340 REPOKT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



a bed; sleeping in room with window open, 5 minutes; bathing, 30 

 minutes for each bath; and a number of other classes of work are 

 included. 



The one who has the most minutes to his or her credit at the end 

 of a specified time is awarded the prize. 



The parent or guardian of each pupil is instructed to send an 

 itemized statement of the work done. For instance, Rebecca 

 Lenstrom is shown by a letter of her father to have fed the chickens, 

 gathered the eggs, built the fires, made two beds, prepared supper, 

 washed and wiped the dishes, swept and dusted two rooms; and at 

 that went to bed at 9 o'clock. She also prepared breakfast, washed 

 and wiped the dishes; and washed her teeth. She is 14 years old. 



Her sister. Lulu, 6 years old, fed the chickens one morning and 

 washed her teeth. For this work the girls were given certain credits 

 toward the prizes. 



Mrs. H. N. Alderman's child went to bed at 9 o'clock, this being 

 one of the provisions, milked the cow night and morning, fed the 

 chickens two times and separated the milk once, being given 35 

 minutes' credit for the work. Maynard Cochran, 5 years old, cleaned 

 the barn and swept the kitchen in an effort to secure the prizes. 

 Numerous other reports of a similar nature have been forwarded to 

 us by Mr. O'Reilly, all of which indicate a growing interest in the 

 work by both pupils and parents. Commenting on the credit 

 allowances, Mr. O'Reill}^ writes: 



You can see that it is not my intention to give them full credit for the time neces- 

 sarily spent in home work. I have learned that this world does not give us full credit 

 for our time. Had I learned it when I was younger I believe I would be a better man 

 to-day. I have explained and demonstrated this to my school, thus preparing them 

 early to learn to give more than they get. The plan is an agreement between each 

 pupil and me. If he fails to live up to his part of it he should learn that the violation 

 of his agreement always works a hardship. Perhaps I am teaching some practical 

 business law here. 



The plan of the awards starts them on a commercial future and has resulted in my 

 having to tell them all about savings accounts. 



I have 33 pupils and receive 33 notes each morning from the parents. 



Under the rules as adopted no pupil is required to enter the contest. 

 Any pupil entering is free to quit at any time, but anyone quitting 

 without good cause will lose all credits. Every day the teacher issues 

 a credit voucher to the pupil showing the number of minutes for which 

 he is credited. 



Ten per cent credit is added to final examinations for the credit of 

 pupils who enter and continue the contest. When the pupil has 

 vouchers to the extent of one day earned, by their surrender to the 

 teacher he may have a holiday, provided not more than one holiday 

 is granted to a pupil a month. 



