Evening journal., 1922-04-08

III HuthtAi Was tAt hAsb oht-NthNhNA
school TO purchase the books. Mar
vels in Sussex, has gotten In touch
with the owner Of property adjoin
Ing the school. who has consented TO
release the amount of land requlr
ed for a playground. and the asso-
ciation is preparing to buy equip
ment. Christiana colored, In New
Castle. is raising funds to have
fence around the school property
St. Georges has supplied both school
and playground equipment The
last mentioned association has reach
ed the envlable position where Il is
possible TO reserve the entire period
of the regular meeting night for
study OF school problems. and have
the social program on a second even
ing.
In the large towns the work OF
the P. T. A. and the educational
committee OF the New Century Clubs
sometimes overlaps. One duplicates
the others effort. Middletown and
Newark, during the year. have af-
forded pleasing demonstrations OF
cooperative effort on the part OF
these two associations. which have
resulted in a number OF helpful
things for the school.
THE Parent-Teacher Association
as a voluntary organization OF citi-
zens, can do many things to add 10
the efficiency OF the local district
But the danger OF trespassing on
Official ground. OF attempting to as
sumo duties which rightfully belong
/ to the State or local Boards OF Edu-
cation. must never be overlooked. II
the association is to be a real help
to the neighborhood. Michigan has
sounded a warning in this respect
which is heartily endorsed by the
State association. She says:
Never interfere in matters OF
school administration or policy,
either as an individual or an asso-
citation. Always consult school au-
thorities before adding to the school
equipment Our field is broad, our
mission well-dehned. an organization
wholly within the law and OF in
, describable beneht 20 the public
schools;-our duty is 10 socialize th'
schools to raise the spiritual atmos
phere and to supply the school chill
dren with those things which schoo
boards cannot afford. We have M
connection with the administrative
policy OF the schools. We have
, definite place. a definite work, an'
we can accomplish much II We hev
closely TO the line
Although the material asslstanc
that the Parent Teacher Association
can bring to the schools justihes il
D existence IN every school district
: its great purpose. as Michigan ha
, said as 70 socialize the school, Is {
raise the spiritual atmosphere 10 so
cialize the neighborhood. Some com
I munities IN America seem 10 hav
r forgotten that they are a part c
( a democracy; they seem to hav
I forgotten that there are still CON
% mon problems which we must NEE
I together TO discuss II we are to hol
p true 10 the conception OF the Amer
2 lean government. Chief among thee
- are those relating to the publ
% schools, problems relating to tn
chance we are giving our boys an
citizens. capable OF being entruste
with perpetuation OF Americanisn
/. The Delaware Parent-Teacher Assc
, ciation stands for an open schoC
house. where. on the joint propert
OF the tax-paying residents. sue
/ problems as relate to the public goo
may be freely discussed. II Is pleas
f-t .,ot, O., .oeef,- tbof nofa r-a -
Is credited, as a result OF a eurve
, recently made by Columbia Univer
r slty. with a greater proportional
, number OF school buildings open 10
r evening meetings than any othe
state In the Union.
Every association represente
here today is holdl>s. I believe. a
least onO-=1eeting a month. Thes
meetings are opportunities. The
should stand for sociability. 10
greater neighborliness. for the devel
b opment of the spirit OF play. bu
they must stand for even more o
these things. They afford the com
mon meeting ground where we ma
all get together and learn from on
another. Everything around us
changing. We are more than hal
spiritually dead unless we, toe
: change with changing things Wha
y is standard today will be cast asid
tomorrow. Let the p. T. A. in you
neighborhood become a trainin
school for progressive things. Max
q 1t bring TO your people a familiarit
with the best health practice,
knowledge of preventive measure
q which have saved many commun
!, ties from serious diseases, NOR
wholesome recreation in the neigh
10 borhood. an acquaintance with IN
A. conception of modern education. an
rs the knowledge OF the things whic
le the present day requires. II we al
a. to guarantee a square deal to OF
r. children"
~ Mrs. A. Iightne OF New Cast
te chairman OF the membership cor
ol mittee. reported 223 local cor
or munity associations. known by van
" Gus names-Parent-T Teacher AssC
TO citation. Home and school Leagu
er Community Club. Welfare and Civ
as Associations, etc.-fully ahiliat'
ty with the State Parent-Teacher A
It. sociation. OF this number SO q