Chapter VI: Part TWO: I (3)

3. At the end of each school month the teacher shall enter
on the pupil's report card the total number of credits for
home work during the month, as certified to by the parent or
guardian.

4. Any pupil who has earned at least two hundred credits for
home work during any school month shall be entitled to have 10
per cent added to his grade in any subject, or distributed among
several subjects, and 1 per cent additional for each twenty
additional credits up to four hundred credits.

5. All pupils who shall have earned four hundred credits or more
during any month shall be entitled to a half-holiday, and shall
have their names entered on a roll of honor.

6. Forfeitures--Dropping out of contest without cause, all
credits earned; unexcused absence, all credits due; unexcused
tardiness, 25 per cent off all credits due; less than 90 per
cent in deportment for any month, 10 per cent off all credits
due.

These rules may be modified by teachers to suit local
conditions. If the half-holiday system of awards is not
satisfactory, some other system may be substituted.

_To parents and guardians_:

In this plan for giving school credit for home work it is not
the intention of the school to intrude upon the domain of the
home, but to coöperate with the home in the interest of the boys
and girls. Here is a splendid chance for the school and the home
to come closer together, and we believe both will be improved
thereby.

_Home Credit Schedule, School District No. 2 Jackson County, Oregon_

_Name of Pupil, Goldie Trefren. Age, 11. Grade, 4th.
Month ending March 23, 1914_

----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
|Credits| 1st| 2d | 3d | 4th| Total
| |week|week|week|week|
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Building fire | [6]1 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 27
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Milking cow | 1 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 53
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Splitting and carrying | | | | | |
in wood (12 hours' supply) | 2 | | | | |
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Turning cream separator | 2 | | | | |
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Grooming horse | 2 | | | | |
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Gathering eggs | 1 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 22
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Feeding chickens, pigs, horse, or cow | 1 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 47
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Churning or making butter | 3 | | | | |
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Blacking stove | 3 | | | | |
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Making and baking bread | 10 | | | | |
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Making biscuits | 2 | | | | |
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Preparing meal for family | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Washing and wiping dishes | 4 | | | | |
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Sweeping floor, each room | 1 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 50
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Dusting furniture, each room | 1 | 4 | | 5 | 2 | 11
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Scrubbing floor, each room | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Making bed (after school) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Washing, starching, and ironing own | | | | | |
clothes, worn to school each week | 30 | | | | |
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Bathing, each bath | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Arriving at school with clean hands, | | | | | |
face, teeth, nails, and hair combed | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 20
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Practicing music at least 30 minutes | 2 | | | | |
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Retiring on or before 9 o'clock | 1 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7| 28
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Bathing and dressing baby | 2 | | | | |
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Sleeping with windows open or with | | | | | |
window-boards | 2 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Work not listed, per hour | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 23
----------------------------------------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Total 364

L. S. TREFREN,
_Parent or Guardian_

[6] A task counting 1 done each day, gives seven credits for the
week. ]

* * * * *

The following letter, dated April 20, 1914, is from Mrs. Bertha McKinney, of a district near Ashland, Jackson County.

Pupils of the first, second, and third grades, who have earned
two hundred credits in a month have a half-holiday. Those of the
fourth, fifth, and sixth grades must have earned three hundred
credits to entitle them to the half-holiday, and of the seventh,
eighth, and ninth grades, four hundred credits. When all have
the required number of credits, all have the half-holiday. I
have twenty pupils, and all are doing the home credit work. I
keep the record of the credits earned in a notebook, and place
the number earned by each pupil on the monthly report card. I
think the plan a good one, though in a few cases the parents are
not careful enough with their part; that is, they sign the blank
form, then the child can put down any number he pleases. I have
had only one such case.

Superintendent Joel O. Davis, of Weston, tells of the manner in which his school began to use home credits:--

The opportunity came in October of last year, when an unexpected
influx of pupils made it necessary for us to engage an extra
teacher and adopt a departmental plan for the fifth to eighth
grades inclusive. This made it necessary for those grades to
prepare two lessons at home, thus making the required home
reading a burden. I at once offered these students the choice of
reading the required books, and writing the reviews, or making
the points by home work, under the conditions as shown by the
accompanying card. Nearly every child accepted the home work
plan, and went to work enthusiastically.

On the opposite page is one of the Weston credit cards, filled out by a pupil, Crete Allen:--

_Home Work Record, Weston Public School_

Credits will be given for the performance of the following named
duties when this card is returned, at the end of the month,
properly signed by the parent or guardian.

These credits will be accepted in place of the home reading
heretofore required, at the rate of 100 points for each book.

The parent must check the work each day as performed.

Any evasion or falsification of the record will forfeit all
claim to credit.

To obtain credit each duty must be performed by the child
unaided by others, and must be well and satisfactorily done.

No credit will be given for work that is paid for by the parent
or others.

