The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-01-06
Durand Mothers Meeting
swassee School Journal.

and efficiency of our schools cannot be
over estimated. especially where the
spirit OF mutual helpfulness between
parents and teachers pervades the work
Of the Mothers Club, as it does in
-Durand. The discussions were excel
lent and all related in one way orOan
other to the object of our public schools,
the child; and they pertained to the
ways and means;through which bis
future happiness. usefulness, and sue.
cess, are to become more assured, and
enhanced. We wish that we might
give to the journal" readers phono-
graphic reproduction of all that was
said. Among ether things, DR.. Cowles
gave an excellent talk on School Teach
ing Twenty Five Years Ago" The fol.
lowing is the fine paper read by Mrs.
p. Carpenter on THE Relation of the
Patron to the School,"
In thinking over the subject this ques-
ton presented itself to my mind: what
is patrons So l began to look up
authority and found several definitions,
but the one most applicable to this &C.
casion was from Webster and reads:
Zone who countenances or supports
either person or good work, an advo-
cate, defender
Then. of course, we must admit there
are patrons of the public school other
than parents of pupils. We believe,
generally speaking, the patrons relation
to the, public school should be something
similar to that of man to his country.
O Never shall forget the first revela-
ton of patriotism it was mine to receive.
l was sitting in an upper room watch
ing the unfurling of the flag In public
place. AS the breeze caught it and
shook out the folds, how grand she
looked! - thought earth contains moth
ing half so beautiful! My eyes filed
with tears, my heart seemed too full for
utterance. Then 1 realized how much
loved her and how much that emblem
meant to me personally, as well as to
every citizen of these United States; and
l believe that feeling is somewhat akin
to the one which possesses our beings
when we think of our public school sys-
tenn.
The free schools of America and par
ticularly of Michigan, are personally
our care, our'property, and we desire to
be considered loyal to them as much as
to our government.
Each should try to do all in his power
to promote their best interests for to
them we owe our civilization. our
advancement, our refinement.
But please pardon me if / assume that
the especial patron under consideration
this afternoon is the one who holds the
relationship of parent to the pupils who
daily fill our school buildings either
from choice or because they are COM
PEELED to be there. For we believe in
this day in educating along special lines.
Parents need educating along the line
of duty owed the public school. We be-
lieve the subject of vast importance to
all but especially to those who have
children of school age, and those who
may have in the future children to send
to school.
The time was, when il was not con-
sidered necessary or important to &C
quire an education but in the develop
ment of our century decided change
has taken place. Formerly many of the
common people could neither read nor
write even their own names. now any
man or woman who could reach man
hood or womanhood in such a deplor-
ably ignorant state would indeed be
considered an object of pity.
Each one of us has an ambitious de-
sire that our offspring shall attain at
least common school education, and
in order to do this, they must of neces-
sity know something of books, so we
send them to school. But our relation
does not begin or end there.
We have universally come to believe
that the surroundings and environments
have much to do with the character
building of the child. If this holds true
in the home, why not in the SCHOOL,
Each one should use the privilege given
him in selecting the school-sites and
plans of buildings. All selfish interests
should be laid aside and each one vote
for best general interest. Not all can
choose the most home-like, desirable
place, not all will agree. but from the
expression of the people may be gath
cred ideas that will be helpful. Matters
are, largely, left in the hands of the peo-
pie in selecting sites and plans and also
in electing officers to constitute the
school board. Let us see to it that men
are elected that will have the pupils
best interest at heart. This is surely
the place where .poltics should not be
considered. / have known districts
where every man on the board was APP
parently one who had no sympathy with
childhood or its needs. Why were they