Chapter I: Preface

It has been a surprise and a delight to me, as this book has been in progress, to learn of the many different ways that people have worked out these home credit plans. It has been as if I could see into many happy schoolrooms. Letters from mothers and fathers boasting of the accomplishments of their children, have brought to me a little glow from the hearthsides of many homes. A father brought his boy--or rather the boy brought his father--up to see me and talk over what the boy was doing at home. The father boasted of the boy's fine garden, his big pumpkins, his watermelons that would attract the neighbors. Johnny almost burst the top button off his vest with pride as his father praised him and patted him on the head. After this happy meeting, the father and the son got on the high wagon seat and rode home; and as I saw them going down the street, I could imagine what they talked about. Such glimpses help to make a school man's life worth while; and I have had many of them as I have been writing this book.

For the fact that this book exists at all, I am indebted to my wife, who has helped me with every part of it, and to Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Thomason, of Olympia, Washington, who believed in the book from the first. Mrs. Thomason has also done much work on the book; she has gathered all the illustrative material, visiting many schools and writing many letters. She and my wife have done most of the organizing of material, and have gone over the manuscript together. To Miss Fanny Louise Barber, of the Washington High School, Portland, I am grateful for her careful reading and revision of several chapters. I owe thanks to Mrs. Sarah J. Hoagland, of Belt, Montana, for the true and vivid stories she has sent me; and I am thankful to all the home credit teachers, with whom we have been corresponding, for their painstaking answers to our letters, as well as for the valuable plans that they have originated.

L. R. ALDERMAN.

PORTLAND, OREGON,
_November 16, 1914_.

CONTENTS

PART ONE

I. INTRODUCTION 1

II. MARY 7

III. THE SPRING VALLEY SCHOOL 11

IV. WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE ALGEBRA? 24

V. HONORING LABOR 34

VI. HABIT-BUILDING 39

VII. THAT OTHER TEACHER AND THAT TEACHER'S LABORATORY 46

VIII. STELLA AND SADIE 53

IX. A STORY AND LETTERS FROM TEACHERS 60

PART TWO

I. ILLUSTRATIVE HOME CREDIT PLANS 71

II. HOME CREDIT IN HIGH SCHOOLS 156

APPENDIX 167

INDEX 177

ILLUSTRATIONS

FEEDING HER BIRD _Frontispiece_

SPRING VALLEY SCHOOL 12

PICNIC LUNCHEON, SPRING VALLEY 20

JOE IN THE GARAGE 28

WORK CREDITED AT SCHOOL 36

EARNING HOME CREDITS 42

O. H. BENSON POTATO CLUB 88

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS IN RAILROAD SHOPS 156

SCHOOL CREDIT FOR HOME WORK