The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-01-05
Nvashington star

that there are no less than seventy
parent-teacher associations Sca''ereu
thoughout the city. Some OF these are
combined into federations; most OF
them are affiliated with the Congress
Of Mothers, while others claim no Tor
NAL organization whatever, but
hroug them all the same underlying
spirit of earnest desire to cooperate
with the teacher in promoting the
good Of the child prevails.
In the majority Of instances these
organizations which consist of par
ents and teachers, AVE constitutions.
regularly elected officers, are SeiI-Sup-
porting through their ANIMAL dues. Us
ually % cents, and in many cases haVe
q little reserve fund to devote TO pur-
poses which claim their attention.
Regular business meetings are heid'
after which come programs OF enter
tainment or instruction, refreshments
and addresses by wei known speak
erS.
Organizer Talks.
Mrs. Giles Scott Raftcr, president OF
the district ranch IF the National
Congress of Mothers, who organized
most OF these clubs i'll discussing
school associations remarked:
''The day has gone by when q IA
theirs duty ended with enforcing at
tendance at schoo and signing his
children's reports. Now the 1atherS
join the mothers in their efforts TO
learn the reason back of q poor per
centage in some particular study or
in department. They, too, attend the
gatherings at the schools. BY reason
of the awakened i~r~erest on the part
If fathers many parent-teacher aSSo-
cations have grown out OF what were
simply mothers clubs. Fathers now
hold office, a part in the program
and add the weight Of their influence
hDfk NJ homo un1 in tho Cnhnn1 Maof-
ings for parents are held in the even
ings about once a month, while the
mothers clubs continue their after
noon sessions, as before"
In q large number Of cases it has
been through the solicitation OF the
principals and teachers that these
clubs have been organized by Mrs
Rafter. for they all realize the impOr
lance of knowing the parents of theil
pupils. In order to better understand
the child and help him the teacher
must know something OF his environ
ment.
"These associations continued Mrs
Kafter, ARE by the best o
motives. The members realize that tn
board OF education is doing all it pos
sibly can to make the school system O
this city everything that could be de
sired, but that it is limited by lack @
funds, n they, by harmonious &C
operation, may be able,to make Gel
tain needs and improvements in tn
schools so insistent that Congress i
time will make their Accomplishment
q possibility by providing the boar
with larger appropriations.
while each club is intent upon so
wing the problems of it's own localit
they are nearly all united in supper
Ing the Congress of Mothers in the
Efforts to secure the use of scho
buildings as social centers and mar
of the other important questions bea
ing upon the welfare of children whit
We hope to see evolve from dreams
realities.
Vocational Training.
We hope to shortly see the hegi
ming of vocational training in the pl
mary grades. This will mean a gre
stride forward in preparation for t
time when boys and girls go out in t
world to earn their living.
There are. approximately, 5S,0
pupils in our graded schools. The co
bined enrolment of high schools q
normal school students, includi
about 1900 colored pupils. is abe
$500. OF which at least 200 are
technical schools. Now, each v.
there are approximately $500 pup
graduated from the eighth grades.
which number, less than half,
more h a 1900 go to high sch,
WHAT cecomes Of the 1900 who go
- VI itSS IMAM SlXJt
years old? They work in stores. sh,
as messengers and in other lines. n,
OF which give them as good a living
II they had received special training
vocational training gives tn
something definite and practical to
pend upon and if they must earn Il
hVlng after they have completed
elghth grade, they are better eouip
and arr bound to get along better I
is true at present when all are bs
taught alike. "
Ihe constantly increasing dem
tor young men and women to fiji
cancies In lines OF work ont ~
beaten path is sufficient argument
the introduction Of special yocat;,
work. For instance. there is alwa
need Tor window diapers and dec
tors. designers of every descrint
anu there are never enough SIX
basket makers, embroidery and Z:
workers. -" 4
unen' too. there are many on
tunites awaiting young women
are Sk1itQd In