Evening star., 1920-01-14
WOMEN BEG|NN
MOVE FOR BETTER
DISTRICT SCHOOLS
Congress of Mothers and
Parent-Teacher ASS0cia-
tionS Take Lead.

An Independent movement for inn
provement of the local public school
system was started today by group
of women's organizations led by the
District Congress of Mothers and Par
ent-Teacher Associations at meet
ing in the Teachers Club. 18th and
+ streets.
Addresses were made by Roland
Robbins, president of the Rotary Club
and executive committeeman of the
National Capital School Betterment
Council; by Miss NJ. Gertrude Young
of the primary schools, Miss Clara X.
StutZ of the junior high schools and
Miss Roberta Wallace of the high
schools. Mrs. Giles Scott Rafter, pres
ident of the Parent-Teacher Associa-
tions. presided.
1t is the purpose of the women's or
ganiZationS to have a committee in
each parenttea cher group make a
survey of various conditions in the
school with which the organization Is
primarily concerned. Special atten-
ton will be given to the number of
pupils in charge of each teacher, the
playground and toilet room space and
convenience, heating and ventilation,
and temporary buildings used. From
a digest of all reports there will be
drawn up program of action which
their campaign.
Plans 10 Cooperate.
This new movement will not be in
any sense antagonistic to the plans
and purposes of the School Better
Mrs. Rafter. Where cooperation is
feasible, she explained. there will be
cooperation. When the parent-teach-
er organization believes it can ac-
complish more by working independ-
emily it will do SO. 1t will gather all
its own data and the surveys will be
made by mothers and teachers in daily
contact with actual conditions.
"We have started this movement
because the mothers of the city are
tired of the failure of the men to get
anything accomplished during a
stretch of years in which they have
been talking about doing this. that
and the other thing to improve the
schools" Mrs. Rafter said at a pre-
liminary conference of the presidents
and delegates Of regional parent
teacher clubs.
We are determined to have a schoo
system Washington can be proud of
a school system that will give oul
children the training they are en-.
titled to. There is only one schoo
building in the city which we car
d
High School, and now it is over.
crowded.
Many of US feel that the rank and
file of fathers and mothers know NOR,
Intimately and concretely than othel
groups the shortcomings OF the pres
ent system and the points at. which
reorganization or reform will be nee
essary. Therefore we aim to Assem-
BILE this anfermation.- first hand. ans
make 1t generally public. We invit,
the cooperation of the teachers ant
principals and any other groups thai
care to join u.s."
Those mt Conference.
There were present at this confer
ence: Mrs. H. r. Livingston and Mrs
H. P. Clark, Brightwood Park; Mrs
J. c. Hatton. Buchanan; Mrs
G. A. Hutchinson. Wallach-To
Mrs. Joseph Goldberger. John Eaton;
Shumate, J. R West: Mrs E. ]. New
myer. Johnson-Powell: Mrs. A. K
Wine. Federation of Women's Clubs
Mrs. J. Hayes. Hilton; Mrs. William
L. Dunlop, Jackson; Mrs. J. n
work; Mrs. Charles Hutchinson
chairman of children's literature
work; Mrs. G, A. Fraser, Fairbrother
Mothers Club. and Mrs. w. F. Holtz-
man. chairman of the ways and
means committee.
Mr.. Robbins described the work out
lined by the executive committee OF
the School Betterment Council. Miss
Young. Miss StutZ anu Miss Wallace
described conditions in the schools
with which they are connected. and
discussed the proposed salary meas
ure.
Luncheon was served in the club
rooms at noon.