Summer Schools-An Untouched Student "A Field Mabel Eleanor Stone* LICE, the dean's secretary wants you to take those girls from Green's Valley to their boarding house just as soon as you can, and on your way order some more ice cream cones; we are all sold out; these days are the hottest I ever saw," and the chairman of the summer school committee hurried away to the Association rest room to answer questions and straighten out tangles for the throng of girl teachers registering for the summer term. Months before that moist June day the startling discovery that 95 per cent of the women students in the seventeen summer schools of one field were teachers, and that 73 per cent came from schools in towns of less than five thousand woke the field committee to the realization that here was practically an untouched student field. Moreover it made possible a single point of departure and the consideration of a single great need to be met. The plan as finally worked out sought to accomplish two things-to meet the immediate need of the student body for practical assistance during registration days and a common meeting ground all the time, and, looking into the future, to supplement the curriculum work by such talks and voluntary classes as would give inspiration and efficiency to teachers in their communities. It is unfair to further complicate the over-burdened days of the short summer term unless the Association has an actual contribution to make, but on the other hand no one is more ready than the summer-school student to pay in time and strength for value received. If no time was to be lost plans must be ready weeks before the term *Miss Stone is student secretary for the Ohio and West Virginia Field Committee. opened, and almost unconsciously the work during the summer evolved as a piece of extension work carried on by the cabinet of the Association. The chairman of the summer school committee was a member of the cabinet who expected to remain during the summer term—not a difficult matter to find in this especial field. On her committee were four girls, also students during the winter term, who acted as chairmen of sub-committees on religious meetings, study classes, finances. and good times. Another year there. could be added a membership chairman from the summer school students. As the time was too short for regular membership, only a contributing membership fee of twenty-five cents was asked. Even so, the summer work more than paid expenses. The subcommittees were made up of students who were only enrolled in the summer term. The necessity of simplicity and elasticity in machinery was evident when it came to really meeting the day-today problems. In one town the local churches drew almost all the students into their Sunday-school, permitting the Association to help in selecting courses, while in another place the Association arranged a series of alternate Bible and mission study hours on Sunday mornings. One college church supplied all need for distinctively religious meetings, though there was decidedly a place for talks on modern Sunday-school methods and organized play in the district school, while in another college the university vesper service was once placed in the hands of the Association, thus making it an Association Sunday. Where one Association assisted at the university reception and Fourth of July festivities, another gave a series of informal pic nics and marsh-mallow roasts on Saturday evenings. Adjustment to the local situation might well be the slogan of the Association in the summer school. But whatever the local situation, one conviction was only strengthened by experience. Unless the girl is won the first few days she is lost for that summer, because there is no time to rectify mistakes in a six or eight weeks' session. It may be by ice cream cones and information that interest and friendliness express themselves, or it may be by a more elaborate system of boarding-house directories and guides, but somehow she must be made to feel almost as soon as she sets foot in the town that the Association is there to discover how best it may serve her. An outline of the topics for the meetings of one college may prove suggestive. No student leaders were used anywhere. er. V. The Teacher a Religious Lead VI. The County Association and the Country Problem. If the summer school work were merely the extension of the winter work among students still more pressed for time and separating almost it might wisely be questioned whether such extension of work were worth the heavy strain on the student secretary. But here is the body of young women, who, as the day school teachers of our country, are deeply involved in the problems surrounding the boys and girls of today. The Ohio and West Virginia Field Committee could enter only two colleges last year, Miami University and the University of Wooster, but that meant coming in touch with nearly eight hundred teachers. The work could be only sugges I. Organized play and athletics in tive, yet to watch wistful faces bright the small town school. II. The Bible Story-how to tell it and when. III. Pedagogy and the Sundayschool. (How can a teacher best utilize note books, sand table, etc.) IV. The Camp Fire Girls. (Stereopticon lecture.) en with eager hopes for all that the next year would hold of broader, deeper, more joyous life for themselves and for their pupils was to forget the strain and be content. Pioneering has ever had its fascination, and for today there is pioneering in the summer schools-an untouched student field. "I Out on the Farm AM like my grandfather," said a young farmer who knew and cared for every one in his country community. "When he was dying he said that he believed he loved everyone in the world, but especially he loved the folks who lived on the way from Xenia to Caesar Creek." To the country girl who knows and loves her neighborhood, the Association brings an opportunity to be of real service through leadership and organ ization. That the girls on the farms are eager for just such a chance was shown in February in the organization of some country branches of the Young Women's Christian Association. Greene County, Ohio, has been organized about a year. It has served many of the women and girls of the county through its rest room at Xenia and its Exchange. Gradually the girls have come to know and love the work and ideals of the Association. Not far from Xenia, the headquarters branch, is Beaver Creek Township. This country community is known far and wide for its prosperity and spirit of progress. It is a township of fertile farms, fine livestock, good schools, including a township high school, comfortable homes, two live country churches and, best of all, the most noble type of country folk. Here, in a great brick farm house. surrounded by fields and trees, the girls of the township came together on Saturday afternoon, February 22nd, to organize a branch Young Women's Christian Association. Some of the girls drove six miles, and the long line of buggies tied by the road reminded one of a county fair. About seventy girls and young women were present at this organization party. It was a Martha Washington affair. Since many of the girls who had to drive far had to leave rather early the organization work began about three o'clock. The girls elected their branch officers by ballot, and the interesting result in the voting for chairman of the local committee of management was that every ballot but one was cast for the same young woman—just so outstanding is leadership in the country in many cases. The sweet young wife of the country pastor was present and helped