The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-06-08

b
work. The association now has en-
rolled over 10000 women, but there
are over 100000 women who are elig
ible There are 120 branches in 8;
states. Their activities are along
educational, soc al and civic lines
Much of their effort has been eXpen(
ed in establishing fellowships, % pei
cent Of their funds being set aside
for this purpose The Vermont
Branch was started in 1920 at the
state teachers meet ng and now has
enrolled 105 members, Mrs Calvin
Coolidge Of Rutland being the Tooth
member preferring to be enrolled In
the Vermont Branch. Middlebury
college became accredited in March
of this year They have raised 500
for the Nine. Curie radum fund and
Miss Varney former Y V. NJ. grad
uate helped prepare the radium, pro
cured for Nine Curie The associa
tion gives advice and Information to
girls desirous of entering college.
The nominating committee for 1922
% was chosen as follows. Mrs. Wal
ter j. Bigelow of Brattleboro, chair
man: Mrs, n. p Phelps, Barre, Mrs
John Piddock of Bellows Falls, Mrs
Thomas Bradiee of Burlington; Mrs,
L. Il. Porter, st. Johnsbury
Mrs. Robert e. Smith of White
River Junction Past President and
vi vice-president of NJ. T.. Conference,
then gave her message from the n r,
Conference held in Portland two years
ago. She mentioned especially a
speaker who brought inspiring
thoughts for service in Americaniza-
tion and Citizenship work.
Delegates were ethen elected for
the ~ f. Conference which meets at
Bread Loaf Inn, Vermont, Sept 7, s
1921 Miss Ed tn Blanchard, Mont
pelier; Mrs. J A. Greenwood of Ches-
ter, Mrs. C. G. Clifford Of Bethel Mrs.
Edward Grain, Hardwick, Mrs. II. G.
Barber of Brattleboro, Miss Berenice
Tuttle of Rutland, Mrs Frank Howe
of Bennington, Mrs. l.. j. Hathaway
Cf Middlebury, Mrs. Robert r. French
of st. Johnsbury and Mrs O. Fl. Coo
ledge of Rut and. Delegates we're in
structed to secure their own alter
mates in case of their inability to at
tend the conference.
Mrs Dorothy Garfield Fisher OF
Arlington then told in her most
yiyacious manner Of the founding and
the work of the Battenkill Women $
club Of Wilmington.
Mrs Fisher spoke especially, with
great enthusiasm Of the new plans
for what is known as the standardza-
tion or rural schools, which has work
ed out by the state board of educa-
tion. TIL S is a plan to make begin
ming where all beginnings ought to
be made, at the very bottom and foun
dation, and to improve the actual, ma
terial, physical conditions of our rur-
al school-houses.
Every American, certainly every
Vermonter, is born with the feeling
that good education is the foundation
of the prosper ty Of any community
and any state. But in too many cases
this inherent feeling never gets put
into action, because no action is at
hand, understandable, plain, easy OF
achievement by every one.
There is probably n Vermonter who
has passed one of our forlorn, dreary
little one-r0om school houses without
saying to himself; Something ought
to be done about that to improve t.
The new plan of the state board aims
to put in the place of that vague word
Something a series of concrete defi
mite images, so that people will say:
Those windows should be changed to
prevent cross-'ight on the black
boards; hard wood floor should be
laid in the place Of those sagging,
splintery worn-out boards a decent
place for the children to wash their
faces and hands should be arranged. !.
a decent and san 'tary toilet should be
installed hot lunches should be
served in cold weather, etc, etc"
How is he going to get these def
mite ideas? Through new state Of
fetal, to be appointed at once, whose
whole business should be to attend
to this standardization of rural
schools; through a printed statement
Of conditions, down to the last detail,
VIII ch will be sent to anyone who
asks for it, from the state board of
education.
And suppose he does bring his dis
trict one-room school up to standard.
Does he get anything out of it, beyond
the lively satisfaction over a good
deed? Yes, indeed. he does He has
his lively sense of satisfaction and
more state aid for his school, as well
as plate to put on his building, tes-
tlfying to the fact it is now up to
standard
Here is something tangible, defin-
ite, immediate for all good citizens in
Vermont to take hold Of Here is a
plain job requiring ability to pound
nails saw boards, and paint wood
work, such as we al have.
Send to the state board for printed
matter giving all particulars, orga-
nize a 'sChoolhouse bee" have the
time of your life working with your
neighbors, and sleep better nights
because Of the knowledge that one
more school-house in Vermont is
raised from the forlorn, unattractive,
dingy outlaw class to being one of
the big forces for good in the com.
munity,
Mrs. Henry r. Brown of Brattle.
boro, reported the N, L. Conference
held at Profile House last fall al
so giving her department report at
this time
i Mrs Oliver q Ashton of Rutland