[Sidenote: Camera Club]
Mr. Claud Jakeway of the Williamstown rural high school was much annoyed
by the frequent absences of two or three members of the Freshman class.
The excuses given him were: “Didn’t feel well enough to study,” “Had to
help father,” etc. A little private investigation convinced Mr. Jakeway,
however, that the real cause in each case was truancy, generally, for
the purpose of either hunting or fishing. Mr. Jakeway studied over his
problem for some days, then one morning made the following announcement.
“I noticed a few days ago in one of my periodicals that certain
magazines devoted to country life and its interests are advertising for
original photographs of wild animals taken in their native habitat. I am
greatly interested in this myself, for I am exceedingly fond of wild
life, and immensely enjoy a day in the woods now and then. I wonder if
some of you older boys wouldn’t like to join with me to form a Camera
Club. We’ll go out on Saturdays and take our lunches. Only a few can
associate together effectively in work which must be done so quietly, so
I shall limit the membership to four besides myself. Hunting wild
animals with a camera is sport enough for anybody, but we’ll take our
fish poles along in case we don’t happen to strike ‘game.’ By the end of
the month the birds will be here and the hibernating animals will be out
of their winter’s sleep. Please think this matter over and see how many
of you would like to spend your Saturdays in the way I have indicated.
Beside the limitation in numbers, I shall place only one restriction
upon the membership of the club, that is, that we can accept in it only
those whose attendance in school has been regular. I realize of course
that those who have lost time in school will need their Saturdays in
order to make up back work, so please keep that also in mind between
this and the end of the month. Then we will decide who is eligible for
membership.”
Mr. Jakeway’s plan was effective. Initiative in coöperation and
substitution accomplished the needed reform.