The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-02-20
p-TA HOLDS ONE OF
 FINEST PROGRAMS
 OF PRESENT YEAR

HarralS Of ValCe2, mempel Ol titS Territorial Department of Educa- ton Board now in session here, and business of importance to the organization, comprised one of the most interesting and entertaining programs held this year by the Parent-Teacher Association at It's regular meeting last night in the grade school auditorium.
 The School Band opened the pro- gram and under the direction or Lyle Manson, instructor, played four selections to be included in it's repertoire for the Spring Festi- val at Ketchikan.
 Aid to Schools
 Mrs. Barnes discussed the import ance of the Tobacco Tax to the building program of Alaska's schools and said that Its present use Tor building and repairing of schools should be guarded carefully. It IS her belief, she said, that the time to help children is now, and no in some future planned date when the need for the present child Is past.
 The Legislator said she believes raise in the salaries of the teachers is important and that somehow funds must be found to provide them a desirable living wage so that Alaskas children may have the best of instructors.
 Children are our most import ant issue now" said Mrs. Barnes "They are the responsibility Of the school. the church and the home. Particularly at the present time there is a need for economic re- sponsibility for the middle teer, ager who is legislated out Of work We must bend our efforts to pro- vide their economic security. The world is all right so long as we have young people"
 Pioneer Educator
 Mrs. Margaret Harrais is one ot Alaska's pioneer educators. She played an important role in bring ing into effect Alaska's present schools system. Before her mar riage when she was Miss Margaret Keenan, she was superintendent first of the Skagway schools and later of the schools in Fairbanks In a vivid and most interesting manner she gave history of the early trials and continued efforts through the years to the present time to bring to Alaskan children the best standards of education. Following the talks by the two sneakers the Parent-Teacher As sociation took up it's business ses- sion.
 Contributes to Festival If voted to give $100 to help de- frav expenses of Juneau students who will participate in the MUSIC Festival to be held in ketcnlKaI in the spring. Bv motion approved the Associa- tion went on record to write to the .J,neau City Council recom- mending that a police woman De ] mt on the Juneau Police forcei it approved the legislation of the Alaska Education Association' went ! on record for approval of a raise in teachers salaries in the terrl- tory: endorsed the protest to pro- nosed legislation that would trans fer the Tobacco Tax Fund now earmarked for building and repairs of schools. to the Territorial Irea- s,,rv general fund and the proposeo l amendment to the Bill TOT tnis purpose. .r o,,e Mrs Harrais in her talk spoke on pending territorial Legislation | and told members of the Associa- tion that the Board of Eoucatloil ! is nrotesting the proposed transfer ] of the Tobacco Tax to the terri torial treasury's general fund. me | only argument for the move so Tar l that she knows, she said, is that the step would simplify the DOCK
 keening in the Territirial Auditors office.
 Auditors Bookkeeping "1 am not so much interested II simplifying the bookkeeping in the l office of the auditor as l am III building schools for Alaska's chll- dren," she said. Mrs. Harrais pointed out that tbe Teachers Retirement System
 a project started by her in 1923 IS now recognized to be one of the finest enacted in the United States Alaska is still confronted with
 nroblems in it's education program | Mrs. Harrais said. It is obvious
 she said, that in the not too distant
 future the territory will be responS-