Parents are requested to see that the above conditions are
complied with and to encourage thoroughness and truthfulness by
using care in recording so as to give no unearned credits.

Make one mark, and only one, for each duty each day.[7]

[7] All the marking is done by tallies, thus: ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||
The reproduction on page 137 permits only the use of
figures, to indicate the total tally marks.

-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
| 1st | 2d | 3d | 4th |Total
| week| week| week| week|
-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
1. Carrying wood | 1 | ... | ... | 1 | 2
| | | | |
2. Feeding horse | ... | ... | ... | ... | ...
| | | | |
3. Feeding cow | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 56
| | | | |
4. Feeding pigs | 5 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 36
| | | | |
5. Feeding chickens | ... | ... | 1 | 3 | 4
| | | | |
6. Milking cow | 42 | 56 | 43 | 50 | 160
| | | | |
7. Cleaning stable | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 22
| | | | |
8. Washing dishes | 1 | ... | ... | ... | 1
| | | | |
9. Drying dishes | 2 | 1 | ... | ... | 3
| | | | |
10. Making bed | ... | 2 | ... | 2 | 4
| | | | |
11. Sweeping room | 3 | ... | ... | 5 | 8
| | | | |
12. Setting table | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 19
| | | | |
13. Clearing table | 1 | 1 | ... | 1 | 3
| | | | |
14. Tidiness | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 25
| | | | |
15. Brushing teeth | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13
| | | | |
16. Cleaning nails | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 14
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
Total | ... | ... | ... | ... | 370
-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----

No. 14 includes general tidiness, hanging hat and coat, putting
away clothes, shoes, stockings, etc., and will be given
more credit than any other one duty. Parents should use care
in marking this number, as the aim is to inculcate habits of
neatness and thoughtful consideration of others. This end
can easily be defeated by careless or unfair marking.

I hereby certify that the above record is true and correct.

MRS. J. E. ALLEN (_Parent or Guardian._)]

* * * * *

At the close of a later letter Mr. Davis wrote:--

From my experience with this experiment I feel that the plan
is worth all it costs and more, that it should be extended to
include all the grades, that modifications to meet the needs of
different communities can easily be made, and that the pupils
and patrons of any district will appreciate and support some
such plan if it is carried out faithfully. I kept a ledger
account with every child, and at the end of the month posted a
bulletin exhibiting the condition of each pupil's account. The
interest was shown by the manner in which they gathered about
the board and compared their credits. Some of the comments upon
some lazy boy's or girl's lack of effort were rather caustic,
but served as effective spurs to the delinquent.

In Pend Oreille County, Washington, six weeks is the unit of time for credit records. Miss Hester C. Soules, the County Superintendent, has issued the following circular:--

THE HOME WE WORK TOGETHER THE SCHOOL SCHOOL CREDIT FOR HOME WORK

In order that the school and home may unite forces, that the school may help in establishing habits of home-making, and that our boys and girls may be taught that their parents are their best friends and need their help, the following system of credits has been devised for use in the schools of Pend Oreille County.

_Certificate of Promotion with Distinction_

Any pupil who has completed the work of his grade in a satisfactory manner is entitled to PROMOTION WITH CREDIT to the next higher grade, provided he obtains 300 points for Home Work. He is entitled to PROMOTION WITH HONOR if he earns 500 points.

Six weeks' faithful and regular performance of the home duties listed below will entitle the pupil to credit as indicated.

Points

1. Sawing, splitting, and carrying in wood and
kindling 25
2. Building fires or tending furnace 20
3. Caring for horse or cow and doing other barn
chores 15
4. Caring for poultry and gathering eggs 10
5. Working in the school or home garden, or on the
farm 20
6. Delivering milk or carrying water 20
7. Running errands cheerfully 10
8. Doing without being told 20
9. Mowing the lawn 20
10. Feeding pigs 10
11. Making a bird-house and feeding the birds 20
12. Making useful piece of woodwork for the home 25
13. Cleaning barn 20
14. Churning 15
15. Turning Cream Separator 10
16. Retiring at nine o'clock or before 10
17. Bathing at least twice each week 15
18. Sleeping in fresh air 15
19. Getting up in the morning without being called 10
20. Preparing one meal alone daily for the family 25
21. Blacking stove 10
22. Helping with the breakfast, and with the dishes
after breakfast 15
23. Preparing smaller children for school 10
24. Not being tardy 10
25. Cleaning teeth daily 20
26. Making own graduating dress--Eighth Grade 30
27. Writing weekly letter to some absent relative--Grandmother
preferred 20
28. Reading and reporting on one approved
library book 20
29. Reading aloud fifteen minutes or longer each
night to some member or members of the family
circle 20
30. Practicing music lesson thirty minutes daily 25
31. Building fence, 10 rods 20
Fence may be built at intervals during any one period of six weeks.
32. Clearing 1/4 Acre of land 30
Land may be cleared any time during the school year and at
different times provided the 1/4 A. is completed before school closes.
33. Care of younger children 20
34. Raising one fourth acre of vegetables 20
35. Taking sole care of plants and flowers 15
36. Sweeping floor and dusting furniture 10
37. Making beds 10
38. Mopping and caring for kitchen 10
39. Scouring and cleaning bath tub and lavatory 15
40. Helping with the washing 20
41. Sprinkling and ironing clothes 25
42. Making and baking bread, biscuits or cake. Exhibit 25
43. Setting table and serving 15
44. Helping cook supper and helping do the dishes after
supper 20
45. Doing own mending 20
46. Learning to knit or crochet 15
47. Raising six varieties of flowers 15
48. Making piece of hand-work for the home 25
----
Total 840

