El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-14

ton, Texas, where, under the joint aus
pices of the National Congress Of Moth
ers. the Parent-Teacher associations
and several local organizations, a con-
ference is being held for the considera-
ton of many matters pertaining to the
wei being Of the children of the nation
The Parent Teacher organizations,
rapidly growing up in different parts
of the country, are the OutgrOWth Of
the work Of the Congress OF Mothers
and have for their object a closer CO.
operation between teachers and parents
for the Improvement OF every condition
which in any way affects the comfort
and progress of school children. COnSe-
Quently. the newer organization in
clUdes in its membership school super
intendents, members OF boards OF edu-
cation, legislators and public officials,
as well as the parents and teachers
who are primarily responsible for It's
organization
In Rutland, Vermont. one of the prob
lens confronting the organization IS
the securing OF some means or conS0ll-
dating poorly equipped schools having
a small attendance in order that the
children may have better advantage
A school director reported the existence
of two schools, the two serving only 70
pupils. but each requiring the services
of a teacher receiving S225 year ne
school rooms were unattract1Ve, Win
out maps, globes and other essentials
These two schools could be combined
and better teacher secured for $3.50
year and the saving in the expense on
heating and keeping two buildings IN
order might pay for the transportation
of the children to one school as the Two
buildings are less than Two miles apart
It happens, however, that the schools
rely upon state aid Tor their support
and the apporuonmenl OF stare n5oILSg
is based upon the number or scn0Ols
in a given town, so that 1t receives
more for two schools OF II pupils eacn
than it would for one school OF 70 or
HneaH# rN1n n
er and better school equipment Ihere
1! are other localities where similar conQl-
lions prevail and the attention OF the
Parent Teacher associations IS now De
ing given toward securing state laws
which viii proportion the schooI Iunu
! upon the basis Of the number OF puplls
TO be cared for in such manner as 70
secure the best possible advantages Iof
The conditions Of the roads have al.
ways q most important bearing upon
{ the attendance of the public schools IN
rural localities Therefore, an improve
ment of the highways is a matter upon
which many local organizations OF par
ents and teachers are now cOncenLrdt-
ing their efforts
The securing Of proper breakfasts Tor
children Of from four to II years OF age
is a subject which interests both Leach-
ers and parents, since children 90 not
{ do their best mental work unless they
begin their day with proper nourlsn-
ment At a child welfare exhibit re-
Gently held in Buffalo there was
cooked food exhibit under the Joint
auspices Of the teachers and moIneIS
clubs The food was prepared Dy the
domestic science department OF a near
3 by public school The comparative FaAue
I Of foods in bulk and in packages was
} an eve-OpeneF to many who nad not
I before counted the cost Screens snow
Z ing the photographs OF heallhy, pE2P
I erly fed children were shown, together
with charts giving the FOOD Value OF
eggs and milk and their equivalent IN
} cereals and meat, as well as the polsonS
{ found in many prepared IoouS anu
highly cOlOCcd candies
The question of supplying school
: breakfast to children who come 10
school without having had FOOD IN the
morning, is a problem before a number
/ of Parent-Teacher organizations IN
I some of the congested sections OF the
cities In a number Of places provision
has been made through private cnarlIy
/ for suDDlvfng the breakfastless child
with food. At the same time an eIIOrl
{ is being made to reach the moIherS ana
interest them in some different means
] of provision. When the cause IS pow
I ertv HELM is secured from the proper
I channels, but when, as is often the case
/ a child is allowed to go to school WIN
/ out breakfast simply through the care
( lessness of the mother, VINO may per
] hans give him two or three pennies TO
I buy cakes as a substitute, the organl-
! zatiOn endeavOrs TO arouse IN her q
D
much good has already been accom-
B 2lished in this direction
Lunches Cost Four Cents.
! Cooking classes and small mothers
clubs have wrought wonders in many
/ school communities and they are always
| brought about by such a cooperation
/ between the teachers and mothers as
! the Parent Teacher association endeav-
In Milwaukee. the attention given to
the food supply of school children
called for the expenditure OF over sz0Oy
Z last year. Between November ana
/ March 5000 IOaves of bread, 240O dozen
l rolls and 500 quarts of milk were used
/ The cost of a Child's lunch is about -FOUR
/ cents. The child IS charged one cen Z
: if able to pay thus eliminating the
! idea of charity The balance is paid BY
/ the organization having the matter IN
/ charge. These lunches go to meet the
urgent demand for food and are dis
( tributed through IL centers. Another
I Milwaukee Organization provides a
bowl of hot soup and roll 70 ScnOoi
( children for two cents. While their
( present value is not disputed, the Par
/ ent-Teacher associations are working
Z toward a better home condition, so that
/ these. outside agencies win be no longer
I required.
seek Abolition of Social Evil.
In a number OF states the members Of
/ the Parent-Teacher associations both
men and women, are giving their heart
/ lest efforts toward the abolition or
( many forms of social evil. The posi-
} bnities Of giving a proper course Of
I instruction in sex hygiene in the pub
/ lie schools is being Thoroughly dis
! cussed with the usual cOncensus OF
/ opinion that such matters must re-
! ceive sincere cooperation from both
! parents. In a number of instances,
I fathers clubs as well as mothers clubs
have been the outgrOWth of a campaign
| upon this subject The prohibition OF
/ the distribution OF obscene post cards
/ is enc of the matters to which a num-
/ Der of the organizations in the western
/ and southern states are turning their
attention.
/ The school center movement is a lead
I ing activity and one in which TIE CO.
! operation of parents Of different So
/ cial classes are asked to meet upon a
J plaue of mutual Interest The need OF
! Increased social relations between for
7 eigu and American born parents fer
/ tie benefit of the children or both. is
( one Of the newer ideas winch il IS felT
! IS going to play an important part in
( overcoming prejudices which are q
! source OF great difficulty in mG1y cc1-
: IN mites The public sc-0ll belongs
( to all and the opinion of every parent
/ as to what measures are conducive 10
/ the best DEVELOPMENT of his own chil5
are worthy OF fair consideration.
Compulsory Education.
Among the matters to be taken up by
, the conference now in session in Hous-
ton is legislation in the United States