The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-02-13
COMMUNITY WORK


COMMUNITY WORK
"One of the lessons that we have
| learned from the World war emphasizes
anew the truth that the organized
community is the means through which
not only great national undertakings
can be carried on, but that each COM
! munty can best serve and most sue
| cessfully solve it's own Industrial prob
| lens.
The coming of peace has not les
sened the need for community work
but we see on every hand greater need
for community organization and CO.
operation to settle the perplexng and
difficult problems of today
"Of all the various fol ms of COM
munity work the parent teacher or
school improvement occupies a position
both unique and Indispensable.
1T us unique because it Is the only
organization whose members belong to
it whether they have Joined or not.
They belong not because OF their own
interest. but because they are related
to children, either as parents, grand
parents, teachers or friends.
"The home and schol are the
agencies which share in the training
of our children and they should GER
tainly cooperate. They cannot afford
to disregard each other or regard one,
another with hostility.
"A school Improvement or parent
teacher organization is Indispensable
to every community and should exist
in every rural. village and city school,
We need the mother love, too, in our
work. A school Improvement is as
Indispensable to school as a mother
and mothers love to a home.
"The parent-teacher or school i'm
provement is democratic; it sets up no
narriarz hnrSbin IT is not
exclusive club, but its mem bership is
composed of all those who love chill
dren and are interested in community
betterment. 1t touches impartialiy
every home of every race and creed.
Here are some of the prime func-
tons of the Parent-Teacher society;
To provide means for the enlarging of
school opportunity for every child in all
communities; to add to the scholastic
regime opportunity for physical and
social development.
Some associations are the nucleus OF
musical and dramatic clubs. Communi-
ty efforts in the developing and di-
recting of interest in these two great
arts are sure TO be greatly rewarded.
THE ultimate purpose of the Parent
Teacher association is the welfare and
successful training of our children,
but the circle is widening and it is
means by which the community can
come into constructive relationship
with the school in practical ways and
hearty and sincere cooperation with
teachers and school boards.
'"The parent-teacher and school i'm
provement association is in a sense 4
clearing house of information between
parent and teacher. 1t helps the par
ent to see the needs of the school, the
kind Of day home" in which their
children spend their school life.
"On the other hand it helps the
teacher through contact with the
parents to come into a more helpful
and sympathetic understanding of the
pupils.
OTHER CLUBS
Other clubs are undertaking the
serious study OF problems of children
and youth. and pursue organized
courses in child study for the sake of
self-improvement and to become more
efficient parents and better citizens
1--WE have our normal schools to
train our teachers to be better prepared
teachers, our schools and colleges for
the training of our boys and girls,
and now we have 'parent-teacher as
sociations to train our mothers
Every forward step in education
must come about because Of enlight-
.ened interest, cooperation of the peo-
pie outside the school who, with teach
ers and boards of education, will pro-
vide means for larger educational ad-
vantages.
Parents who understand and realize
the value of new opportunities for
their children are willing to be taxed
to provide funds.
Jefferson county, with its many
new school buildings of the improved
type, consolidated schools and high
schools and its good roads, will aid ma
terially in bringing Alabama up from
the forty-sixth place in educational
standards to a position near the top"