Evening star., 1941-01-05
PIT. A. Head Asks Serenity
In Homes During War Crisis
Children Quick to Sense Discord;
D. C.'s High Living Costs
To Boost Welfare Problems
BY MRS. C. d. LOWE,
President D. c. Congress of Parents and Teachers.

We are on the threshold of an
new year-without doubt
one of the most important that the
civilized world has ever experienced.
History is being made SO fast that it
will tax the ingenuity of historians
to compile it all correctly, and with
its full implications. The tempo of
our everyday life is being accel-
Grated constantly and as a conse-
uuence there is added nervous ten
sion and strain. Under such cir
cumstances, it is becoming increas-
ingly difficult to maintain normal
living conditions in our homes and
to present a serene countenance to
our families.
But it is also increasingly neces-
sary to make the effort to maintain
this normal balance, because when
the home is once out of focus. effect
on the children in the home is
quickly apparent Children sense
very readily when discord is present,
and when their family security is
threatened there are all sorts of
nervous reactions.
It is more than foolish to become
hysterical over the present turn OF
events because hysteria has never
helped in solving any problems; it
has only increased them and made
them doubly hard to face: Calm
but alert interest in all phases of
everyday happenings will fortify one
to withstand hysterical meanings
read into the present emergency,
and will assist in maintaining the
serenity which will in turn impart
serenity to the members of ones
family.
Parent-teacher people, by the very
nature of their organization, are al
ways at work; there is always some
thing for them to do, because they
are always interested in the welfare
of children. With the large increase
in Washington's population there
will be more and more work for us
to do. There will be more children
in our schools with an increased
need for larger appropriations for
our school expenses. There will be
more welfare problems, because
manv of these families are unaware
of the living costs which are prev
alent here.
In all of these problems the parent
teacher associations will be vital
factor, and I am sure that members
of our organization will not be found
wanting. 1t has usually been the
rule that the greater the challenge,
the more ready we have been to
meet it. And I am sure that IN
this new year of 1941 parent-teacher
people will demonstrate as never
before their usefulness in their re-
spective communities. And may
their work be of such nature that In
its doing each individual will ex-
nerience the satisfaction that comes
only in unselfshly assisting those
who are less fortunate and who are,
perhaps, unable to do for themselves.
John Burroughs.
Fathers night will be observed
Thursday at $3.50 pm. DR.. Paul y.
Carr. professor of social sciences at
Wilson Teachers College, will speak
on "Education in Democracy" ana
Zeb T. Hamilton, from the American
Legion, will give short. talk on
"The Significance of the Pledge 10
the Flag" Music will be furnished
bv the Community Band under the
direction of Avery T. Brunner, and
the Girls Glee Club of Mckinney
High School. Miss Katherine Audla
will play an accordion solo.
A luncheon is planned for Janu-
ary IS at the Fairfax Hotel.
Mckinley High.
The Executive Board will meet
Wednesday at 1:30 pm.
The association will meet January
ID when a motion picture Will De
shown. The same evening the asso-
ciation will sponsor a dinner for
parents, teachers and pupils IN tne
school cafeteria.
PetwOrth.
The association will meet Tuesday
at t8p.m. Ovid McMillion will speak
on 1.-THE Development of a Well
Balanced Child in Democratic Liv-
ing" A musical program has been
planned. ~,
The Executive Committee WILL
meet at pm.
MadisOn-TaylOr.
A meeting will be held Thursday
at 1:3O pm. in the Taylor School.
A motion picture They Do Come
Back" will be shown at pm. The