Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-11-19
fARENT-T TEACHER ASSOCIATION
Movement Is Growing Says
President of Vermont Branch.
Second Annual Conference brought to
n Close with Three Sessions Yes
terdsy-A Membership Of 900
In the state.


Vermont branch of the national con-
gross Of Mothers and Parent-Teacher
assertion was opened Friday with
a meeting at the assembly hall OF the
high school In the morning, Mrs. Henry
A. Hartman, state president, presiding.
Tho report as read from the state Sec
rotary of the association, Mrs. Willis NJ.
Ross of Rutland showed that there were
at present 20 fourishng parent-teacher
associations in Vermont with mem
hership Of 800, including men and women,
the membership having doubled In the
two years since the association was or
ganized. In 1912. when the organization
was formed at Montpelier, there were
only nine associations in the State. all
in Rutland There are now associations
in Burlington. Rutland. bennington, st.
Johnsbury, west Rutland. Randolph.
Mortified Fair Haven and ShaftsburY.
Many other towns in the state are ready
TO begin the work. The report was ac-
copied and placed on fle A report read
for Mrs. A. G. Mathews of Rutland.
State treasurer. showed all bills paid
and s21.90 remaining in the treasury.
Some donations have been received from
people Interested in the work and all Of
the dues have not as vet been paid.
This report was also accepted
In the reports from the presidents and
members Of the various parent-teachor
associations in the state, points for mag
nifying and improving the work We're
brought out and discussed. The great
aim Of the associations is TO get all
mothers of all natlonallties interested in
the school work Of their children. The
various ways OF bringing them out to
the meetings were thoroughly gone over.
OFFICERS ELECTED
The election of officers resulted as fol-
lows: President Mrs. Henry 4. Hartman
Of Rutland; first vicc-nresident. Mrs.
f. p. Huling OF Bennington: second Vice
president. Mrs. NJ n. Chittcnden of Bur
linCton; third vice-presidcnt. Mrs. J. y.
Esteo Of Montpelier; fourth vicc-rrcsl-
don't Mrs. Theodore \. Vail Of Lyndon
vile, secretary. Mrs. Willis NJ. Ross Of
Rutland; treasurer. Mrs. s II. Hazard Of
Fair Haven: county presidents, for Addi-
son and Rutland. Mrs T. @. Sw'nucrton
Of Rutland; for Bennington and Wind
ham Mrs, T. r. Huling OF Remington:
chairman of home economies. Mrs. G. +.
Leonard of Rutland; chairman Of voca-
tional training. Mrs. T. c. Sw,n'erton:
supervisor of Burlington schools, DIT.
+. +. Clark; organizer for tho state.
Mrs f, G. Swinnerton; chairman Of home
gardening, Mrs G.. T. Piper Of West
Rutland; chairman Of child labor Mrs
~. p Adams of Fair Haven: assistant
/ chairman of Legislative committee, Mrs
c. r. Walton OF Montpelier
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session was attended by
a large percentage of the teachers in the
schools of this city the schools having
but one session yesterday. An address on
Legislation In regard to the association
was delivered by Anna Hawkes. Putnam
Of bennington. Miss Frances Hobart gave
a very interesting talk on chidren's
books. She commended very highly some
! of the publications that are advertised
and many of the books which were sup
posed by large number Of parents to he
proper reading for their children she con-
demncd
Miss Emily Gilbert who is a graduate %
Smith College and Of the New York school
Of philanthropy and who is nj present
| field secretary Of tho Massachusetts,
branch Of the national congress. told NJ
! the things which have been accomplished
by the association. The work Of the assh-
! citation has accomplished many things.
| from the buying of n victrola for the
| schools to tho establishing Of city iuven-
| lie courts II has worked for every kind
OF modern Improvement in the schools
| from the school library TO obtaining n
| school nurse and aided in many philan-
| throptes. II has provided for medical In
| spection in schools which had not had
such attendance before put kindergartens
| into the curriculum Of school work which
| had none. introduced manual training ana
| domestic training, ana been the means OF
| providing for gymnasiums and athletic
| telds. II has also been the means for Civ
| ing of school credits for useful and helpful
work done at home. These are only few
OF the things which Miss Gilbert gave the
association credit for performing
Mrs. II. s. Howard. one of the medical
| inspectors in the Burlington schools, gave
"A short address on the preservation OF the
| health of the child in school. Nothing can
be done along this line except by tho par
ents and teachers working together Mrs
| Howard considered the child for a few
| moments as n machine which. in order
| to work property and grow to normal
strength should have the correct sur
| roundings and care and also kent free
| from harmful outside contact
The children Of Japan are left much
to do about as they like until at school
age they are sent TO school after which
" they do things which they should not
their parents report them to their
! honorable teacher" Mrs. Howard said
that the parents are getting to do much
the same I'm this country and she "a much
impressed by the efficiency of our teach
ers Pupils are examined for defects in
their sight and hearing by the teachers
along with their many other duties The
defects are reported TO the parents and
| II nothing is done for relief the work
of the teacher results in nothing The
medical inspectors go to find any other
defects, Much moro is being done each
year In the way of sanitary cleanliness in
the schools
| DR., f. +, Clark in his address said in
part: Next to the social center in
every home the most important social
center is In the schools, but the center
In the school depends entirely on that
in the home. There are many inefficient
| homes such as the one wherein the father
| lives, who, coming home from n hard
days work. expects the children to have
| finished their play and a quiet house
where the mother liz more interested in
| n u ,tx,.. sk,n.s .N.G--