SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT THE SCHOOLS AND THE WAR The dominant note in all school work for the year just closed has been to win the war. Every student in the educational institutions of Michigan from the kindergarten to the university has done his part. The work has fallen most heavily on the teachers of the public schools already burdened with the routine of instruction. The added work incident to the war has made the duties of the teacher during the past year extremely heavy. The efficiency with which the war activities have been handled in the public schools is much to the credit of everybody connected with them. În the war drives that have called for county organization, the county commissioner of schools has invariably taken an active part if not a leading part. The superintendents of city schools have worked early and late to coöperate with all agencies furthering war work. While the work has been carried on with gratifying results it is believed that the experience gained during the past year will enable us to attain results next year which shall surpass those of the last and with less difficulty. The activities of the public schools in connection with the war have been directed along four lines as follows: 1. The Red Cross 2. The promotion of liberty loan and war savings stamp campaigns 3. Education for fuel and food conservation 4. Molding public opinion to produce intelligent and sustained patriotism The schools of our state have taken up the work promoted by the Junior Red Cross. So generally have schools pushed the Junior Red Cross work that it can almost be said that every child in Michigan is a member of that organization. This is not said as indicating that the most important thing is to be a member of the Junior Red Cross. The fact of the matter is the work of the Junior Red Cross has a distinctly educational value. That feature has been emphasized. The Junor Red Cross work furnishes concrete material for instruction in the manual arts. Every child from the first grade to the last may do something which will be useful. Incidentally he is taught effective lessons in civics. He is given a lesson in group organization and activity. The work of the Junior Red Cross, thus introduced into our schools, has not proved an added burden as much as it has furnished real incentive for useful school work. It is almost certain that the schools of the state will be benefited by their experience in promoting the work of the Red Cross. It will prove the value of concrete instruction. During the past year our schools have taken an active part in the liberty loan drives. No more effective lesson in civics has ever been taught in our schools, nor is there a more effective agent to promote the liberty loans than the schools. The school children of grammar and high school grades have often organized a mass meeting to put the thing across with a finish that would do credit to experienced politicians. From all standpoints I believe that it is proper for the public schools to push these drives. These efforts should be continued as long as the war lasts. Much useful work has been done also in connection with food and fuel conservation. In the teaching of elementary science and domestic art attention has been turned to the studying of comparative food values. Agriculture and related sciences have been made more meaningful. The saving of food and fuel has been given special emphasis. In the teaching of drawing the boys and girls have everywhere displayed skill and ingenuity in producing telling posters and cartoons both attractive and effective. The matter of food and fuel conservation has been given attention in the regular school subjects. Instead of taking up these studies as a new thing they have been related to old subjects and the old subjects studied from a new point of view. There is always great difficulty in making school work vital. Exegencies of the war have done much to remedy this difficulty. WORK OF BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUBS It is impossible at this time to give an accurate statement concerning the amount of work done by the public school children in connection with the Junior Red Cross and other organizations for the winning of the war. However, through the kindness of Mr. E. C. Lindemann, state club leader for the boys' and girls' clubs of Michigan, the following items are here given: The boys' and girls' clubs on June 30, 1918, had an enrollment of thirtyone thousand members. These clubs carried on activities along different lines. The sewing clubs shipped to France under the auspices of the Red Cross eighty-four thousand articles. In eighty-six Michigan cities boys and girls are doing garden work under organized supervision. An idea of the general scope of the boys' and girls' activities may be gained from the following summary: Club members enrolled (July 1, 1918). 31,000 Funds available through federal and state appropriations $28,000 $29,400 41 9 12 Training schools conducted since January 1 INSTRUCTION ABOUT THE WAR 84,000 139 While great emphasis has been placed on the material things which relate to the winning of the war, the schools have recognized that just as certain as man does not live on bread alone, this war is not going to be won on food alone nor by fighting alone. This war is going to be won by the side that has the deepest convictions. The schools have therefore given much time to the establishing of the true understanding of what the war issues are. It is recognized that the main strength of the German Empire today is forty years of false education, education by autocracy, |