Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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_14 THE CRETE PLAN I ' S Laura H. Wil v.?. ARTICLE i. gives her *.?: ? :.Qtt?ntimes small ^bwns are earger strates h< to.;ti^J e some wor^ In domestic to their 8c|en(^i and yet feel that the expense niaking tl of- go fed equipment and a^ trained ^jtchens i tehchlcr is beyond their means." Here | IUU3^er* 1b a-feasible plan which has already At cert been tried out for eight years in Ne- hlblts wh brajska in the small towns, proving work are v ry "successful, and has be'en adopt- tested by eA>.in>"many places in other states. w^o are i Ib'uti^lled the "Crete Plan" because nee(l of a! it!eliminated with the superintendent they hav< of -schools, Mr. G. A.'.Gregory, in uP?n the Crete* Nebraska, a . town of about K'ven 1 3.0,'OOJ. Manual traiding for the boys i,ur'nB tf had ^ust been installed at consider- ,)y the gii ableiexpense, unci the ooaru ?iu not feejl .Jliut they could afford a do- R'r'snjep. science equipment and teach- This, it er.*?Mr. Gregory firmly believed in of equal* rights for boys and girls, and in anotl>e by seating his brain to work, evolved (*er a a-, plan which has proved for that -a s.VR,em < tq^.?i),'and many others an even Itet- <*omplish. tfcr ojie than the stereotyped classes ,n<?re in .cookery. ery' m.uc^ Every small place has' excellent (nok'nK ( 0 \ er nApfl housekeepers, women who pride them . , . the girls selves upon t'h'eir good cake and ^ salad's, their favorite receipts for 1 , " , ;b c f \vo_rk in i pu/lduigs or preserves. Somo of t)ies^4 women are invariably called ! le I' . , . i r .. . >ng down dpon' at church socials for their , * ? . , lesson in i specialties, and Mrs. Brown s angel cak^'or Mrs. Smith's doughnuts be- a 0 un (Jonre-famous throughout the village; ' ssons ah Mrs.; Jones is always asked to make c . . / tprs ' tlip the; e'offee and Mrs. Blake to roast .w !: - * .i, ftife and the meat. Many of these women are ners of tl' club women, ali\;e to the interests of kitchen the ilay and anxious to make them- , , , r( fcelvbs felt in commuhitv life for the ''a ous By the t betterment of society. They entertain, beautifully in their own homes c"urst %v" endjthey enjoy having homes which " 1 ie k,r , . herself ha ftre properly managed. in many < Such women often have daughters ond pjace of their own and frequently wish, house-keej without knowing how to accomplish gjrj8 to It, that their girls would take more of t^e tQW interest in housekeeping, would set to give in, the table as it should be set, and these ever leave the kitchen in order, would piace the learn how at least to cook a meal ljie nj0tfce in an emergency. They are also in- ing and rt terested in the daughters of the definitelv neighbors; nothing pleases them footer more more than to see one of these t>y these j girls blossoming ou.t into capable (.an hf. nt womanhood. The choicest ones are inexperien asked to assist at teas and serve at school wl ! socials. Why not, then, utilize this school ho ; home talent and vital interest in the teachers r girl life of the community in supply- Again ! ing domestic science instruction for e(j t)lat jt the schools? This was the idea that suniraer v came into Mr. Gregory's bead, ami getting h? because he is a very practical man science pi he succeeded in working out a feasi- fore tju> ble scheme, with the help of his cap! able wife arid the co-operation of *. dozen of the best housekeepers. Of course such a co-operative 1"? movement must necesarily be well The vet superintended, the mechanical part 'nK the C . being so thoroughly worked out that niestic sc the women who are willing to give hearty ai their services for instruction will dent am not be bothered by a lot of school everythini red-tape, nor the benefit of their ?f the sell teaching spoiled on account of ir- to the con regularity of attendance and eont'u- the superi ' -'si on among the girls. There are niust hav< wheels and cogB to this plan, but it After the is all so simple that the superinten- tion, the dent ca nput it togethor very easily Kate its s and set it at work with the applica- nent teacl tion of a little oil now and then. success it In general the idea is as follows: weight of Secure the hearty co-operation of ten tilar leadc Of a dozen of your most capable and The ne: suitable women, women