The Saint Paul globe., 1897-09-26
Mems Socks. 3Hc.


unions. The programme for the GEN
eral meeting his not been made public,
but it is understood that 1t will con-
sist Of three addresses by eminent edu-
Gators on subjects growing out OF
school union federation. The work Of
the union will be taken up at this
meeting where it was left off at the
close of school last June.
In the four months of the active ex-
istence of the union it's growth has
been unprecedented: Seldom has an
organization seen such rapid progress
in so short a time. A meeting of all
the mothers clubs in the city was held
Jan. rs, at which time the public school
union movement in ST. Paul was given
It's birth. From the impetus given at
this meeting a mass meeting was held
in the high school building, which was
attended by over 300 citizens. It was
then that the organization was per-
fected and the present officers Of the
union elected. Some idea of the ple-
nomenal growth of the union may be
gained from the fact that in three
months twenty branch unions were Or
ganized with an average membership
of thirty. Before school closed for the
summer each of these thirty societies
had elected full set of officers and
had held several meetings.
The school union movement has
grown to be very popular in the East.
New York City is said to have the
most efficient union, while a half dozen
| other large Eastern cities have school
unions, and the movement is spread
ing. The constitution of the St. Paul
union was framed after one adopted
by the citizens Of Brookline, Mass.
The subject. of school federation was
first agitated in Brookline some four
years ago and resulted in the forma-
tion Of a union after which all the
school unions now in existence are
patterned.
Brookline. Mass, the birthplace Of
the movement, is a pretty suburb a
few minutes ride from Boston, and is
a residence place for many wealthy
Boston business men, who have always
taken a great pride in their public
schools. One Of the first things this
union accomplished was the fitting up
of a room in the school building as an
art gallery. to encourage art study, as
this branch is not included in the cur
iculum of the public schools. This
gallery was filled with statuary and
paintings, all Of which were donated
by the friends of the school there. The
union also gave special attention to
improving the school play grounds
they had the grounds sodded and trees
planted, and they now have, instead of
the old sandy play grounds, a coy lit
tie park surrounding the school build
ing. They also had a swimming bath
put In This proved to be the most
popular move they made, among the
pupils Of the school.
The ST. Paul union does not expect
to accomplish any of these things, but
they are related to show what one
union in a little town in Massachu-
setts did, and the large field open the
st. Paul union.
The prime object Of the union as
laid down in the constitution is to
promote a broader knowledge of the
science of education, and better un-
derStanding Of the methods employed,
and a closer sympathy and co-opera-
ton between the home and the school" :"
The union aims, in all cases, to pro-
mote an acquaintance between the
teacher and the parent. Teachers in
the public schools rarely have personal
interest in the children intrusted to
their care The union believes that
through the acquaintance between the
teacher and parent the child will be
greatly benefited. The visiting of the
couraged by the union. In very few
cases does the parent become acquain-
ted with the teacher except where a
case of discipline is involved. There
are a few parents who take time every
year to visit the schools, but the aver
age business man does not take time
to look into the matter and the mother
has nothing to incite visit to the
schools. If a census Of the matter
= hn
nine cases out of ten the parent had
| never visited the school, and knew lit
| tIe of the methods there employed, ex-
cent as they were Informed by their
| children, which is very apt to be mis-
| leading.
The union is non-partisan and non
political, and does not dictate to either
the school board or the teacher, lts
sole object being to secure the cooper
alton with the teacher, in order to
facilitate a, better understanding of our
public school system.
| The board of directors have not an
| nounced the standing committees OF the
union for the coming school year, but
| they will probably consist in part of
school morals, physical and manual
training, kindergarten, library, lee
| lures and finance. These are the COM
mittees provided for by the constitu-
| ton, but it is understood the executive
| committee may curtail this list some
| what
| Perhaps one of the most important
things to be considered by the union is
! the teaching of morals in the public
schools. This subject was brought UP
| in number of the branch unions and
| papers read on the subject just before
the union adjourned for the summer
| There is little difference Of opinion as
L r-I,.14 4I..1 l. -. -l-l
in the schools, but many doubt the
| practicability of such instruction as
given by the teacher Many members
of the union favor the adoption of a
code of morals such as would be prae-
tical to be taught in the schools, il