Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/338

 320 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

a loom given to it, and weaving was being taught by the janitor, a practical weaver, while cooking was added to the course of study. The principal of this school was the principal of the winter school, and had asked for the position, as she was so keenly anxious for the benefit of a vacation school for her children, to prevent the general demoralization which caused her so much trouble each fall.

In the third school the department idea was followed, each teacher having charge of one subject instead of one class. The report of the schools in Philadelphia will undoubtedly contribute much to the future development of the best work in vacation schools. The liberal and enlightened policy of the school board in adopting them as a part of the regular system, without first compelling their maintenance by private citizens and awaiting strong popular pressure, cannot be too highly commended, nor can the helpful and broad-minded attitude of the chairman of the committee, Mr. Kavanaugh.

Baltimore. — Mr. William W. Locke, who had charge of the New York schools, has this year gone to Baltimore to organize vacation schools there, but any further information has not been obtainable.

Chicago. — In March of 1896, at a conference of the Asso- ciated Charities, after a report on vacation schools, a committee was appointed to see what might be done to establish them in Chicago. This committee raised the first S200 toward the maintenance of a school and ascertained that the board of education would favor the project. Through the chairman the matter was presented before the educational committee of the Civic Federation, of which President Harper of the University of Chicago was then chairman, and this committee was asked to undertake to conduct vacation schools, which it consented to do. Eight hundred dollars was raised, and it was determined to open one school which should be a model so far as possible. The Joseph Medill School was chosen, situated in a working- men's district, and drawing from a mixed population.

The course of study was arranged with the advice of President Harper, Professor John Dewey, of the University of Chicago; Col-