_Certificate of Promotion with Distinction_

---- having completed the work of
the ---- Grade in the Pend Oreille County Schools, in
a satisfactory manner, and having earned ---- points
in our Home and Outside Industrial Work Plan, is
hereby promoted to the ---- Grade with ----
---- and is commended for Industry, Fidelity to
Home and Cheerful Helpfulness.

Given at Newport, Washington, this ---- day of
----, 191 .

--------------------- -----------------
_Superintendent_. _Teacher_.

The city of Los Angeles, California, uses a plan of marking home work on the report card and giving no other incentive. Notice that a certain number of minutes daily for ten weeks is the unit, and that the number of minutes varies according to the age of the child. Observe the emphasis on care of yards and streets, also on care of little brothers and sisters.

_Report of Committee on Home Credits, Los Angeles Schools_

The Committee on Home Credits makes these recommendations:--

1. That the "Home Credits" be not used as a substitute for other
work, and also that they be not applied to increase the grade of
other subjects except as any work well done necessarily improves
all work of the child.

2. That the words "Home Credit" be written on the new cards
just published, and that in the future these words be printed as
a regular part of the card, with space for inserting the number
of credits.

3. That in the several grades the following constitute one
credit:--

(_a_) First and second grades, 10 minutes of daily work for 10
weeks.

(_b_) Third and fourth grades, 15 minutes of daily work for 10
weeks.

(_c_) Fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, 20 minutes of
daily work for 10 weeks, and that multiples of such work in
10, 15, 20 minutes be allowed so that a child may earn several
credits each ten weeks.

4. That the following subjects be selected for the initial trial of the plan:--

1. Taking care of the baby.
2. Bathing baby.
3. Washing or wiping dishes.
4. Washing or ironing clothes.
5. Washing windows.
6. Scrubbing floor.
7. Sweeping floor.
8. Setting table.
9. Dusting and putting room in order.
10. Sweeping or cleaning yard.
11. Sweeping sidewalk.
12. Cleaning street in front of home.
13. Care of garbage can.
14. Getting meals.
15. Making beds.
16. Mending clothes.
17. Making new or making over old clothes for family.
18. Working in shop or store.
19. Working in and caring for garden.
20. Running errands, going to market, store, etc.
21. Driving delivery wagon.
22. Selling papers.
23. Taking little brothers and sisters to school,
clean and on time.
24. Clean hands, faces, clothes.
25. Clean heads.
26. Raising poultry or rabbits.
27. Any other outside work peculiar to particular
district if approved by Supervising Superintendent.

WEEKLY RECORDS, THREE OR MORE MONTHS' REPORTS

Mr. F. W. Simmonds, superintendent of city schools, Lewiston, Idaho, has instituted a plan for daily and weekly records with a report for three months, which he writes is "working out most successfully." The statement of his particular scheme which he gives in his home credit record folder is accompanied by an excellent presentation of the nature and scope of the home credit plan in general:--

_A Plan for School and Home Coöperation_

One of the vital problems of school administration to-day is
that of securing closer coöperation between school and home
life. When the child learns that _education is living and
working the best way_ he has made considerable progress on the
educational road. Our school curriculum should encourage this
wholesome attitude toward the everyday tasks.

Children must have time for real play and plenty of it, but
let us not forget that real work is also a part of the child's
rightful heritage, and that when rightly directed, children
like to work--they are eager to take part in some of the
real activities of life. However, they must not be permitted
to attempt too much--a reasonable amount of _work well done
regularly_ and suited to the child's age and ability is what is
desired.

_Filling out this card is optional with the parent_, no grade
on the quality of the work done by the child is asked for,
merely the approximate time regularly devoted to that task.
Note the time; one half-hour, one hour, two hours, etc., in the
proper column on this card. Your filling out and signing this
card will assure us that the work was well done, regularly and
satisfactorily.

