Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-02

oOiAC PldSCS AdNC OSSA VI ehH~S eAc-
sistance in helping to secure noon
lunch equipment, playground equip
ment, furnishing teachers rooms. etc.
zone Of the greatest needs of the
Maine parent associations Is
that they shall have a definite pro-
gram of the years work planned out
Systematically. The associations
should follow a logical plan and not
consider hit or miss subjects without
relation to the need of the commun-
ity. A program committee IL there
fore one Of the most important COM
mittees to be appointed. 1t 10 my
experience that in these associations
where a printed program for the year
much more interest Is likely to be ta-
ken in the work and the attendance IL
likely to be better.
For example, when speakers arc
secured only from meeting to meeting
and not in pursuance of a well
thought out plan, it is doubtful II
much besides getting together and
pleasing entertainment is accOm-
plished. This last is really of some
benefit but not so much as are meet
ings which have defpite aim in
their arrangement. Busy people who
are experts in educational matters
are seldom available at short notice
but their services can nearly always
be secured il they are notified early
in the season. Such people are fully
as likely to consent to fill date for
the parent-teacher association il they
feel that there il some definite object
to be accomplished by their presence.
When l get a letter a few days before
an association meeting asking me IL
I will come and speak on any subject
l wish and II l cannot come please
get someone else to come and speak
on any subject he or she wishes, pro-
vided there is no expense, / have
strong suspicion there has not been
very great deal OF thought put into
| the program for that meeting. I am
very less likely to try to arrange
date than l am il a request comes in
stating the objects of the association
| and expressing a desire to have some
definite line Of work discussed. This
is usually true Of all those whose
| services are available for parent
teacher association work.
I'm these days many new methods
are being discussed by educators.
such subjects as silent reading, so
} cialiZed recitation and the project
method are much talked of in our
school work and make valuable ma
terial for discussion and information
at the parent teacher meetings. 1t is
usually possible to have demonstra--
| ton classes show the application of
some Of these methods at the meet
| ings. When this type Of work is Civ
en-. the association is much more like
/ ly to be in sympathy with the school
program. and the school people are
much more likely to feel that the as
| sociation has a definite understand
| ing of their aims. This. all helps in
| bringing about the desired spirit OF
cooperation and mutual understand
| ing"
Association Reports
Messages from all over the State
| were received. when the various dele
gates were called upon to give reports
of the activities of their associations
| in the past year.
! The Pearl street Parent Teachers
association of Bangor was reported
upon by Mrs. Charles Cameron. This
| is the second year of the association
anG it has a membership of so. She
! stated that what they lacked in num-
bcrs they made up in enthusiasm.
| They feature to social get-togethers.
| They have purchased song books for
the schOls, milk and also scales for
the use of the school nurse.
! The Little City association, with
| 16O members. was reported upon by
| Miss Augusta kirtein. She stated
! that their association agitated the
! question of new school building
! and was largely instrumental in the
/ advance in that project which has
, been made. -.
From the South End Parent
Teachers association in Bath a most
interesting report was given by Mrs.
w. w. CLANCY. Their work has in
Guided clothing for 100 children;
! shoes and rubbers for Il large num-
her; a ton of coal for a poor FAM
lily; baskets for the poor and the
aged at Thanksgiving and Christ
mas; four memberships for boys in
the Y. NJ. c. A.: 1O3 full layettes in
answer to the call from the Red
Cross: volley ball for school chill
dren; records for school phono-
graph; toothbrushes, pencils and
paper for school distribution; candy
bags and rag dolls for the children;
milk supplied to the value of S2S4;
$40 to the new high school fund:
over 500 for Health drive as re-
suit of flower sale and number of
othere benevolent acts.
The Falmouth Foreside Parent
Teachers association has given aid
to three families which were burned
out of their homes; aided in the
Public Health work; offered lee
lures on forestry birds.
T.. j. GleSZer of Bangor gave an
interesting report of the work done
by the Elm street Parent TeacheIs'
association of Bangor. He reported
that the year had been a most sue
cessful one. The club was started
! with 10 or 20 members and now has
a membership of 100. The city
physician has talked to the school
through the efforts of the associa-
ton: very successful parties have
been held. They are endeavoring to
place flags in every school room of
the city.
The president. Mrs. Abbott, gave a
few words of praise for the Dun
stan Parent Teachers association,
which recently entertained 40
guests. including Governor Baxter
and Supt. of State Schools A. O.
Thomas.
The Austin association Of Kittery
Point was reported upon. 1t has a
membership of 80. They held a
movie benefit and raised $50 towards
the piano fund: they want to equip
the Playground: they have bought
paper towels for school use. They
have called upon the leading men
of Portsmouth. N. H., a good deal
to speak to them. The delegate
made a plea for enthusiasm in her
association, but Mrs. Abbott in gra-
cious manner declared, that Judging
from the long distance the Kittery
delegate had travelled. that she had
a great deal OF interest in the work