Smyrna times., 1917-01-24
SMYRNA CLUB WOMEN HEAR
REPORT ON "CIVIC" WORK
MRS. c. LELAND HARMONSON,
CHAIRMAN, READS FINE REPORT
Shows the Work the Club Committee
on CiVics Has Done, What They De-
sire and Ask for Cooperation

on CiVics Has Done, What They De-
sire and Ask for Cooperation
In her annual report to the Twen-
tieth Century Club of Smyrna, sub
mitted at recent meeting, Mrs. c.
Leland HarmonsoD, chsirman of the
Civic Committee, makes euch an in
teresting report of the work done and
what they are trying to do, it becomes
a matter of town pride and we give
space to her report with the hope it
will stimulate interest on the part of
both the town council and the citizens
of Smyrna to renew their effort in the
spring for clown Beautiful -
Civic Work Should Properly Agitated
The first need is not to change town
conditions. The first need is to create
the desire to change town conditions.
People must begin TO think about Civic
work before they will begin to do civic
work.
To make people think we must have
up-to date lecturers to arouse US to
our sense of duty as citizens. Our
local newspapers could then help by
keeping the subject of civcs before
our eyes while one of the surest means
at hand for rousing civic consciousness
is our club, and that means you and
me
Among the things. am striving
for this year, is the teaching of COM
munity civics in the public school.
The aim of community civics is to
help the child know bis community,
not merely lot of facts about it, but
the meaning of his every dav life.
what it does for him, and how it does
it, what he may expect from his town,
and what his town expects from him.
Make the child see that the little acts
in his daily play and work can be OF
great benefit to him, to his fellows,
and to his town, or may be disastrous
to all these.
Teach the child individual pride and
responsibility in such simple virtues
as cleanliness, preservation of prop
erty, health and system of action anC
soon he will unconsciously demand the
same of others and you will be re-
watded by finding that your boy OIL
girl has the germ of community vel
fare deeply imbeded in his mind ant
actions.
If community civics had been in m,
school course l would have known tn
meaning of my community life AM
felt a personal responsibility in it an
personal responsibility makes one wan
to act.
Right action, depends not only upol
information, interest and will but ais
your good judgement. For example
pupils can hardly have any larg
responsibility for the water supply o
their community; but they can he'll
to conserve it by avoiding waste fror
water taps, and they can help to pre-
vent the spread of diseases by usin
individual drinking cups and by cult
waiting a sentiment at home agains
concentrating the sources of waite
supply Especially if wells or spring
are used. 1t is hardly appropriat
for child to reprove the milkma
for carelessness in handling milk bU
he may exert influence in securin
proper care of milk and milk bottle
in the home.
Get the child interested in civics
school and you will soon see the chi
drawing his parents interest into h
little civic problems, such as, cleanir
off the snow and cleaning up al
planting his back yard, meanwhi
developing into good citizen.
Will You All Help the Movement?
Discuss with your friends the su
ject of teaching elementary facts
this sort in the school-room, speak
our school board about it as we'll as
our teachers. Quite true our schc
course is very full but just ask the
to give our children few talks a
hints along this line and above all s
them a good example. Let the
learn the community spirit.
Not only is it making your chi
into a good citizen but it is leadi
him to realize the important matt
of health.
He realizes that a man has no rig
to sell unwholesome food. adultera
butter, or unhyginic milk. He "
soon see why society can and oul
to prevent such things as pig pens
they are detrimental to the hea
and cleanliness of familydespite
fact they may be on the. property
another.
All this may indeed be trite
no doubt all wise parents teach tn
children just such things, but it is o
through the public system that we
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