The Fall Outlook and the Annual Report for 1947-48 just reported reveal in detail the status and condition of the extraclass activities for that school year. They are a sort of "State of the Union" message.

To appreciate the trends in the program, see how the current year compares with other years in regard to pupil participation in the club program (table 6).

Table 6.-Percent of pupil participation in the high-school club program, by year1

Table 6 pertains to the club program only and does not include data on athletic and intramural participation.

The first tabulation of the data was made in 1941-42, and though the report was in the nature of an experiment and therefore somewhat brief, it pointed up the need for wider participation by ninth-grade pupils and for more activities to be offered them. Note that the first effects of the war are evident in 1942-43. In that year the club program was a partial casualty to the demand for high-school youth in industry and in the various collection and conservation campaigns. From 1943 to 1946 it was more of a casualty; activities were curtailed; no reports were made. Resumption of activities on a full scale is noted in the report for 194647, and a general gain in pupil participation is evident. Tabulation of participation in the club program by sex was begun. In 1947–48, con

The six girls participating in sports are on teams in the high school.

tinued gains in ninth-grade pupil participation are revealed. The club schedule was changed from three to two activity periods a week during this year to provide more time for intramurals. That this change was productive of greater pupil participation is shown by the data for 1948–49.

The Director's Time

The director of extraclass activities teaches four classes, has no homeroom assignment, and is given the time equivalent of two classes for his work with extraclass activities. To get the work accomplished, however, he devotes approximately two additional hours daily to his responsibilities. In the opinion of the high-school principal, the director should have additional released time from teaching if his responsibilities are to be discharged adequately.

As it is, the director has three pupil assistants in his office; two for general secretarial work, and one as budget and banking secretary. These girls, outstanding students in business education, are selected by the director from a number of pupils recommended by the head of the commercial department. The banking secretary is needed because school activities are subsidized by revenue from three sources: the operetta, the instrumental review, and social dances sponsored by the student council; no dues are assessed by any extraclass activity. As a matter of record, pupils under the supervision of the head of the commercial department handle the collecting and recording of all ECA funds, athletic moneys, pupils' school-bank savings, and cafeteria income. A special office is provided for the students working in this activity, and they take pride in demonstrating to a visitor their organization of accounts received and paid. For example, the general ledger shows the status of each account day by day. The office is an extremely busy one, yet there is no evidence of purposeless activity.

Essentials of the Program

Evaluation is but one aspect of the high-school's extraclass activities program. The purpose of this account, however, is to describe a quantitative evaluation, not the characteristics, of one high-school's extraclass activity program. To develop a good program is one thing. To evaluate it is quite another thing. This high school, in attempting to do both, has found that program and evaluation are part of the same process and dependent on one another.

Organizing Extraclass Activities at the Beginning of the New School Year

In the senior high school, West Orange, N. J. (enrollment, 828), extraclass activities are organized about October 15 each year. The 5 or 6 weeks previous to this date are given over to homeroom, student council, and class (sophomore, junior, senior) organization, to the magazine campaign, to various standardized group-tests planned by the guidance department, and to general orientation of pupils to class schedules. On or before October 15, the coordinator of activities sends an announcement through the homeroom to each pupil, of which the following is a sample:

Student Activity Program
1949-50

In order to provide students with an enriched program of worthwhile activities, two periods during the week will be set aside for this purpose. Therefore on each Wednesday and Friday morning there will be an activity period extending from 8:43-9:26. It is hoped that all of the pupils in this school will take advantage of the program and engage in one or two activities each week as they desire or as the schedule permits. Participation in activities in high school is considered important by most colleges and universities and they give additional consideration to applicants who have a good extra-curricular record.

Employers in the fields of business and industry have made personal studies concerning the qualities of good workers. They have found that those who have participated in activities tend to be more successful because of their interests and abilities to work with other people.

On the attached sheet is a list of the activities which were in operation last year. Study the list carefully and assist in setting up the program by stating the activities which you are interested in joining when the program is established.

1949-50 Activity Program Questionnaire

(Form 1)

To assist you in your selections, a list of the activities which were in operation last year is given below.

Please place a (X) mark in front of the activity in which you desire to engage on Wednesday and Friday. If you want to belong to a club on just one of those days, then omit the mark (X) from the other one. Be sure to mark at least one day.

In case you desire a club which is not listed, write the name in the space provided at the bottom of the page and an effort will be made to find a sponsor.

The results from this questionnaire will be tabulated and used to determine the activities which will be in operation this year.

Later a list of those clubs to be in operation during the activity periods, together with their sponsors and room assignments, will be given to you. At that time, you can definitely sign for the club of your choice.

*Denotes clubs in which membership is restricted to those approved by teacher

sponsors.

Pupil's Name..

These notices are filled in by the individual pupil, collected by the homeroom teacher, and returned to the coordinator of extraclass activities, who then prepares a schedule of instruction for pupils to follow in registering for various activity groups. The instructions for 1949-50 are given in full:

Our High School is continuing its efforts to provide its pupils with an enriched program of worthwhile activities.

A schedule of these activities is attached to this page and it is requested that you read it carefully.

There are many reasons why you should engage in activities, other than classroom subjects, during your high-school days. Chief among them is the fact that employers and colleges have found that it helps to develop a balanced personality and substantially increases your chances for success in later life. While engaging in an activity, you develop certain skills; but, more important, you learn to concentrate your efforts toward the completion of a particular task. In addition, you learn to work with a group which is carrying on a worthwhile activity in which you have an interest.

The activities are scheduled each week on Wednesday and Friday mornings during an activity period (8:43-9:26).

Please observe the following instructions when giving the information requested on the attached enrollment forms. Be sure to give all the information requested on BOTH forms.

INSTRUCTIONS (Homeroom teachers read carefully with the pupils)

1. Each student should join one club and participate in its activities each week. 2. Each student may join two clubs providing the clubs do not meet on the same day. 3. Members of the Orchestra (Wednesday), Glee Club (Wednesday or Friday), which meet during the activity period, may not drop out and join another activity on those days.