with the organization, for she and her husband see the possibilities of added efficiency for the girls of their community through the Association. The supervisor of music and drawing in the township schools will lead a group of girls in the township high school, holding meetings at noon once a week. The board of trustees of the high school have offered to furnish at room for domestic science work, placing it at the disposal of both the girls in school and out of school and keeping it open throughout the summer vacation. This class will be taught by the county secretary. Nowhere could be found a crowd of girls more charming in personal appearance and dress. And nowhere are there girls more uniformly bright, wholesome and capable. With the initiative that they possess there is no doubt that the Beaver Creek Township Young Women's Christian Association will show the great possibilities of a country Association as a community power. In Woodford County, Illinois, is another group of country people who are awake. At their February meeting held in the Illinois Central station in the town of Panola, they organized a membership bership contest. When asked how many houses there were in Panola, the wife of the man who during the past year had been teacher in the one-room school of the town, replied, "I don't know, but I can count them in a minute." There were three women from Panola at this meeting, the wives of the station agent, the postmaster and the section boss, the other members being from the neighboring farms. The chairman of the branch committee, a fine young woman who is a graduate of Northwestern University, walked two and a half miles from her farm home to be present. This Association offers Bible study, domestic science. demonstrations by the members, and some social culture feature. They meet every two weeks at the homes of the members. In the past two weeks they have more than doubled their membership. The contest is to close soon with a big party at the beautiful country home of the vice-chairman, when not only the members but their husbands and fiancés will be invited. This community is without a church. building, so the Young the Young Women's Christian Association is negotiating for land and is beginning plans for the erection of a union church. Rarely can one find such enthusiasm and devotion and loyalty as are to be found here. These are some of the things that our Association is doing out in the open country. When we think of thein and of the possibility of their duplication in hundreds of counties and thou May the Lord God give unto us the tongue of them that are taught, that we may know how to sustain with words those that are weary. As he wakeneth morning by morning may he waken our ears to hear as they are taught. Our Father which art in heaven; hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Responsive Reading: President-Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are diversities of ministrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of working, but the same God, who worketh all things in all. Association-But all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally, even as he will. President-For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. Association-For the body is not one member, but many. But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body even as it pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? President-Now we are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof. But desire earnestly the greater gifts. Association-Herein is the Father glorified, that we bear much fruit, and so shall we be his disciples. President-A servant is not greate than his lord, neither one that is sent greater than he that sent him. Association-If any man serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall my servant be; if any man serve me him will my Father honor. President-These things have spoken unto you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. Association-This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. Ye are my friends if ye do the things which I command you. President-If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them. Hymn: "Jesus Calls Us." Of our life's wild, restless sea; Jesus calls us! by Thy mercies, Saviour, may we hear Thy call; Serve and love Thee best of all. The President (standing; the new president steps to the front facing the retiring president): "The duties of the president shall be to preside at all business meetings of the Association and of the cabinet, and she shall be a member ex-officio of all standing committees. She shall conduct all correspondence. After consultation with the advisory officer, she shall appoint the standing committees and such other committees as may be needed. She shall hold the chairmen responsible for the work of their respective committees, and for the development of efficiency on the part of committee members. On retiring from office, she shall present a written report covering her term of service, including recommendations for the future work of the Association. This report shall be placed on the files of the Association." The position of president of the Young Women's Christian Association is one of great responsibility and of great privilege. She should express in her own life the Association ideal of the complete, four-fold development of young womanhood that in her physical, intellectual, social and spiritual life, she may "preach the unsearchable riches of Christ." She will need to have a wide sympathy that she may easily win the friendship and confidence of others, a deep faithful ness and patience to watch over the many details of the Association activities, and a quiet courage that shall not falter in the face of difficulties, but is ever renewed through the strength that is "made perfect in weakness." I, .. (name).., as president of this Association now give to you, ..(name).., the administration of this Association, trusting to you to preserve whatever of good has already been achieved, and with clear vision to recognize new possibilities for the future, and to further develop, enlarge and extend the work as shall seem to you most wise. I pledge to you my sympathy and prayer for your administration that in all things Christ may have the preeminence. The vice-president (facing the entire new cabinet who stand at the front): In behalf of the cabinet of this Association, I.. (name).., as the vicepresident, now surrender to you, with our love and sympathy, the duties of the cabinet of the Young Women's to be faithful in discharging these Christian Association, charging you duties so that the membership may be extended until it shall include the active participation of every woman in the University. The new president (for her cabinet); We accept the trust you have committed to us and earnestly pledge our best efforts to its accomplishment, in all ways seeking (all the cabinet joins her in repeating the purpose of the Association) "to unite the women of the institution in loyalty to Jesus Christ, to lead them to accept him as their personal Saviour, to build them up in the knowledge of Christ, especially through Bible study and Chris tian service, that character and conduct may be consonant with their belief. It shall thus associate them with the students of the world for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. It shall further seek to enlist their devotion to the Christian Church and to the religious work of the institution." Installation prayer: The retiring president. Closing hymn: "Oh, Master, Let Me Walk With Thee." O Master, let me walk with Thee |