The work may include any one or more of the multitude of home
tasks, or any work done regularly, as sewing, ironing, washing
dishes, preparing meals, baking, cutting kindling, gardening,
milking, caring for poultry, feeding stock, making beds, music
lessons, tending furnace, etc.

Some tasks occur daily (others weekly, as regular Saturday
chores, music lessons and the like). Nothing less than a
_half-hour_ is to be recognized, though two or more tasks may be
grouped to make a half-hour daily or weekly. The average child
will be anxious to figure his home service in the large; but
a reasonably conservative "statement of account" will have a
greater disciplinary value, and will make for efficiency.

The _unit_ of home credit will be _one half-hour's daily work
throughout the month_. Time spent on regular weekly tasks
will be adjusted by the teacher to this basis. If the work in
quantity, quality and regularity is deemed worthy, the teacher
will credit the pupil with the number of home credits earned,
which will be added to the pupil's standing at the end of the
semester in determining promotion. Each _unit_ of credit in home
work will have the effect of raising a monthly grade in some
subject one step as from _poor_ to _fair_, or _fair_ to _good_,
etc. By means of home credits, a pupil has an opportunity to
raise his promotion standing to "Promoted with Honor," or
"Promoted with Highest Honors" as the case may be, if he should
lack a point or two, and have earned enough home credits to
offset this.

In the Borough of the Bronx in New York City, Mr. Frederick J. Reilly began to give school credit for home work in the fall of 1914. He issues two cards of different colors, one for the girls and one for the boys. The cards are alike except for the words "he" and "she." Notice that the cards are well planned for use in city homes. At present they are used by the children of seventh and eighth grades. Mr. Reilly says, "The important thing is not the amount of credit the child receives in school, but rather the amount of influence this may have upon the training of the child at home."

PUBLIC SCHOOL 33, THE BRONX FREDERICK J. REILLY, Principal

_Home Record of_.......... _Class_........ _Term, 19_........
===========================================================================
This record card is part of an effort to bring the home and the school
closer together; pupils will receive credit in school for the things they
do at home.

Parents are invited to answer any or all of these questions as they see
fit, leaving blank any that they prefer not to answer. There is nothing
compulsory about this: children will not lose in class standing if the
parents do not choose to fill out this card. _Please return the card
in the envelop, sealed_.
===========================================================================
Answer I to V, Yes or No |1st Mo.|2d Mo.|3d Mo.|4th Mo.
---------------------------------------------+-------+------+------+-------
I. Does he get ready for school on time, | | | |
without constant urging? | | | |
---------------------------------------------+-------+------+------+-------
II. Is he careful about having his hair, | | | |
neck, hands, shoes, etc., _clean_? | | | |
---------------------------------------------+-------+------+------+-------
III. Does he keep his books, clothes, etc., | | | |
in the places assigned for them? | | | |
---------------------------------------------+-------+------+------+-------
IV. Does he prepare his school work at a | | | |
regular time and without constant | | | |
urging? | | | |
---------------------------------------------+-------+------+------+-------
V. Does he go to bed regularly at a | | | |
reasonable hour? | | | |
===========================================================================
Answer VI to X more fully
------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
VI. Is he willing and helpful in |1st Mo.
little household duties? What +--------------------------------------
does he do regularly for which |2d "
he deserves credit? +--------------------------------------
|3d "
+--------------------------------------
|4th "
------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
VII. Does he attend faithfully to |1st Mo.
any extra lessons, as music, +--------------------------------------
dancing, gymnasium, religious |2d "
instruction, etc.? If so, what? +--------------------------------------
|3d "
+--------------------------------------
|4th Mo
------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
VIII. Has he any hobby at which he |1st Mo.
spends a considerable part of his +--------------------------------------
time, as music, drawing, |2d "
photography, electricity, gardening,+--------------------------------------
collecting, etc.? |3d "
+--------------------------------------
|4th "
------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
IX. Does he read much? |1st Mo.
What does he read? +--------------------------------------
|2d "
+--------------------------------------
|3d "
+--------------------------------------
|4th "
------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
X. Does he do anything else, not |1st Mo.
already mentioned, for which he +--------------------------------------
deserves credits? |2d "
+--------------------------------------
|3d "
+--------------------------------------
|4th "
------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
SIGNATURE OF PARENT:

1st Mo......................... 3d Mo.........................

2d Mo......................... 4th Mo.........................
]

* * * * *

Superintendent E. B. Conklin, of Ontario, Malheur County, in 1912, was the next in Oregon after Mr. O'Reilly to send a letter to parents, and to arrange for giving credits on home work. On page 149 are the inside pages of the folder that Mr. Conklin devised; it was the first of the printed home credit report cards. Notice the entries of manners, of "doing before told," and of "kindness to animals."

