The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-26
HOW GAN We IMPROVE
OUR SCHOOLS ?
Different Members of the WOman's
Club Express Their Sentiments at
Mondays meeting

How Can We Improve Our
Schools? was a question ably replied
to by several Skowhegan ladies at the
meeting of the Woman Club Monday
afternoon in Library parlors In
teresting papers were read and able
discussions were given The after
noon was in charge of the Clubs
president, Mrs. Anna f. Merrill
The first paper was read by Mrs.
Margaret X. Goodrich upon Build
ings aud Decorations" and in this
she voiced her own ideas of what a
school building should be. She re-
commended a one story structure in
the middle of a two acre lot Re
marks followed by Mrs. Eva K. Green
wood, Mrs. Lizzie A Marble and Miss
Gertrude Townsend, the latter telling
of the needs in the Lincoln building
where she is a teacher, expressing a
wish that the top floor could be con-
verted into an open air play room.
Hygiene" the second topic, was first
considered by Mrs Lena Wentworth
and secondly by DR.. Cora NJ. Johnson.
Dr.. Johnson urged systematic state
medical inspection and better care
for the dull and defective pupils. DR..
Julia Nay Kincaid gave brief express
l,Ny. In, tc RI
r. Dascombe Miss Townsend men
toned that there were 20 or 25
defective children in the Lincoln
building who did not fit in. in any
particular class, while Mrs. Daisy
Merrill suggested as a remedy for
this that one extra teacher be employ
ed for each building, to assist the reg
ular instructor Mrs. Nellie r. Copp
thought it was lack of proper nutri-
ton rather than stupidity in some in
stances at least that made students
really defective. Mrs. Hattie B. Fog
Ter believed in manual training and
mentioned the fact that employment
of the hands would stimulate the
brain to greater activity Mrs. Fog
Ter also gave a talk on the Parent
, Teacher Association" and thought that
discussions between the parents and
teachers would lead to a better un
derstanding between both parties.
Miss Dorothy NJ. Elliot, first assistant
in the High School explained the OBJ
iect of the Parent-Teacher Associa
tion and especially emphasized the
desirability of every parent attend
ing the next meeting of the local or
ganization on December y. Mrs.
Goodrich also talked on this subject
and Mrs. Mabel w Philbrick told OF
the Parent Teacher Association in
Calais. Miss Minnie Stinson a form
er teacher in the Calais schools, now
an instructor in the High School
building here, read a paper in which
she explained the organization and its
workings in Calais more fully.
" OllluH Ou lut OtllDOl loOuiu NdS
the fourth topic of the afternoon and
Mrs Marble opened the discussion on
the affirmative side. She voiced one
sentiment in saying that woman had
stronger perception of things off
hand than a man, while Mrs. Copp on
the negative read letters from friends
who had served under women school
superintendents and women members
of school boards, with whom they
were not satisfied. Both ladies eX-
pressed numerous well founded ideas
explaining their views on the subject.
During the afternoon a piano solo
"Hark. Hark, the Lark" was played
by Mrs. Lila Friend and Miss Gladys
Pennell sang The Perfect Day" and
Disappointment" accompanied hy
Miss Marion Lord.
The hostesses for the afternoon
were Mrs Ada X. Dascombe and Mrs.
Helen Atwood