Middletown transcript., 1915-07-31
STATE CONFERENCE
Parent-Teachers Association Heard
Many Able Addresses
THE WORK GROWING in STATE


NEWARK, Del, July %. That the
Parent-Teacher Association and kindred
organizations are to play an important
part in the educational advancement of
Delaware in the future was indicated by
the reports and addresses made at the
first Delaware State Conference of
Parent Teachers Associations held here
today. The Parent Teacher Associations
or at least many OF. them were only or
ganized in Delaware during the past
school year but their influence in better
ing the conditions in the rural schools
and especially in bringing the teacher
in closer contact with the homes has
already been felt.
Reports submitted show that there
are now 1913 Parent-Teacher or similar
organizations in the state of which
number % are colored organizations.
They have been organized in school dis
tricts throughout the state and have
done wonderful good in identifying
the buildings improving the play
grounds and in improving the equip
ment of the schools. A vigorous cam
paign fo~ additional associations is to be
carried on at the beginning of the com
ing school term and continued until
there is a Parent-Teacher Association
connected with every rural school in
Delaware.
because of the fact that the associa-
ton work is of vital Importance to
teachers there were no classes of the
Delaware College Summer School after
10'o'clock this morning which is at
tended by nearly two hundred teachers
and prospective teachers. The meet
ings were held IN the college oratory
and were attended by the students of
the summer school as well as a large
number of visitors, members of the
Parent-Teacher Associations from all
parts of the state. Owing to the recent
death of her husband, Mrs. George w.
Marshall, of Milford, president of the
state association, was unable to attend.
Mrs. o. v. Wooten, of Laurel, the vice
president was the presiding officer.
During the day in addition to the inter
esting reports, addresses were made by:
J. l.. Eisenberg, superintendent of the
Chester Public schools; County Superin-
tendents E. l.. Cross, James E. Carroll
and E. ]. Hardesty; DIR. Charles A.
Wagner, State Commissioner of Educa-
tion and Mrs. Frederick Shoff, of Phla-
delphia, president of the National
Parent-Teacher Association.
The Newark association has charge
of the meeting held tonight in the ora
tory which was for the purpose of
demonstrating what is possible in the
way of giving an interesting program
for a Parent-Teacher Association in any
school district in Delaware.
The opening meeting was held at
TO- 30 o'clock, when DIR. Samuel C. Nit
chel, president of Delaware College,
welcomed the visitors with a short adj
Dress DIR. Mitchell spoke of the growth
of community life and said this had
largely been brought about by such or
ganizations as the Parent-Teacher
Associations He said there was an
opportunity to make an Eden of Della
ware
Mrs. Wooten responded with few
remarks thanking the college and the
Newark people for their hospitality
She predicted that many more associa-
tinns wou1d he formed during the con-
ing year.
Reports of the work of the associa-
tions during the past year in each of the
three counties and Wilmington We're
submitted and proved unusually inter
esting.