* * * * *

Mr. E. G. Bailey, superintendent of Ontario, 1913-14, writes that they have been using home credits continuously there, and that the system has proved to be a wonderful help. "It gets parents and teachers together as nothing else can, and gives the superintendent a show. The home work is to the teacher what the school work is to the parent. The teacher is enabled to get an insight into the home life of the pupil, which in turn enables her the better to deal with whatever situation may arise. In the main the parents make an effort to let the teacher know what the pupils are doing at home. We have very few failures from parents not doing their duty in this matter; where they fail, we refuse to send any report home. Since adopting the system our attendance has been better, and the punctuality has been better; in fact, things have been greatly improved in every respect."

-------------------------------------------------------------------
E--Excellent. G--Good.
-------------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
Sewing and mending.................. |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Bread-making........................ |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
General cooking..................... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Setting and serving table........... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Washing and wiping dishes........... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Washing and ironing................. |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Sweeping and making beds............ |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Mopping and care of kitchen......... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Care of younger children............ |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Making fires........................ |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Getting water, coal, kindling, etc.. |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Feeding stock or poultry............ |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Milking cows........................ |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Barn or yard work................... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Garden or field work................ |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Errands............................. |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
-------------------------------------------------------------------
F--Fair. P--Poor.
-------------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----

Cheerfulness, kindness.............. |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Order and care of clothes........... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Cleanliness, bathing, etc........... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Table manners....................... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Politeness.......................... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Keeping temper...................... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Doing before told................... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Care of language.................... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
At home--off streets................ |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Courteous to parents................ |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Kindness to animals................. |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Care of playthings.................. |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Home study.......................... |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
| | | | |
Ambition to succeed................. |.....|.....|.....|.....|.....
-------------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
]

* * * * *

Early in December, 1913, a large meeting in the interest of social center work was held in Roslyn, Washington. At this meeting the city superintendent, Linden McCullough, explained the school credit for home work idea. He advised that a vote be taken as to whether the schools of that town should adopt the plan. The vote showed that parents, teachers, and pupils were enthusiastic over the idea and eager to try it. The Woman's Club of the city volunteered to assist in every possible way. The following from letters from Mr. McCullough gives the result of the trial:--

Seventy-five per cent of our seven hundred and fifty pupils are
taking advantage of the scheme. Our truant officer says that
every parent he has talked with has praised the plan, for the
reason that all the children do their chores with more spirit.
Our police officers have noticed a falling-off in the number of
children on the streets; so much so that juvenile court cases
are much fewer in number. The teachers notice an improvement in
school work along all lines.

One boy in the fourth grade who was disagreeably indifferent
about his personal care now takes baths regularly, and always
brushes his hair, and keeps his clothing clean and neat. Roslyn
has a large number of foreign people. Teachers in the first
three grades say that parents of foreign children do not grasp
the idea very well, but that older brothers and sisters explain
its workings, and attend to keeping tab on the reports of the
little children.

On the next two pages is a copy of the Roslyn folder. Notice the entries of mending, cleaning yard, putting away playthings, work done for wages, work "in father's place of business," home study (school work), and reading good books.

_Home Credit Report Card, Roslyn Public Schools_

_Name of Pupil_ ...... _Teacher_ ....... _Grade_ ...

----------------------------------+-----+------+-----+------+-----
|First|Second|Third|Fourth|Fifth
|month|month |month|month |month
----------------------------------+-----+------+-----+------+-----
| | | | |
Caring for cows.................. |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Caring for chickens.............. |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Caring for horses................ |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Caring for hogs.................. |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Cleaning barn or yard............ |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Washing dishes................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Sweeping......................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Washing and ironing.............. |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Running errands.................. |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Caring for baby.................. |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Washing face and hands........... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Combing hair..................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Cleaning teeth................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Going to bed at.................. |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Arising at....................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Sewing........................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Making beds...................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Peddling milk or papers.......... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Scrubbing........................ |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Knitting......................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Mending.......................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Cleaning house................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Cleaning yard.................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Putting away playthings.......... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Baking........................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Carrying kindling................ |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Carrying coal.................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Making fires..................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Splitting wood................... |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Washing windows.................. |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Work done for wages.............. |.....|......|.....|......|.....
| | | | |
Work, father's place of business. |.....|......|.....|......|......
| | | | |
Caring for flowers............... |.....|......|.....|......|......
| | | | |
Shoveling snow................... |.....|......|.....|......|......
| | | | |
Home study, school work.......... |.....|......|.....|......|......
| | | | |
Reading good books............... |.....|......|.....|......|......
| | | | |
Cooking.......................... |.....|......|.....|......|......
| | | | |
Gardening........................ |.....|......|.....|......|......
| | | | |
Practicing music lesson.......... |.....|......|.....|......|......
| | | | |
Odd jobs......................... |.....|......|.....|......|......
----------------------------------+-----+------+-----+------+------
]

* * * * *

In Wilbur, Washington, a scheme providing for a credit report for the semester is in successful operation. Here Superintendent E. O. McCormick carries on the plan by means of two report cards, the one sent from the school to the home, the other from the home to the school, every six weeks. The home card is reproduced below.

