School Credit for Home Work by Lewis Raymond Alderman
N 45° 03.265 W 123° 05.896
10T E 492262 N 4989000
There is a neat little book written about this school and a teacher who originated the idea of giving "credit" for chores done at home.
Waymark Code: WM7B81
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 09/29/2009
Views: 8
Lewis Raymond Alderman writes about Mr. A. I. O'Reilly, a teacher of tiny Spring Valley School near Keizer/Salem, Oregon in 1909. Mr. O'Reilly promoted the idea that schools can help make better home builders, by allowing the school to solidify (by offering school "credit") for established habits of home-making, home tending, gardening, and generally an industrious attitude and knowledge of everyday homemaking and living. It was a novel idea that home chores, including doing dishes and cooking, was of equal importance with algebra and general history, and worthy of school "credit". It was also noted that the children adopted a more cheerful attitude about chores when they received credit at school for the work done at home.
There are a couple of photos in the book, including some that show the school in the background.
According to this website, the book is "public domain", and can be read in its entirety at the website: (
visit link)