Maple Avenue Evening High School - Progress Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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. original nature changes but little, social education ,which because of its very nature might well include civic, moral and religious education, must be given more consideration by every thinking man and Woman in the future. Economic Demands ' , It is expected that the individual should contribute something to so- ciety and that he earn effectively and spend wisely, thus becoming an eco- nomic unit in life's activities rather than one who lives off the efforts of others. It means the developing of power to evaluate skills and abilities for which there is a demand. It means the acquiring of skills and auxiliary knowledge necessary to do a given work Well. It is expected that for services well and effectively rendered there be a just compensation, a wage that is compatible with the services rendered, and that the working conditions under which such services are performed be such as to bring about the best results and the greatest happiness to the worker. It is expected that the individual spend wisely, according to his means. The spendthrift soon comes to grief and the penurious bring unhappiness, not only to themselves, but to all those in their company. Probably never before in the history of the world has there been such a demand for skilled workers as today. With the breakdown of the old apprenticeship system, there has come a dearth of skilled workers in all lines of industrial pursuits. That a new apprenticeship must be establish- ed none can deny. In a measure, this new apprenticeship is being estab- lished through vocational training. Here is the opportunity for schools to render one of the greatest and most far reaching social services poss- ible. Someone has well said: With the ample resources at its disposal the school can initiate an apprenticeship which will continue through life and which will embrace for those who develop capacity, the very highest activ- ities in the fields of industry, science, and art . Industry to be successful must be built on truth and the true worth of every individual is only in proportion to his knowledge of the truth. If boys and girls in our schools are to have a fair chance in right choosing in industry,,there should be ample ,opportunities in trying out and becoming familiar withmnmanyioccupations. P c n , , V, . iWith the above analysis,f it must be evident that education has todo with all 1if,efs activities,.thatits scope isunlimited, and that its beginning is in the nursery and it continues throughout life. l Page. Forty-six.

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Third: Spiritual development, soul culture, religion. In every normal individual there is an impulse toward good. This impulse should be cul- tivated and strengthened into habits of a moral sort, for morality is largely a matter of habit in thought, speech and action. Someone has said, mo- rality is not something added to man, it is the man . Thompson in his Philosophy of Teaching says: True moral teaching seeks to effect con- duct indirectly by the general elevation of life. Whatever brings out the features of the soul, develops fully and harmoniously its powers and fa- culties, directs the aspiring self to the highest claims of manhood, frees and stimulates the ethical possession among the forces of man's nature, reveals to the individual the beauty and worth of character, and inspires the soul with a passion for truth and righteousness that shall press towards abso- lute satisfaction, is moral teaching . Today, more than ever, there is this great need of moral education. Social Demands Clearly one of the prime objectives of education is to train for the duties and responsibilities of full citizenship. It becomes the duty of every individual to develop the ability to find available social and civic services and intelligently select from them and then to use such services with tact and judgment. On the other hand, the life complete calls for ability in taking the initiative in rendering service to the various social groups, the domestic group, neighborhood, vocational, political, religious, etc. Education that concerns itself with improving the social relationship in any or all social groups is social education. Improving the social groups means the improving of the individual in his relation to others. Such improvement calls for a clear understanding and regard for the social virtues and an absolute abhorrence for social vices. The man who possesses genuine social virtues is known in the family group as a good, kind, and considerate husband, father, brother or son. Among his vocational workers he is spoken of as a good foreman, straight shooter , square fellow, etc. In his community he is regarded as honest, dependable, law abiding and public spirited. In the Church he is praised for his Christian fellowship, fidelity, loyalty and piety. In politics he believes in the administration of justice, loyalty to institutions and policies that have been approved by the people and which aim to bring the greatest good to the greatest number. On the other hand, he abhors dishonesty, grafting, lawlessness, criminality etc. Since the social groups are growing more and more complex, while Page Forty-five

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Life Class in Maple Avenue School By FRANK GERITZ, Noted Artist ENTHUSIASTS have talked to me at length about Los Angeles as a culture and art center-all of which I indulged with an incredulous smile. Then I was told of the public Life Class of the Maple Avenue trade extension school and again doubted for, while such public classes are com- mon enough in Paris and other European cities, they are not so common in this country, and I was agreeably impressed with the fact that the board of education here had sanctioned them. On finding such a class an actuality I beamed with satisfaction and my incredulity in Los Angeles as an art center was displaced by a feeling of possible belief g for, with such an initiative-such seed planted-the em- bryonic artist as well as the embryonic art of the community has great op- portunity to break through the common ground and grow. The organization of this class is indeed highly commendable. It of- fers an opportunity to many to find and develop their latent talents who, otherwise, through lack of finances or other circumstances, would either have to deny themselves the opportunity or postpone it until too lateg for if delayed too long the spark of art expression that might have blazed forth into brilliant art creation either flickers out through lack of stimulus or is snuffed out through accumulating responsibilities. Drawing from life is the greatest test of a student's talent and is a vital need for most lines of art expression, figure or portrait painting, il- lustration or commercial art of any description. A or Having closely observed the art class of the Maple Avenue Schoolon several occasions I can say that the work is carried on with ability and enthusiasm. . . - .. ' e - Page 'Forty-seven