XV
RECORDS OF THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE,
’ PUBLIC ACTIVITIES SECTION
Education Project Records From McCracken County
The Education Program began in August 1933 as an FERA
authorized program and continued as a NPA project. The project
purpose was to employ needy, unemployed teachers; to provide
educational opportunities for adults; and to feed and develop
the physical and mental well—being of nursery school children
·from needy, underprivileged families. This purpose was
realized through two major fields of activities; Adult Educa-
tion and Nursery School.
The Adult Education Program was divided into seven areas.
LITERACY EDUCATION. This program taught illiterate adults
basic reading and writing skills enabling them to read news-
papers and write simple letters. y
HOM MAKING AND PARENT EDUCATION. This program taught home l
economics and gave instruction in child development, and family y
and community relationships.
h VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. Courses offered by this program included I
training in commercial and business occupations, household ;
management, and domestic service. I
I
PUBLIC AFFAIRS. This program provided an opportunity for adults _
to study public affairs questions of contemporary interest I
through forums and lectures. I
AVOCATIONAL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES. Studies in this program were I
limited to crafts and the fine arts.
SAFETY AND FIRST AID and GENERAL ADULT EDUCATION. These programs
taught safety and first aid through the Red Cross and provided
credit and noncredit high school level courses on various subjectsn
The Adult Education Program operated in over lOO of Kentucky's l
l2O counties. In those counties where qualified teachers could
not be found the program did not operate. Through the NPA program
improved teaching methods were discovered and new teaching
standards were adopted by school systems and used for many years.
The Nursery School Program was conducted by specially
trained teachers. Pre-school children were nutritionally pro-
vided for through a feeding program supplying milk and well-
balanced hot meals. The children were also taught good personal
, habits such as care of teeth, correct posture, manners, and group
cooperation. Over l5,000 underprivileged children benefited from
the Nursery School Program. The extent of the program was not
as great as the adult program due to the unavailability of
· specially trained teachers.
53