Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-01-25

l Ouo Qey idBt Wook Uuo VI tuo now w,
ers was talking with her neighbors abou
the schools, health, sanitation and kin
dred subjects of special INTEREST," TO moth
ers and womanklnd In general. One o
them had an outline Of the health cru
SADIE, which 10 part Of the state cours
of study In our public schools, and sh'
read aloud from 1t some Of the points o
s'chores" emphasized. All the ladies
agreed that this plan was fine and tina
| It would be practical and helpful.
The condition Of our school building
was next brought up-the over.cr0wd
Ing, the possibilities of . union higl
school, the "Brick" and it's aanitary-o
neutrality-suspicious., the sewer at th'
Sburtleff school, the epidemic of sor'
tbroats, the necessity of stricter quansn
tine and health regulations.
It was the unanimous opinion OF tht
nine women present that mere man, ever
| II well.intentioned, well-educated, kind
and chivalrous, needed judicious "pok
ing' and directing along these lines-ai
witness the housekeeping OF old bach
elors and men left alone over week
end-and that women should be repre-
sented on various town committees.
One woman from Paris Hill has wittily
suggested that the majority on these
committees be male, ''as the women are
just bound to have their own way any
way"
Returning to specific conditions at the
"Brick," 1t was thought that q daily
cleansing and use OF disinfectants In the
toilets would be q good idea; and that
the town should provide the necessary
brushes, mops and disinfectants and
that the janitor should be instructed to
use them daily, also that children should
be very carefully trained at home In hab-
it's of neatness and deoency-not leaving
the disagreeable enforcement OF these
things to the long-suffering teachers and
janitors.
As to over.orowding, of course we
have got to have new grammar school
Just as soon as we can afford II; and In
the matter of additional room at the
high school, it seemed to these women
much more advisable to build wing on
to our very good new high school build
ing than to attempt an expensive union
with Norway with all the uncertainties
of that proceeding.
One OF the pupils pointed out that the
present congestion was due to the two
lsrge classes entering In 1919
and 1920, which might not occur again
for long time.
In relation to public health regula-
tions, the example of Sherwood, near
Wisconsin, was pointed out.
This town after getting health officer
who seemed to think that the town real.
" meant business in preventing diseases
racing through the schools and from
family to family, finally got down to
this policy:
l. Isoiating first and diagnosing
2. Placarding on suspicion.
8. Educational propaganda.
Much valuable Information on this
subject is issued by our own State Board
of Health and may be had for the asking.
All these things are mentioned In this
open letter as things which the women
Of Paris should be thinking over and
talking over with their more experienced
fathers, husbands and brothers, In order
to be prepared at town meeting with
convictions and not be
swept off their feet by floods OF oratory
or special pleas for ill-bslaDced expendi-
lures.
If the town OF Paris could have had
budget" for the last few years and a
careful committee had printed In
the papers, beforehand, the differ
emit needs of the town, together with the
limit of onr indebtedness. we might not
now be bonded to that limit. However,
that 10 now q matter for our children to
present needs must be met
somehow.
Health, cleanliness, morality, thrift
are all in womsn's special province both
in home and in public affairs.
Come on, sisters, let's borrow the Boy
Scouts motto and "Be prepared" for
March meeting.
URSULA OxFoRDIANA.