Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-05-27
ANOTHER RAP AT THE SCHOOL

ANOTHER RAP AT THE SCHOOL
To the Editor OF The Middebury Reg
lister,
Dear Mr. Editor
Have you space in your columns for
a word from a plain mother, represent
ing no club, sect, or organization, but
who in all humanity hopes to stand for
all that the term Motherhood" i'm
plies?
| am a plain, old fashioned mother,
of most unpopular variety in these
latter days. l have a vital and low
ing interest in the welfare of childen-
my own and others.
To say that the mother who gives
herself to the care and training of
her children serves her country far
more effectually than by giving her
time to social uplifting is almost trite.
Every true mother has an interest in
the school which takes care of her
children for close to six hours day,
| five DAYS in a week. Some mothers
keep in touch with school by visiting
during the working hours and listening
to Rotations. Others go when an
entertainment, celebration or special
drill is on. The work of children on
these delightful special occasions is,
however no more an indication of
what our schools are doing to fit chill
dren for life work than is the hectic
flush on the cheeks of consumptive
patient an indication Of glowing health.
In the fall of 1920 five women re-
presenting the educational department
of the Woman's Club, made a survey
and study of every day conditions in
our public schools These women, l
understand, do not lay claim to any
acknowledge. They entered upon
their task with open minds and honest
purpose They had no intention to
put something over, but simply to
make a fair report of conditions found.
In November the report OF this com
mittee was submitted before a large
meeting of the educational depart
ment. In January following, the com
mittee of women appeared before the
school board presented their findings
and made the modest request that
such suggestions Of theirs as might be
carried out at once be given the early
attention Of the board
The gentlemen listened with polite
attention, and the work of these wom-
en- who had given much time and
thought to a serious consideration OF
the school system was junked-scrap-
ped.
Such survey is not peculiar to
| Middlebury. 1t is being done in many
! places where there exists a live inter
Fest in the public school. 1t would
seem that such a survey deserves at
tention on the part of those having
neither time nor will to make such a
study. Would the women submit
report OF their survey to The Regis
ter so that the information may be-
come general?
1t is more than passing strange that
in a village Of the alleged enhghten-
ment of Middlebury it should be ne
cessarv to make an appeal for the use
Of the fire-escapes on the public school
buildings.
Mrs. Collins article published in The
Register of last week opened the eyes
of MANY parents to the very real dan
ger confronting our children, owing to
the non-use Of the fre-escapes.
There is humorous inconsistency
in the action OF a community which
votes Sl20O right off the bat for neat
siren whistle while at the same time
refusing to make use OF fre-escapes
costing nothing but repairs. 1t is for
us parents to insist that drill on the
fire escapes be conducted at frequent
intervals
And that suggestion leads to another
namely, that we in the near future
elect mothers candidate, or if that
is not feasible as yet, at least let US
have a fathers candidate. For strange
ly enough the situation at present is
that on the school board as now con
stituted only one father land he a
most earnest and efficient member
having children in school represents
the parents OF Middlebury. Curious,
isn't it;
Wake up, Middlebury, from your
long period OF comfortable assurance
that your schools are plenty good
enough. Schools are as good as W.
make them and not whit better.
MOTHER