Evening star., 1914-12-27

~ 7EVER before in the history of
lMll the school of Washington have
II Nj parents been so actively inter-
- ested in their welfare and de-
velopment as at present Proof OIL
which lies in the fact that there are
no less than seventy parent-teacher
associations scattered throughout the
city. Some of these are combined into
federations; most of them are afillat-
ed with the Congress of Mothers, while
others claim no formal organization
whatever, but through them all the
same underlying spirit of earnest de-
sire to cooperate with the teacher in
promoting the good of the child pre-
walls.
In the ma jority of instances these
organizations, which consist of par
ents and teachers, have constitutions,
regularly elected officers. are self-sup-
porting through their annual dues, US
ually % cents, and in many cases have
a little reserve fund to devote to pur-
poses which claim their attention
Regular business meetings are held.
after which come programs of enter
tainment or instruction. refreshments
and addresses by well known speak
ers.
Mrs. Giles Scott Rafter, president of
the District branch of the National
Congress of Mothers. who organized
most of these clubs, in discussing
school associations remarked:
The day has gone by when IA
theirs duty ended with enforcing at
tendance at school and signing his
children's reports. Now the fathers
ioin the mothers in their efforts to
learn the reason back of a poor per-
centage in some particular study or
in department. They. too, attend the
Gatherings at the schools. By reason
of the awakened interest on the part
of fathers many parent-teacher asso-
Citations have grown out OF what were
simply mothers cubs. Fathers now
hold office, take part in the program
and add the weight of their influence
, both at home and IN the schooi- Sieee
ines for parents held in the even
ings about once "A month, While the
mothers clubs continue their AFTER
noon sessions, as before.
In a large numDer OF cases II mas
been through the solicitation OF the
principals and teaches that THESE
cluDs have been organized by MIS-
Rafter, for they all realize the impof
tance of knowing the parents OF tnei,
pupils. In order to better understand
the child and help him the teacher
must know sometnlng OF his ENVIRON
nent-
These associations" continued Mrs.
Rafter, ARE actuated by the best OF
motives. The members realize that the
hoard of education Is doing all it pos
sibly can to make the school system of
This city everything that could be de-
sired, but that it is limited by lack of
funds, and they, by harmonious CO.
operation may be able to make certain
needs and improvements in the schools
80 insistent that Congress in time will
make their accomplishment possi-
bility by providing the board with
larger appropriations.
while each club is intent<upon solv-
ing the problems of it's own locality
they are nearly all united in support
ing the Congress Of Mothers in their
efforts to secure the use of school
buildings as social centers and many
of the other important questions bear
ing upon the welfare of children which
1--we hope to see evolve from dreams Il
realities.
we hope to shortly see the begin
ming of vocational training in the pri