The Press., 1917-01-25

been built up in many. Communitie
 through the Parent Teacher asaoci | atinns
 l The time was when teacher and {
 group of pupils composed school.
 Then all that was taught was read ling, writing, arithmetic and spelling
 But to day much more ia demanded o1
 the school than to afford such limited
 training. New subjects are eontinu.
 ally being added to the curriculum.
 The school is expected to-day to take
 the child at a very early age and
 train the mental and bodily powers
 in the high school, finding the child'a
 special aptitude and preparing it for
 vocation. Many schools are now
 finding the position for the pupil and
 giving the instruction and assistance
 needed after leaving school. New
 intellectual, new social, new moral
 and new vocational demands are
 continually being made upon the schools The school is doing anuch
 work to-day that was formerly done
 by the home in the way of developius the powers and abilities,of the child and after preparing him finding a position.
 As this has become so schools have become social and economic instiru- tions, They are important factors in the economic and social deEsloprqepf of community. The school is able to perform all these functions well only through a close relation to the life of the community. This de- mands an intelligent understand ng of the work of the school on the part of the community, and a willingness to cooperate in the efforts of tha school.
 This cooperation has taken many forms in different communities but the great general movement that has developed in recent years has been that of the parent-teacher clubs This work was first started by the National Congress of Mothers in the year 1897 as a part of the work of the Congress. It was intended to bring together parents and teachers in the various school districts for the discussion and mutual understanding of each other in their efforts to aid the child The purpose of these first was declared to be, to raise the standard of home life, to give mothers a chance to learn how better to care for children, to bring into closer relation the school and the home, to surround the child with wise loving care in it's mpressionable years and to bring about better understanding between parent and teacher.
 The Parent Teacher associations bring the parents and teachers to- gether in monthly meetings to discuss questions of the physical child, it's nurture and care, the relation of the | child to the school, the disciplinary l and developmental value of mother song and child song, the hidden force | of education, the religious training l 1f the child in the home and the school, home study and school work, inc adolescent child, the relation of ,hild nourishment, amusements and leep to school advancement and many others of equal importance
 In these meetings are discussed the are and food of the young child; low much sleep is needed for the child. Teachers learn the Iifficulties encountered by the child n the home, and how defects are. 'ausing backwardness of the child in chool Parents who know nothing if the psychology of child nature soon earn how important is the child mind md how true it is that "A little hild shall lead them.'' The mother earns that the child play is of as much importance as the husbands work; that great plans and difficult problems are worked out by the little mild with his toys, that he should ,e left to work out his plans with his oys and not be disturbed every few minutes or taken away to bed just in he midst of difficulty.
 In these meetings opportunity is 'ffered the parent and teacher to meet md discuss the work of the child without seeming to intrude on the Ither's time. This opens the way for he mother to visit the school and lbserve the work, and understand many things that otherwise cause omplaint The parents active in crest is an incentive to the child to To better work. The bringing to. ,ether of parents and teachers of the nigh school offers an opportunity to onfer about the boy or girl at that ritical stage in life, the adolescent ,eriod, and thus more wholesome and desirable relations between the boys md girls are brought about. Parents md teachers may discuss the aptitudes md ambitions of the pupils, the way if discovering those aptitudes and the raining necessary for a chosen vocation.
 Finally, the parent.teaohers organi- iation acts as a body to build up eminent and encourage school i'm that is so much needed y the school authorities. The uperintendent and teachers can report conditions to the association, the
 Al. SAs nake investigations and repolt find. ngs to the school authorities.
 Some Parent Teacher associations rave led in a movement for improve nent and decoration of school grounds, nore pleasing school architecture and nore attractive school rooms. Some rave brought about a sentiment for better sanitary conditions, some have lo ~o0ocShIn i%oh mall nj