whom you Kroup of would like to have your own daugh- gether for - ter learn something from and into tendent at . whose homes you would like to have hoard beii her go for an object lesson in house- ing the. p OF DOMESTIC SCIEN< d, in Normal Instructor. explanations and demon- time and is of such a nature th sfore them. Then they go can very easily carry it in addil own .homes and practice her other studies if she wishe lat article in their mothers' if she should be in need of an until ^hey think it will pass credit at the end of the yea would come in very opportune! ain intervals there are ex- names of the women who have ten samples of each girl's ed their services should be give brought together to be the articles which they are go judges. When these ladies teach. They should then be t giving their services are in go home and consult with their ssistance at social functions ers about it and report latei 1 the privilege of railing derision with regard to takii class, and instruction is course, serving, setting tables, etc. The more successful classes le year- a banquet is given been where at least half the Is to the school board and to whom the course is open ch s, managed entirely by the take it. This creates school eii asm. The original plan was ? 1 a word, Is the plan: the open to all the girls in tht its working will be given school, the class to be divide; r artifi$v But every read- four groups according to the t once be asking what such years. That is, a girl may talc jf instruction can really ac- years to get her Tedit. If t It accomplishes much articles are included 'n the c i mere instruction in cook- this will make five for her to i more than an ordinary in one year. This would necei lass in a school room can attendance at the deni^nst to do. First, it introduces period not more than once a i Into real homes where the for five months at the very is going on?it is not play But if she should wish to cot any sense. Second, while the work in less time it wot is takihg her notes, writ- easy to do it by going fast* her recipe and getting her pecially if the teachers wore v making some one dish, she to give a few lessons during consciously receiving many summer vacation. The general lout house-keeping in gen- however, might be adopted so observ.es the home she en- include the eighth grade if th tastefulness of the furni- best, since that is the year wl draperies, the good man- many pupils stop school altog te lady of the house, the 7iever getting into high school jnveniences which a prae- unless there is some especial in e-keeper has found useful, that hold them. \me she has finished hei when it has been decided h the ten ladies her ideas many wish to take the course id of home she wants for Gf the ten ladies should fix upc ive become broadened and ,|ay Qf the month when she will :*ases refined. In the sec- her group of girlB. If on one . it -raises the dignity of days she finds it quite impossi ping-in the minds of the have them, she may telephone id these prominent women superintendent and he will f n so interested in them as notice to that effect, another di struction in this way about ing substituted, but there shot ydav affairs. Ijd the third as much regularity as possioU i home praetlo* interests if there are four groups of rs in w hat the girls are do- they may be started off in the f dates the school work most ^ng manner:?Group I, Seniol to the home life. Fourth- the flr8t week in Septeuibf instruction is often given Teacher No. 1; Group II, Junloi iractical housekeepers than second week to Teacher - I* itained from a young and Group I1( sophomores, the iced giuduate of a cooking week to Teacher No. 3; Groi io might be hired by the Freshmen, the fourth week to ard?for the experienced er No 4 By the end of th. ommand the larger places, month each girl will have ha the work may be so arrang- j^ggon upon which to pract'c * an go on during the long fOUF teachers will have met acation, the ambitious girl cja8ges jn October begin over ir school credit in domestic wjth the Senior class, only 1. irtiall.v out of the way be- out Teacher No. 1 and inc! fall term begins. Teacher No. 6. That is, Group to Teacher No. 2, Group II to ' ARTICLE II. er No. 3, and so on until each t. Details of the Plan. has ha<1 a11 the KrouPfl twice. ,, . . . . the course has been complete* y first thing to do in start- ... ... , , i>i . ? . , vided the girl has passed the j rete I'lan of teaching do . . .. , , ... tests on exhibition days and hei ience is to be sure ol the . . . . . . , book has received the required iproval of the supermten1 school board. Almost ^ie e'8hth grade is in. ? in the smooth working then there will be five groups ii erne comes back ultimatelv OI 'our. Ii a pupil missea a Motions and enthusiasm oV sl,e allou,<l make it up with tin ntendent, and of course he class receiving that* lesson, t s his board behind him same tinie takfygtatao the les? plan is once set in opera- l'u* montl1 with her own class, superintendent may dele- KrouPR should not meet the upervlsion to some promi- week- Usually once is sufflciei ier if deemed best, but for a Rirl to attend a lesson, but must carry with it the ttndR she cannot master it sh< highest authority and pop- aUend again with another j rship. Three-thirty has been fount nt step is to have a small most convenient time for th picked ladies called to- 8on?. the fflrls if necessary beii a conference, the superln- 0URed a few minutes early in or id a member of the school rea('h the teacher's house on ig present. At this meet- There should me a monitor foi lan should be clearly ex- KrouP to keep the record of a id any questions which the anre antl report it to the su h to ask satisfactorily an- tendent. ")\Vt of the number who are The pupils' note-books shoti volunteer their services, uniform; at the top of the should bes selected. These should be placed the date o .keeping. They need hot be from any plained ar once class In society; It would be bet- ladies wis : . ter that they should not be?that the swered. ( , plain home as well as the home of willing to . ' affluence should be represented, for ibout ten i most of our public school children f,'n should " > must live fri comparatively plain a special ' < homes. If a woman of me,' ns offers with a ve . lo; co-operate it should be one who president )i Is- truly democratic in her feelings man shou ;/ ftwd not extravagant in her tastes, 'toue the ^l.'Otte who can teach girls the niceties n^ss or al social customs without making ample.?th ? them envious. some othe j.K. i. , , , Suppose there are' fifty girls who tl",R ,he '-select the work and tdn women who ^f'rPel"ati volunteer to teach them, the girls se,ve8 be'r f^re then divided into- five groups, a "larlty an { .. dlnau nftnn x?l??UI?\? aU * - ~ I ftOTIQ f \t { v.kvu MO.vuifs ( cntii lottcner a "* v" ,;;wme once a month,Vand each in- must be o: [ .<-> i^tructor giving lessons during the HU('h respc J ^fear upon two kinds of articles. Mrs. It. ; '-..A., for example, is to meet her girls The th'ir j ; ii half-past three on the third Wedr ,,ie school ; itesday of the month and teaich tttem the plans . rfrst how to make bread and biscuit dent shoul t ^-cookies come later on; or soups, general id with salad as the second article, vantages:The girls go to her home directly credit for from school with their note-books, she would and are arranged about a table in her ject (one < dining room or kitchen while she that the v 0 i then consider themselves' lesson and the name of the tei committee of instruction, then should follow the reoip< >ry simple organization of notes, and the page should be s and secretary. If any wo- with the pupil's own name. 11 feel she must discon- note-books are ruled off conven work tor any reason?ill- for the recipe, with one coluin jaenee from town, for ex- proportions, another for nieth lis cotoimlttoe would ask cooking, a third for time req r? person to take her place, ?tc. These books should be teaching force is a self- neatly prepared so that they m ng body, the ladies them- ?f 'n future years and from ig responsible for the reg- to time they should oe examine d continuance of the les- marked. course the women selected When the girls arrive at the t f the sort who will take ?r's home promptly at the msibility and feel pride in designated, everything should readiness for them so that it d move to make is to call take only a moment or two for girls together and present to find their Dlaces nroiina o to them. The superinten- and the Instructor can then begl d do this and explain the talk and demonstration. Afte ea and the following ad- has given her recipe and all the ?that the pupil will get ful remarks concerning the har the completed course as of