Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-15

parents and teachers who primarily responsibei
for its organization
In Rutland. VT. Of the problems confronting
the organization is the securing of some means or
consolidating poorly equipped schools having small
attendance IN order that the children may have better
advantages school director reported the exist
ence of two schools the serving only twenty-sx
pupils but each requiring the services of teacher
receiving 1925 year. The school unat-
tractive, without maps globes and other essentials.
These two schools could be combined and a better
teacher secured for $3.50 year the saving in the
expense of heating and keeping buildings in order
might pay for the transportation of the children to
school, the buildings are less
miles apart 1t happens, however, the schools
rely state aid for their support and the appor
tionment of state money is based upon the number
of schools in a given town, that it receives
for two schools of twelve pupils each it would
for one school OF twenty-five more pupils, having
a better paid teacher and better school equipment
There other localities where similar conditions
prevail and the Parent-Teacher
Citations is now being given toward securing state
laws which will proportion the school fund upon the
basis of the number pupils cared for in such
manner as to secure the best possible advantages
for all
The conditions the always most i'm
portant beari g upon the attendance of the public
schools in rural localities Therefore. improve
ment of the highways is matter which many
local organizations of parents and teachers are now
concentrating their efforts.
The securing of proper breakfasts for children OF
from four to twelve years of subject which
interests both teaehers and parents since children do
not do their best mental work unless they begin their
day with proper nourishment. AT child welfare ex
hibit recently in cooked food
exhibit under the joint auspices of teachers and
mothers clubs The food was prepared by the do
nestle science department of nearby public school
The comparative value of foods in bulk and in pack
ages eyeopener to many who had not before
counted the cost Screens, showing the photographs
of healthy properly fed children shown, together
with charts giving the food value of eggs and milk
and their equivalent in cereals and meat, well as
the poisOns found in many prepared foods and highly
colored candies.
The question of supplying a school breakfast to
children to school without having had food
in the morning is problem before a number of Pa
rentTeacher organizations il of the congested
sections of the cities. In a number of places pro-
vision has been made through private charity for sup
plying the breakfastless child with food At the
same time an effort being made reach the moth
ers and interest them in some different
provision When the is poverty help is secured
from the proper channels but when, as is often the
case a child is allowed to go to school without
breakfast simply through the carelessness of the
mother, who may perhaps give him two or three pei-
buy cakes as substitute the organization
deavors in her feeling of greater respoa-
sbility and much good has already accomplished
in this direction Cooking classes and small mothers
clubs have wrought wonders many school commu-
mites and they always brought about by such a
cooperation between the teachers and mothers as the
Parent-Teacher association endeavors to promote
In Milwaukee the attention given to the food sup
ply of school children called for the expenditure of
over 50 900 year. Between November and March
5000 loaves of bread 24OO rolls and 800 quarts
of milk were used The cost of childs lunch Is
about cents The child is charged cent, If able 70
pay eliminating the idea of charity. The bal
ance is paid by the organization having the matter in
charge. These lunches go meet the urgent demand
for food and distributed through eleven centers
Another Milwaukee organization provides a bowl OF
hot soup and a roll school children for cents.
While their present value is not disputed, the Pa
rentTeacher associations working toward better
home condition that these outside agencies will be
no longer required.