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61
can take their place as citizens able to support themselves even
if unable to contribute to the support of the homes in which they
live. This is true of a good percentage of those who leave year
by year—the others passing on to the Occupation Centre where
continued care and supervision are given them.
"In the curriculum half the day is devoted to 'mental'
subjects, reading first, because it is the basis of all calculation and
reasoning. Here the children progress! at their own rate, and
very satisfactory results follow. Great keenness to read a book,
especially a story book, acts as a spur with, the less capable ones
to greater effort. To be able to calculate simple monetary
transactions, such as is necessary to everyday life, is the aim of
the 'number' class, while storytelling or reading rounds off a
session of enthusiastic work.
"Speech training and singing (whistling for boys whose voices
have broken), are taken together, and help the child to conquer
either the lack t>f, or excess of, shyness in the presence; of others.
"Dancing and general games, while affording the 'joie-devivre'
so natural to children, unconsciously develops physical
fitness, and the sense of fair play, and aids sensory development.
"Hand control occupies the other half of the day, and nearly
all subjects are taken by boys and girls alike—cookery, housewifery,
stitchery, drawing, rugwork—while more specialised subjects
such as knitting by machines, gardening, boot-repairing,
brush-making, woodwork, are taught to the older scholars.
"On the allotments, 20 boys had plots in which they grew
a little of everything, vegetables and flowers. The resulting
crops were divided between school and the scholars themselves.
A keen competition took place between the boys as to
who should bring the first beans grown in their own gardens at
home. Bulbs, plants and ferns brighten the class-rooms, and
an outdoor pond adds to the interest of the gardening class,
"Footwear, largely provided by the 'Boot Fund,' receives
attention in the ' repairing ' class.
"In woodwork, minor repairs to school apparatus are carried
out as well as the construction of simple objects such as flowerpot
stands, stools, small tables, etc., of which use is made by the
children themselves.
"In the brush-making class, shoeshines, polishers, nail-brushes,
small and large scrubbing brushes, bass brooms, etc., are made.
This year a carefully balanced dietary has been followed, and
the improvement in the physique of the children has been very
pleasing. This can be better appreciated after a long vacation, as
at midsummer, when many scholars return showing the need of
school feeding and general care. So enjoyable are the menus