the materials, the way to het for any other school sub- oven, reasons why some peopli credit is usually allowed;) with the recipe, etc., she often pork will come at such a the article in the presence o AUGUST 3, 1915. class allowing them to taste It before | leaving. ui In the ease of bread this cannot be c? done, so the girls for this lesson are sc asked to stop some night on the way in home from school to observe the set- d< at she tlng ?' *ke sponge, the next morning tc ion to be'ore school to see the mixing of p< 8, but the bread, about half-past eleven to ol extra see 11 Put ln the oven- and on their m ir this way home in the afternoon for the ti y -pjje fina^ result. . di otter-! The general range of cookery? m >u and meat, vegetables, bread, desserts, w ing to salads, cake and pastry?should be w W..MUVO IU CAI1IU11 at "" d one j R pajr or Farmerg* institute the op- 8f e aml portunlty should he improved. 111 their I . s< again When a group has completed the saving twenty lessons (if that is the num- ^ l^djng hed settled upon) and passed the ' , tests satisfactorily there should be a ,l I goes J tl Teach- sPec'al graduation. The graduating aacher <"'aa8 should prepare a banquet, Then elthcr ta'one or w'th the assistance i pro- ?' t*ie o(her groups, which they serve 111 udges' to a number of invited guests, in- 0< note- chiding teachers, superintendent, w members of the school board and 1,1 maru. fathers and mothers. After the ban- 81 " u ei 1 nuet a speaker of some ability should a< give an address upon some subject nt eo appertaining to home economics. vv p npxt t ^ During the course the teachers oc- 111 lt ' casionally invite all the girls for an ^ 4?t^ oi jnforma| 90Cjai time after scool, la ? , when tea or coffee is erved, and they saJu^ may call upon different ones to help ' ^ ' them serve at their own social func' 8 tions. in this way giving the pupils ma> confidence, so that at the final ban- in l^the nUGt is done ,>y tf,e Kirls them- 'r ^ selves in the proper way. One ban- gtJ quet at .Crete was a four-course ?' de^tc ?^'c^en dinner provided by fifty w * girls for 150 guests and it proved a ca '' most successful affair. er each I m ttend-j n? perin- ARTICLE III. The test of a plan is. Does it work? Id be The best test is, Does it continue to ,(j page i work after the new broom has lie nt if the eonie a little worn around the edges? (p acher, The Crete Plan has had eight years ^ i and in which to give an answer, and that fs ilgned answer is in the affirmative. The , Some town in which it was horn is still (() ientlv very loyal to the idea. There are n for two-elements vitally concerned in its t6 od of success, the women who teach and OS ulred. the girls who are taught; if either W i verv side grew weary and lackadaisical , D ay be in their interest, the whole scheme ^ i time would fall to the ground. Such has <1 and been the case more than once witn very beautiful plans Inaugurated with :each- great enthusiasm by women's clubs e hour and groups of girls, but when the Kt be in flrat glow of a new enterprise died D will! down and the work connected with it r' them was fully appreciated, there was not 80 table enough of real Interest to hold. hf n her But somehow this plan continues r she to grip, at least in Crete and in many rl< help- other small towns that have copied he idling the idea. There must, therefore, be of it the some fundamental needs of the in e fail small town which this particular ev cooks plan seems to meet moat successfully, he f the-Here are a few of them: m< old to included in the lessons. Once dur- fr moth-1 'ng the co?'r?c the girls should b<* d< their token to a butcher's shop and the tl (i. various cuts of meats described. n< When the girls get home after the in , demonstration they should be allow- fa > havei .... . u lis1to Pmcelce in their mothers pi . kitchens as much as thev please un- ai ose to _ .. . t'l they think they can make the ar- It ithusi, ticle to perfection. If they do not is t have high succeec' ftftcr two or three trials by ci I into themfselves they are at perfect liber- tl school ty to ta^e 8U8Kestlons from their te e four mothers and if anyone has a better hi wentv rec'pc s'ie niay make use of that one al ourse in P'ace of the onH t,le teacher has tl cover K'ven- The ?hject is to produce a te *si' ite yood ar,i<"le?the best possible. $! ntion After live months, or a long la month enouSh period for most of the girls P< most to l)e rea(,y to exhibit one article nplete there should be a judges' test at the e< ild iJO school house on a Saturday after r es- noon- This leaves Saturday morn- l'1 rilling '51S for t,ie preparation of the article w the ,0 exhibited. A committee of 01 plan Kir,s should receive the entries, tag Tl is to inem a,1(l P'ace mem. Tables may (,a ought ,)P ma('e ?' dean boards across a row n> ten so 8Pats' ^ there Is not sufficient OA ?? ?