_Report Card from the Home to the School_

_For_............................
_Name._

.........................................
_Parent or Guardian._

_First Semester_
-----------------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------
Period | 1 | 2 | 3
-----------------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+-------+--------
Subjects |Average |Quality |Average|Quality |Average|Quality
|Time |of work,|Time |of work,|Time |of work,
Answer yes or no |Spent |Good, |Spent |Good, |Spent |Good,
|Daily |Fair, |Daily |Fair, |Daily |Fair,
| |Poor. | |Poor. | |Poor.
-----------------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+-------+--------
Sleeping with open | | | | | |
window | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | ....
| | | | | |
Keeping temper | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | ....
| | | | | |
Washing teeth | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | ....
| | | | | |
Time in recreation | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | ....
| | | | | |
Off streets | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | ....
-----------------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+-------+--------

This report sent to the teacher when the report card is returned to the
school will help raise the standing of your child in its school work.

E. O. MCCORMICK, _Supt_.

The following subjects are of a suggestive nature; you may use as many
as may be applicable to your child. Others not listed may be used. Write
in the blank spaces on the front of this card those subjects under your
observation.

Sawing wood.
Washing dishes.
Care of house.
Care of cows.
Making beds.
Sweeping.
Ironing.

In bed by nine (yes or no).
Building fire in mornings.
Care of chickens.
Churning.
Making bread, biscuits, etc.
Preparing meals for family.
Blacking the stove.

Any work or interest in home as shown by the child should be noted on
the front of the card, under the list of subjects.

* * * * *

Mrs. Elizabeth Sterling, of Clarke County, Washington, was one of the first county superintendents to get out a card suitable for use throughout her schools. She strongly urged the teachers of her county to try the plan, and in 1914 eighty-five teachers were operating it. This card provides a record for the whole school year, with a general average for the nine months. To secure credit the pupil is required to average eight hours per week, or thirty-two hours per month, at "real honest, helpful labor that relieves the father and mother of that amount of work." This done, the teacher is to add three credits to the average gained by the pupil at the school during the month of his or her studies. Additional credits are to be given for more than thirty-two hours per month at the rate of one credit for every ten hours' work. The parent or guardian is cautioned to keep track of the number of hours that the boy or girl actually spends per week at any of the kinds of work named on the credit report card, or any other real work that is not there listed. The printed list comprises:--

Milking.
Churning.
Turning separator.
Caring for horses.
Caring for cows.
Caring for pigs.
Caring for poultry.
Cleaning barn.
Splitting wood.
Carrying in wood.
Gardening.
Cooking.

Baking.
Washing.
Ironing.
Sweeping.
Dusting.
Sewing.
Running errands.
Making beds.
Washing dishes.
Building fires.
Caring for little children.

II

HOME CREDIT IN HIGH SCHOOLS

Several high schools have sent us reports of their plans for giving credit for work outside of school. Some of these schools use plans that differ considerably from those of the elementary schools where the movement began; they lay emphasis on improvement in work, and to this end they require that all the work be supervised by the teachers of home economics, agriculture, commerce, or manual training. Other high schools try to encourage the habit of industry, no matter what the kind of work, and offer credit for such tasks as running errands, delivering groceries, or carrying a paper route. In my opinion both ideas are good; there is no end to the possibilities of developing skill in home work under the instruction of one who really knows how to do it, and there is also great value in the encouragement of faithful industry in routine tasks.

This is good school equipment. It cost $200,000]

Descriptions of parts of the work of a few high schools are given here.

In the High School of Santa Monica, California, two credits for home work are allowed out of the total of sixteen required for graduation, and pupils with a certain average standing who earn eighteen credits, two of them for home work, may graduate _cum laude_.

Below is given a list of tasks for which school credit will be allowed:--

_One-half credit per year_:--

Regular music lessons, instrumental or vocal, under
a competent instructor.

Making own clothes for school.

Doing family darning and mending.

Preparing one meal a day for a year.

Carrying paper route.

_One-half credit for half-time for a year, or for full time for
summer vacation_:--

Clerking in store, bank, or office.

Cement work, or work in any local trades or industries.

Regular work on a farm.

_One-half credit_:--

Raising one-fourth acre of potatoes, melons, onions,
strawberries, or similar products.

Employment in a dressmaking or millinery establishment
for summer vacation.

_One-fourth credit per year each_:--

Sleeping for one year in the open air.

Retiring at 10 P.M. five days per week for one year.

Taking a cold bath every morning five times per
week on an average for one year.

Walking three miles per day for a year.

Credit will be given for the following according to the amount of work:--

Public speaking or reciting. Reading aloud to family or to
invalids.

Horticulture. Gardening. Poultry-raising. Bee-culture.

