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SUMMER PROGRAM OF STUDIES AND ACTIVITIES

 

was possible, but in 1938 a labor representative was reintroduced for the fol-
lowing purposes:
. . to act as an interpreter between students and members of the faculty; to
watch and participate in the daily life of the students as a so-called warden;
to interpret the School to the public; to help plan institutes; to sit in certain
classes as consultant in practical trade union problems.”

In one session it was discovered that women of a particular religion could
not reconcile their religious and social ideas. The next summer an English
teacher of the same faith who had faced the same problems and met them
successfully for herself was chosen so that she might help the students.*
Faculty members have also been recruited from particular sections of the
country where alumnae are asking for help. Instructors have been both male
and female so that workers may learn to cooperate with both sexes.

Because of the prerequisites the School’s instructors have been men and
women who have taught in secondary schools and colleges and are interested
in workers. They usually have participated in labor groups. For example, in
one session, one instructor had experience as a trade union member and
workers’ education teacher; another had been a labor organizer; several had
taught workers in community projects or in government programs; one teacher
had done social and industrial research, and one had been a Y.W.C.A.
Industrial Secretary.”

The task of obtaining the proper instructors has not been an easy one.
Few teachers have been interested in labor problems or closely associated
with workers. Individual teachers have not believed unionization necessary
for themselves. School boards have blacklisted those who joined labor organ-
izations. The situation has, of course, been changing recently. But from the
very first the School has maintained that instructors had to be found who
could understand the students and their problems. The search was made
more difficult because of a desire that at least 20 percent of the faculty be
new each year.

The role of all staff members has been analyzed carefully in meetings pre-
liminary to as well as during the summer session. The faculty has always
been asked to make suggestions which will aid recruiting, teaching and fol-

 

"| Statement obtained from plans for the summer session of 1938.
* Letter to interested individual by a member of the Board of Directors, 1938.

* Material obtained from a study of letters of application.

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