Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1916 — Report of Meeting of Patron Teachers’ Association. [ARTICLE]

Report of Meeting of Patron Teachers’ Association.

The meeting of the Patron-Teach-ers’ association last Thursday evening at the high school auditorium, was well attended. ’ If the attendance at the first meeting was an, indication of the interest of the patrons. this organization should prove to be one of the best enterprises started in this community for some time.: ". The program opened with a piano trio by Helen Parkinson, Cornelia Leonard and Thelma Martindale, followed by music by the boys’ quartet from the high ,school. After the musical numbers the president, Mrs. Mary Washburn Graham, stated in a very clear manner the purposes of the organization and mentioned some of the things to be accomplished. Since the subject for this meeting was, “Co-operation of the Home and the School,” most of her remrks were along that line. The main address of the evenig was given by Mr. George Williams. He reviewed briefly the purposes and possibilities of snch an organization in this community, showing the great amount of good which might be accomplished. In the course of his remarks he stated that last year the cost of maintenance of the civil city was $16,000 while the school city required $24,000. By comparison he showed the relative importance of each and urged greater interest in the school city and co-opera-tion on the part of patron and teacher. If the association can waken a deeper interest long the line of the importance and value of the school together with the need for and Value oj helpful co-operation, then it will have served the community. His address contained many such helpful suggestions and everyone pronouncan excellent discussion of the subject. At the conclusion or Mr. Williams’ address, there was some general discussion on the part of patrons. The social hour which followed the regular program was enjoyed by all. Many patrons took this opportunity oi getting acquainted with the teacher.-*. Light refreshments were served by the girls of the eighth grade domestic science class, under the direction of the committee from the association and the domestic science feather. Before the meeting adjourned, the majority of the people joined the association by handing their names to the secretry and paying the annua! dues of 25 cents. , This was perhaps the first school M eeting held in Rensselaer for many years and the number present and interest shown was a source of much encouragement to the officers and committee. They have started plans for the next meeting which will be held in about four weeks. It is hoped that every one of the three hundred and sixty families represented in the schools of this city will become identified with this work, which will no doubt have an influence for good in Rensselaer,