Taking care of cows or other animals. General dairy work.

Sewing for the family. Doing the family laundry. House-cleaning,
bed-making, dish-washing, or any other useful work about the
house.

Getting younger children ready for school every day. Caring for
a baby.

Nursing the sick.

Making a canoe or boat. Taking full care of an automobile.
Perfecting any mechanical contrivance for saving labor about the
home.

Recognizing and describing twenty different native birds, trees
or flowers.

Summer vacation travel with written description.

Playing golf or tennis. Sea-bathing and swimming.

Keeping a systematic savings bank account, with regular weekly
or monthly deposits.

Keeping a set of books for father or some merchant. Doing
correspondence for father or other business man.

Running errands. Delivering groceries.

Singing in church choir. Teaching in Sunday school.

Carpentry work. Cabinet-making, furniture construction.

Working as forest ranger.

SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL

Date ........................ 191....

I hereby declare my intention of earning ...... credits for home or outside
work by doing .............................................................
...........................................................................

Signature of Pupil .....................................

I approve of the above and agree to observe and certify to the quantity and
quality of work performed.

Signature of Parent ....................................

I hereby certify that ........................ has faithfully performed the
above work, spending on the average ...... minutes per day for ....... days
and is in my judgment entitled to ...... credits.

Signature of Parent or Employer ..................................

Credits granted ............... Prin.......................................
]

* * * * *

In the High School at St. Cloud, Minnesota, great attention is paid to vacation work as well as to work done during the school year. At the beginning of the fall term the following questionnaire is sent to high school pupils, and to elementary pupils above the fourth grade:

_Vacation Report--Grades Five to Twelve_

School.

NOTE--Teachers are requested to have pupils fill out this blank
carefully. It is very important. Explain each question. Caution children
not to over- or under-estimate.

1. Name ............. Age ............. Grade or Class ................

2. Did you help at home during the summer vacation? ....................

3. Did you take music lessons? ..... Travel? ..... Attend Summer School?

4. Did you do any work along the line of agriculture, horticulture,
gardening, bee-culture or poultry-raising? If so, what? .............
........ Estimate carefully the net profit ................... $.....

5. Did you have a flower garden? .............. Name six or more of the
leading flowers that you raised. ....................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................

6. Name wild flowers, birds, or trees you have observed this summer.
Flowers .............................................................
Birds ...............................................................
Trees ...............................................................

7. What pieces of hand-work, if any, did you do during vacation?
Wearing apparel .....................................................
Household art .......................................................
Wood ......................... Iron..................................
Cement .............. Give estimated value of such hand-work $.......

8. What electrical contrivance or other home accessory did you
make to save your mother work? ......................................

9. Which of the following home tasks did you do this summer?
Prepare one meal alone daily? ...... Bake the bread? ................
Bake a cake? ....................... Make the beds? .................
Do the washing? .................... Do the ironing? ................

10. Are you sleeping in the open air or with open window? ...............

11. Can you swim 300 feet or more? ..... Did you learn this summer? .....

12. Were you employed elsewhere than at home? ...........................

13. State kind of work done ............ Employer .......................

14. Number of weeks employed ........... Amount earned per week. $.......

15. Total amount of cash earned during vacation. $.......

16. Fair estimate of the value of your home work. $.......

17. Total cash value of your summer work (items 15 and 16). $.......

18. Have you a savings bank account? ... Amount of your deposit. $.......
Principals ascertain amount of deposit for lower grades. $.......

The financial results of this vacation work are summarized as follows:--

_Total_ _Deposit_
_Cash_ _Home Work_ _Earnings_ _in Bank_

High School $6,393.01 $1744.45 $8137.44 $2793.36
Total for city 16,422.00 3666.15 9559.25 3144.92

Highest individual earnings -- High School $260.00
" " " -- Grades 200.00
Average " " -- High School 76.00
Highest " deposit -- " " 300.00
" " " -- Grades 500.00

Pupils may graduate with honor from the St. Cloud High School by attaining certain standings and by offering two credits for home or continuation work. One of the sixteen credits required for regular graduation may be a credit for home or continuation work.

The list of credits is divided into two parts, outside work and home work. Among the many outside activities mentioned in the St. Cloud list, we find:--

Literary society work, or rhetoricals, debate, public speaking,
or expressive reading, one-fourth unit per year.

Granite or paving-block cutting, or work in any of the local
trades, shops, factories, or industries, one-fourth unit for
each summer vacation.

Steady work on a farm, followed by a satisfactory essay on some
agricultural subject, one-fourth unit for three months.

Raising one-fourth of an acre of onions, tomatoes, strawberries,
or celery, one acre of potatoes, two acres of pop corn, five
acres of corn or alfalfa, one-fourth unit.

Running a split road drag or doing other forms of road-building
for three months, one-fourth unit.

