The Wrangell sentinel., 1925-01-29

nificance-which teachers, princi- pals and superintendents meet and are forced to solve, are all neces- sary to a complete understanding and appreciation between the school and the home and society in gen. eral Discussions of community problems by the parents is not less important in helping the school to appreciate, and adjust its work to, the needs of the community. From the very nature of the teaching profession in America, where teach CTS go and come almost biennally it is absolutely necessary, if the highest possible degree of efficiency is to be maintained within the ed ucational system, that the com munity, through its parents, con- Rey to the teachers an understand ing of its hopes and fears, it's ideals and its ambitions. The P.-T.A. alone stands as the medium through which this complete understanding must come. Cheap gossip may be had almost anywhere regarding the schools, the teachers, or school problems, but serions thought is the need of the hour.
 There is yet another fieid of legitimate activity open to the PIT. A. that would not shirk its duty. There is a missing cog between the school and its needs and the eco homie and civic machinery of all most every community. There are often things which are necessary to a schools greatest effeciency which constituted authorities cannot pro- vide for economic or legal reasons. It is often possible for a work ing" P.-T.A. organization to supply these needs. Then there is always that insidious opposition to a tax levy sufficient to meet the growing needs of the school from those who think more of the almighty dollar than of the future of our civiliza- tion. It is clearly up to the Parent Teacher Association to educate the community to a realization of these needs and to agitate the question with a persistence and fervor which will not rest until the goal is reach ed. There can be neither logic nor horse sense" in arguing that tax levies are already too high where Assessed valuations on property rep resent only from one half to enc fourth of actual selling values. Where such conditions stand in the way of necessary school funds it is high time for P.-TA's to get into action.
 It has not been many moons since school board member con- fided to the writer that he had never seen a Teacher Asso- citation ''that was worth a darn" Te writer has seen and assisted ill "burying" associations of this type and felt that he was doing a service to the school and commun ity. On the other hand the oc- casion which prompts the present discussion is the splendid work be- ing done during the present year by the Parent-Teacher Association of Wrangell It would be difficult to conceive of an association com- posed of a more uniformly ener- getic, public-spirited group of men and women vitally interested in the welfare of the schools.
 Since the beginning of the pres ent school year this Association has held a regular meeting on the second Thursday of each month, at which the major topics discussed at the programs were designed to bring the parents of the commun- ity into closer touch with, and a
 better understanding of, the poll. cies, aims, and actual work of the schools. Following the major pres. entations light lunches were served and round table discus .-