Northwestern State University - Potpourri Yearbook (Natchitoches, LA)

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Campaign of Patriotism Through Education N response to a deeper understanding and the obi gation felt by the Normal, both faculty and students, toward making this war for democracy a success, we saw the necessity of a campaign of patriotism through education. The necessary things to life were first considered and, of course, food was of the first importance. The government foresaw the necessity of the truth of the food situation to reach every man, worn in and child of the nation in order that food might in every way be saved. The government realized that the schools were the medium through which the people could be reached. Therefore, cer- tificates were offered to students who completed the short course in Food Administration. Classes were organized in the summer of I 9 I 8 in order that we might learn of the food situation all over the world, and the method by which we might help to make the food supply adequate for the Allied Countries. A study of the uses of substitutes of the most important foods, meats, wheat and sugar and the best method of preparing the substituted food in order that it might be attractive and palatable was given. Although at present it is not a required subject it is still demanded by the students and has resulted in a Food Administration Course that will meet the present post-war situation. Normal not only look a step forward in studying food, but there was organized a class in War History in which the students could obtain a more accurate knowledge, a broader and deeper understanding of the forces that caused this great world crisis, and to give an educational basis upon which can be erected a more successful democracy. No effort or expense was spared in equipment for this course. Did the Normalites respond to this? We not only responded in a large number, but we all began to dig deep into the subject with enthusiastic patriotism. 1 he library facilities were expanded and there were added seventy-five reference books, twenty-five magazines, weekly and daily papers. There were five hundred pamph- lets and publications sent out from numerous centers, world-wide in scope. One has only to spend a part of his time in the library to visualize the war through the reading of mil- itary, social, political, national, and international problems. War French was given a place also. A class of boys wer: soon marching forward in pronouncing, understanding, and speaking French, for soon they were to see actixe service in France. The girls took great interest in this work as is shown in the enrollment of the summer term of fifty-nine girls and one boy. There has been a total number of eighty-nine faithful and patriotic workers in the War French Class. Every s tudent and every member of the faculty is now ready in many ways to say, Amerique nous voici. (13)

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Red Cross 1 OON after America entered the World War the growing interest in Red Cross work of the girls at the Normal School found an avenue of expression in the Normal Auxiliary to the Natchitoches Red Cro;s Chapter. A class room on the second floor of the Academic Buildirg was fitted up with tables, cabinets, and all the needed conveniences fcr the making of surgical dressings. The girls went to work with a patriotism worthy of the highest in American womanhood and the great cause in which our country had engaged. They were formed into squads under students and faculty captains, and made thousands of compresses, sur- gical wipes, abdominal bandages, and some pneumonia jackets. These squads under the leadership of Miss Roberta Newell, worked at vacant periods, before dinner, on Saturdays and Sundays. The quality of the work always received the highest rating from the regular inspectors from the chapter headquarters, and tSe chapter itself was on the honor roll of the Gulf Division. Refugee garments were made by the dozens in the Domestic Art rooms and the campus and the auditorium always exhibited indefatigable knitters of socks, sweaters, hel- mets, and mufflers. When a call came for hospital towels the g rls purchased a hundred, laundered and bundled them ready for shipment Overseas. In short, the young women of the Normal in this supreme test of character, proved themselves to b? among the worthiest. To Our Boys Upon the far off fields of France Where sleep our soldiers brave, A cross its lonely vigil keeps. Above the narrow j;ravc. Upon the far off fields of France The fields that we may never see. Lie buried all our hearts held clear Who died for you and me. (12)

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Training School War Work SS1N April 2, 1917, the Training School met in special assembly to ask Divine Guidance of Congress in dealing with the war situation. Then and there we pledged our sup- port and from that time to November 11, 1918, when the armistice was signed, we did our part to help win the war. And when it was won, wc entered into relief work, etc. 1 . Before Red Cross headquarters at New Orleans could supply us with the proper blanks, the Training School had become a 100 per cent Junior Auxiliary with an enrollment of 362 pupils. Again in 1919 we are one hundred per cent enrolled. Our membership fees paid in to date are $230.25. The organization was effected by the entire faculty. 2. The Training School has presented one elaborate patriotic entertainment and several minor ones, such as flag raisings, special day exercises, etc. It has taken prominent parts in Red Cross and Thrift parades and when the local draft entrained, it turned out with banner and song to make their de- parture a memorable one. In all these activities the entire faculty took part. 3. In one year the school bought $2,595.25 worth of Thrift and War Savings Stamps, an average of little less than eight dollars per child. Rivalry between the grades was stimulated and special distinc- tion was given the grades that went over the top. Several of them raised more than twice their quotas. Thrift Campaign was managed by the principal with each teacher co-operating. 4. Food production clubs and war gardens were organized and supervised by Mr. Graybill among the pupils of Grades 4-10. 5. Nine smilage books were sent out by as many children, under the supervision of Miss Nelken. 6. A High School unit of girls under direction of Miss Gaulden worked every Monday at Red Cross Chapter Headquarters and turned out many hundreds of bandages. A similar unit under Miss Perkins worked at Normal Red Cross headquarters. 7. The High School boys under the direction of Mr. Hopper turned out sixty large packing boxes made according to strict requirements. The girls under the supervision of Mr. Guardia lined them with water-proof paper. 8. Two Belgian quilts were knit and finished by pupils under direction of Miss Gaulden. 9. One hundred comfort pillows were made under supervision of Miss Graham. 10. Misses Dickson and Gabrielson in their domestic classes in 8th and 9th grades made nearly a hundred refugee garments. 11. The student body collected and sent nearly a box of clothes to Belgian refugees. 12. Under direction of Misses Graham, Gunby, Haupt, Perkins, and other teachers, 661 property bags of various kinds were made. Some were sent to Red Cross and some sent independently to Camp Beauregard for use by our local boys. 13. Under direction of Misses Nelken and Perkins, and Mrs. Williamson, three large hampers of preserved and canned fruits, as well as a quantity of fresh fruit, were collected and sent by the children to convalescents at Camp Beauregard. 14. Each teacher supervised a branch of the Salvage Work, which was carried on in connection with the parish salvage work. 15. Voluntary contributions to the Jewish Relief amounted to $18.23 among the children and $51.00 among the Training School faculty. 16. The High School girls under the supervision of Misses Levy, Zimmerman, and others, had a Tag Day in town and at school for the Belgian Babies Fund. The amount sent in was $307.89. 17. By means of athletic events supervised by Mr. Prather and an entertainment arranged by a committee headed by Miss Zimmerman, the sum of $154.40 was raised for Armenian and Syrian relief. 18. Throughout 1917 and 1918 a bulletin board for the gist of war news was maintained by the faculty. (H)