Judging, with a degree of accuracy, the different types of
horses, cattle, and hogs, one-fourth unit.

"See Minnesota First" trip under approved instructor, with
essay, one-fourth unit.

Among the home tasks are mentioned:--

Shingling or painting the house or barn.

Making a canoe or boat.

Swimming 300 feet at one continuous performance.

Cooking meat and eggs three ways and making three kinds of cake.
Exhibit.

Doing the laundry work weekly for three months.

Recognizing and describing twenty different native birds, trees,
and flowers.

The Ames, Iowa, High School course outlines out-of-school work in three departments: agriculture, manual training, and home economics. I quote from the home economics prospectus:--

Unless the work is ... made to connect with the work in the home
it loses much of its vitality. Our aim is to relate the home and
the school and permit each to contribute its share in making the
work vital, really worth while. The girl ... may carry into the
home some new ways of working, and there will be an exchange of
ideas between mother and daughter as to hows and whys ... that
will result beneficially to both. As the girl carries these
ideas and discoveries back into the school we shall be able to
know better the needs of home and social life, and hence so plan
our work that it may "carry over" into her out-of-school life.

A total of two credits to apply on graduation may be earned in home economics at the Ames High School. Three hundred points equal one credit.

Two hundred points each are offered for cookery, general housework and sewing.

Cooking is to be done for the family at home, and whenever
possible a sample brought to the school for examination,
together with the recipes giving itemized cost, and a signed
statement that the entire work was done by the girl herself. A
list of things to be cooked is given: ten dishes are required,
the other five are to be chosen from the list. The list for the
first year follows; dishes required are marked with a star and
receive seven points credit, the others receive six points.

Some fresh vegetable cooked and served in a white
sauce.

Potatoes in some form.

Tapioca.

Rice.

Macaroni.

Muffins.

*Baking powder biscuit.

*Plain cake, with or without frosting.

*Drop cookies.

*Rolled cookies.

*Pastry.

*Gelatin with soft custard.

Cottage cheese.

Scalloped dish.

Custard, or some kind of custard pudding (bread, rice,
tapioca).

Steamed brown bread.

*Prune whip. }

Marguerites. } One of these required; either may be chosen.

Fondant candies.

Salad with cooked or French dressing.

*Sandwiches--three kinds of filling.

*Bread.

*Baked beans.

General housework includes making girl's own bed each day; daily
and weekly care of bedroom, helping with general housework
one-half hour each day and one hour on Saturdays (sweeping,
dusting, ironing, washing dishes, washing windows, etc.). The
total credit for this is 12-1/2 points for one month.

In the course in sewing, the home work is brought to school
for examination and grading. The list for second year sewing
follows:--

One-third credit--100 points, open to girls who are taking, or
who have completed second year sewing.

Princess slip 50 points.
House dress 75
Shirt waist 50
Woolen skirt 75
Made-over dress 75
Nice dress 100

The High School at North Yakima, Washington, gives credit for work in music under approved teachers; for practice-teaching (coaching) by normal students in the grades; and for work in agriculture.

The summer work in agriculture is planned before the close of the school in the spring.

Each pupil informs the instructor in agriculture as to the kind of work he intends to do. The instructor visits each pupil several times during the summer, discussing methods of work, results, etc., with him and his employer, and designating pamphlets, bulletins, and magazine articles for him to read. In 1914, fifty-four pupils applied for credit for work in agriculture.

_Rules for Summer Agricultural Work in North Yakima, Washington_

1. Students may earn one credit in agriculture toward graduation
by work completed outside of school during the vacation period.

2. At least 250 hours of work must be completed before any
credit will be given.

3. Complete records and systematic reports kept by the
applicant, giving all information required, and signed by the
parent or employer, shall be filed with the instructor in
agriculture every two weeks.

4. Applicants shall secure such information as a result of
reading, study, and questioning experienced workers, as may be
necessary to convince the instructor in charge that the work has
been of sufficient educational value to justify the granting of
a credit.

5. Pupils wishing to receive credit for this work shall make
application for the privilege before beginning the work. Lists
of reference books, kinds and character of notebooks, shall be
designated by the instructor in agriculture.

6. An examination covering the work may be given by the school
authorities.

7. Work may be done along the following lines:

_a._ Vegetable gardening work; keeping results of work done in
complete form.

_b._ Feeding of stock, poultry, etc.; keeping records of foods
used, amounts and results obtained.

_c._ Thinning, picking, packing, marketing, cultivation and
irrigation of fruits, etc.

_d._ Eradication of blight, other orchard diseases and pests;
complete records of attempts to reduce damage done by these
causes.

_e._ Growing of cereal, grass, or forage crops.

_f._ Keeping records of dairy animals; milk testing records for
monthly periods.

_g._ Care of bees, handling of honey, etc.; complete records.