Evening star., 1943-02-07
BY MRS. r. {. ELLETT,
President, d. c. Congress of Parents
and Teachers.

rent school year Is now well started
graduation exercises are over {
whole new crop of students is OF
the scene and in each school new
faces are beginning to become IA
miliar.
Parent-teacher associations. which
experienced a breathing spell for 6
week or two, are now back in har-
ness again, and the attention oI
many OF them is turning TO new
opportunities for service. new way,
in which they may assist in the sue
cessful prosecution of the war, new
members who might be enrolled tC
add strength to any effort they
might put forth.
The war and its attendant extra
demands upon every one is making
severe inroads on the time and SelF-
ices tina; women may give to othel
volunteer work Many women feel
that nothing is important except
those services connected directly
with the war effort. Then, too, there
are many women now employed
who. in normal times, would be
occupied wholly with their house
keeping and kindred duties. Nat
urallv. the amount Of time that
these women can contribute to VOL
unteer activities is curtalled Sc
verely.
important Service.
In spite of these facts, ! am tlrmlE
of the opinion that there IS no
more important volunteer service
than that contributed to genuine
narent- teacher work, which IS, alter
all, primarily national defense. For
in the program Of our great organ
ization may be found opportunities
for every kind of service directly al
fecting the welfare OF children and
youth. We are pledged to uphold
the standards Of our American way
of life; we are bound by unWrltten
agreement to do everything III our
power to promote those services
which make for a better unoef-
standing between parents ana
teachers. between parents and chill
dren and between parents, them
selves, And. surveyed as a whole, II
is one of conservation OF our Ma
tons most precious asset-lts chill
dren.
New Members Needed.
The burden of carrying on TINS
program is falling upon group OF
women whose numbers constantly
are being diminished. The only
answer is to recruit new members
who will be able TO take up where
sone of the faithful workers have
left of. and who will carry on until
such time as we may return to
a normal pattern and life once
more will be reasonably serene ano
peaceful.
There are many pressing problems
which need to be worked out and
the hands and minds of every inter-
ested person are needed. The free
lunch program has been but tenn
porarily solved; permanent solu-
ton remains to be accomplished.
Employment Of boys and girls under
legal age is being urged. A sound
philosophy of conduct for the post
war period must be developed. Tor
there will need to be many ADJUST
ments made in our family relation
ships. A program of present as we'll
as postwar health must be torn1u-
lated, for, with food substitutlons
being presented daily, We must be
fully informed as to the nutritive
values of these substitutes.
Solve Problems Together.
These are only few of the prob
lens which are confronting us-not
alone as parent-teacher people, but
as citizens of the United States.
But in an organized group chances
for solution of such problems are
very much greater than II each
individual were to attempt it alone.
So. for the parents of children in our
schools, logically, the parent-teacher
association offers the best oppor-
tunity for mutual helpfulneSS. The
small amount Of money spent for
years membership will buy more
satisfaction than many times the
same amount spent IL any other
way, and the contribution each
individual can make to the solution
of the community's problems will be
OF inestimable value
The Board of Managers will meet
Tuesday at 10 am. IN the NEA
Building A fifth vice president
and an assistant treasurer will be
elected to fill uneXpired terms.
Local unit presidents, as we'll as
members of the board will attend.
The new class in parent education
at George Washington University,
which is to begin February l8 at 10
am, is now being organized. Mrs
Y. D. Mathes. seventh vice presi-
dent Of the Congress, and Miss
Myrtle Moore, parent education
chairman, are recording IegIstra
tions, which may be made up to the
date Of the opening.
New chairmen elected by the
Executive Committee include: Mrs
Harold Pope, publications.; Mrs
A. l.. Smith, bylaws; Mrs, Harold
Salmon, convention. MIS-. Harold
Botkln, radio, and MIS- John Bres-
nahan, room representatives,
Gordon Junior High.
A speaker from the American
Red Cross Will discuss Foreign
Service" at the meeting Wednesday
at 3;45 pm. A social and tea vii
follow.
Eliot Junior High.
Founders Day will be observed
Wednesday At pm. MIS- Alma
Hudson, first vice president OF The
D. c. Congress of Parents anc
Teachers. Will be guest speaker. anc
Mrs. Hester POND will present =
reading. There Will be community
singing.
Blair HAYES
The study group Wll meet
Wednesday from ! to 3 pm at the
Taylor School
A meeting VIII be held THURSDAY
at pm. in the Hayes School Ms
2. w. Costenbader, director Of tht
Department Of Welfare VIII speat
on "ChlldhOOd as Usual There