*,. table room otherwise. No one but OI ,611161 ( I at a|| . the judges and the girls should be 111 terest Pre8ent nt *be testing, but portions of the articles should be saved at P( home for the approval of the family. ?* ch Jut*fes si10"!'! be chosen by the *e in one I comm!ttee ?f teachers from their w I meet I OWn numtjer' onl>* no teacher should di of her pa8s upon artlcle she has demon- B* ble to strate<*- Judging cards should be rc to the 8UPPl'et* certifying that the article ol lost i has been ma{le by the girls without ttI help or suggestion from anyone and Ul lid be s,ffnP(l by the pupil and her mothe*\ On the reverse side of this card the n< .. judges should place the grade given T1 P 5 i ?Poor, Satisfactory or Excellent? U1 ollow-' wttti their names sighed. This card er rs' e?! is to be taken to the superintendent's !r office and filed for future reference, is, the There is also a place for "remarks" Ie *?* 2' siich as "Baked too long," "Too hl third muo|, shortening," "Try it again." >P IV, There should be not more than reach- three exhibitions of this sort a year I *li i but If there Is n rhoneo AwUtuu -* ' s* , rj " - l7 . ? > _ .?. , , ?r*. ? ^ To look at It first from the most J A universally cordial testimony is u-ldeal end, that of dollars and given to the practicality and success ;nts, this way of teaching domestic of this way of teaching domestic rience costs the school board noth- scrence in towns of three thousand ig. Now, much as school boards of less, when it is properly conductjsire to do the very best they can , ed. The state superintendent of Ne> provide all the modern equipment1 braska heartily endorses it, and at jsslble for the children, they are the end of a little pamplet sent out ften so handicapped by lack of by the department of public instrucieans that an educational propost- j tion at Lincoln this significant senon which is worth something butltence is added: "The largest and emands no outlay of mopey is a'most important field, the one that iost welcome thing to them. They | should receive the greatest encourill entertain such a proposition' agement and help along industrial hen they might otherwise turn culture, is found In our towns and om the whole question of teaching | villages and rural communities. The smestic science at all. Neither are I immediate aid, however, must come le ladies who offer their services through the active philanthropy of ecessarily at any expense, for the the practical men and women in those istructors may use for their own communities." imily consumption the articles pre- ? ired for the class. Take, for ex- The Blue Hack Speller, mple, the lesson In bread-making. Anderson Mail, is the day when the family supply Some of our exchanges on the to be renewed that the girls are other side of the Savannah river are tiled in to see the process. Nor is, asking that the Georgia legislature tere any expense for practice ma-{make the old Webster Blue-Back irial for the pupils, because every! Speller a text book in the public ame is usually more than glad to sclioolp. low the daughter to experiment for A better thing could not be done, teir mutual benefit. If a special The schools of today are using too acher were employed, $500 to many books. The old Blue-Back ?00 at least, would be a modest out- Speller had more good solid "learny which would necessarily be ex- ing" in it than is to be found in any icted for such a department of half a dozen of the books used in the ^ >okery. It is, therefore a very schools now. It covered everything, onomical plan. from the primary to the advanced Another reason ?or its success is grades. A child who mastered its lat girls, instructors and mothers contents had a very good founda^^n ork up a common enthusiasm. It; for a higher education. cats a sort of town excitement, j In the old days, school children he algebra