage proved useful for the various animals lent by the Court Street Bird Store. Two hours a week were devoted to the study of plant life. There were afternoon excursions to seashore and parks, where specimens for class work were col- lected, and also to museums and library.

The mothers' teas, three in number, were informal afternoon meetings at the school of superintendent, teachers, and specified divisions of children, with their mothers. The practical use of such meetings in establishing confidence, interest, and coopera- tion is self-evident. At the close of the term all the parents were invited, and typical work of every department was on exhibition. Tea and music entertained the guests. The work shown, and the behavior of the children on that occasion, proved the value of the school to be fully what it had cost. The total expenditure was about 8650.

New York city. — The most important and best organized effort to maintain vacation schools, and the most far-reaching in its effect, was that of the Association for the Improvement of the Poor, in 1894. Impressed with the immediate need that something radical be done to combat the evils of the coming summer, they accepted a plan presented by Mr. William W. Locke, and asked for and were granted the use of four public-