The Republican., 1925-12-03

vantage any help that the supervisor
may be able to offer her. They can
instill a regard for civic beauty, re
spect for property rights and build
up standards of right living. They can
discover if poor work in school is due
to a lack of time at home in preparing
lessons or to other home conditions
that might be adjusted. Whatever
improves the conditions under which
the teachers and pupils work, through
encouragement or through material
aid, contributes to the efficiency Of
the work of the supervisor in that
school.
One important branch is to make it
a social center School lends itself
to the social ideas, especially because
of the possibility of enlisting there
all classes Of children and adults in
the community in civic welfare
schemes. All sorts of social activi-
ties may be developed. such as the
following: Athletic contests, debat-
ing clubs, defamation contests and
spelling schools; canning clubs, poul
try clubs and garden shows. Such a
school may become a center of book,
magazine, newspaper and picture
gatherings. However, the main thing
to be emphasized is the fact that the
social center, are established in the
school building, is not for the poor
districts of city or village alone,
but that its underlying principles of
neighborliness and goodwill carries
within it an appealing power that
makes for community upbuilding
throughout the city.
1t is generally conceded by those
in a position to know that the most
important step forward in the devel-
opment Of your public school system
is the growing interest on the part Of
parents and the folks at home in
what is going on in the school room.
The investigation of attendance at
the local school will include such
questions as the following: Are the
children out of school who should be
there? How many children are re-
peating their grades? Is this because
of absence from school, lack of ability
or both?
1t is impossible to go into all the
fields of usefulness of an organiza-
tion of this kind. However, its work
can be properly performed only when
parents actually attend the meetings.
1t is important that some means be
adopted for bringing these people
out. Written notices sent out from
the school by the children or sent di-
rectly through the mail, do not at
tract attention. A committee of one
or more should call and explain the
advantages Of the organization. Ev-
cry parent should take advantage Of
this wonderful organization.
The parent needs thorough appre-
citation Of education as an asset for
his children; the child is not likely to
strive for an education if his parents
undervalue its Importance. One of
the greatest misfortunes that befall
anyone is to drop out of school before
he has received a good common school
education. There is little room in
the business world today for the ig-
norant man and what opportunities
yet exist are diminishing each year
The parent and community give the
child the best equipment for life they
can provide.
Thousands of communities are be-
ing benefited by these associations.
They are being established in most
rural communities. Every large city
has number of them. | believe the
educational needs of our country will
be greatly advanced by these efforts.
1t other towns and cities can be bene-
fitted by these associations, why not
ours?