and Latin teachers have! had but the one book at the start, mse to be envious, for if club wo- ] but they were made to master its en and mothers were all as keen I contents thoroughly, and it is better er quadratic equations and Ciecro's to know one book or one thing thor ations the class room would prob- oughly than to have a smattering of )ly be a more interesting place. a good many. Still a thiro reason is, that it ap- We are convinced that it would jals to the independence and love be a forward step in education if the freedom in every child. It is dlf- old Blue-Back Speller were adopted rent from the ordinary class room as a text book in all the schools toork; that is a great asset, for chil- day. en like variety. The lesson is ven in a neighbor's home, here the " (straint is not that of compulsory Neuralirla Pains jertience but of respect, attention ^ ou d?n'f need to suffer those ag, ... ... ... . , onizlng nerve pains in the face, head, id po iteness which the sjcia> sit- arm> shoulders, chest and back. Just ition demands. There is, also, no apply a few drops of soothing Sloan's ced time for the laboratory wortt, Liniment; lie quietly a few minutes. 1 b?lls for beg:nntn? and closing. YoJu wi,J such relief and comfort! , ,. . . - ? Life and the world will loi * brighter. He pupil may experiment all of Sat- Get R bottle today 3 ounceg for 25c, -day morning if sbs and her moth- at all druggists. Penetrates without * agrees, or all sumer whenever rubbing. 1 t le pleases, if that appeals to her. The same thing is true, more or ss, for the instructors. They, too, ? ?ve liberty to work out their own <11CI7X MU AX fITQ' leas?their own homely, practical 1 IuIj A1 uUu leas gained by experience. They , ave no excuse for standing on one That WnCrC YOU ttt tnC de and criticizing the graduate of ime school of cookery, who comes i with her new-fangled notions and 13 I ientiflc recipes. The mothers have B a 3 B berty, also, to help their daughters they get into difficulty, to suggest better way if they know one, to be; w te continual family judge of the ex-1 I m " I illence of the girls' experiments. I I Moreover, these lessons are muchI I V > ? lore likely to be the very articles A Aim I" ... very same quantities, hich each family uses of given wm A i a school laboratory. Some city M I I JA hools are now taking pains to Hd lWI lopt the method of studying the 0 I LI IVI Bed of the particular homes front JL ?L JLJI JL AAvJL hich the pupils come and giving lent good recipes for the very things tey would cook at home, using a rge range for family use instead' ' little individual stoves and having leni cook in quantities rather than /I 9 .1 I j| r little dabs. This, for example, is' \jUS IS tllC StCKIlOWl" ' e policy of the Murray Hill school ; ?????????? Cleveland, where 1,300 children llM 1 .W om the Italian neighborhood are 6Q&0U COOl SDOl ithered together. Spaghetti is one ^ * the dishes they learn there to cook , r m 1 ? ell over a big stove, so that they' At I Qfir^ctPr 011 fl n do it for their mothers without U? LflllUIJlCI flilll nbarnsBment, and the cost of every ,hen,csn8ot,"ej his Candies, Ice But this is an exceptionally bright ; _ id shining example of the practice-' | fAOVYI Qflfl rAllTlfolTI lity of a school principal. It is by vl Cdlll QiiU 1 UUIllCHU > means a universal policy in the' aching of domestic science. With I flfnrilrc fillP e Crete plan this is precisely what III 1111*5 dl t llllv* lone in tlie small town in a itural way without straining a point gain the end. ** Finally, it is the testimony of the uoherg that they become so interted in the girls that they do not VT V ^^B A ant to give it up. There seems to M ^ I I ^ i nothing* which so establishes the I I I ind of real friendship between the I M ^ der women of the town and the i unger generation. When the; acher meets one of her class on the' reet, it is with mutual understand-] %? JTI VTT g that they greet one another. |l| M Ml lere have been famous Sunday 11 mJ 1 ? hool teachers who have kept their dd on a class of young girls until * 1T|\17 ey have grown up and been mar- I fl 111 I I V ad. But this mantle of friendship A tween girls and the older women the town may fall on others, too,! V/fT/^ ?!?*%! a very real and beautiful way, K I II lllfM ^ en if the point of contact is the -MrrV/VllaT >mely occupation of cooking a Sal. __amm~mmmmm