HE UNIVEPvSITY OF MISSOUR! BULLETIN EXTENSION SERIES Volume i Number 2 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES SUGGESTIONS FOR SUPERINTENDENIS AND PRINCIPALS BY W. W. Charters Dean of the School of Edtication, University of Missouri UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA, MISSOURI July, 1913 THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN EXTENSION SERIES Volume i Number 2 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES SUGGESTIONS FOR SUPERINTENDENTS AND PRINCIPALS BY W. W. Charters Dean of the School of Education^ University of Missouri UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA, MISSOURI July, 1913 v-^p SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES DISSIPATED ENERGY The people of the United States are committed to no one national principle so unreservedly and unanimously as to that of popular education. This is shown in the amount of taxes paid for school purposes, the relative costliness of school houses among public buildings and in the sacrifices made to keep children in school. Superintendents and principals of ward schools, how- ever, realize through intimate acquaintance with school pa- trons that conditions are not yet by any means ideal, and that though much has been done, much remains to do before the schools receive the full support which their importance de- mands. But in spite of this realization, only a fractional part of the interest of school patrons in the welfare of chil- dren is at present being utilized. A vast amount of interest and energy is being dissipated every year because of lack of organization. The interest of mothers and fathers in the welfare and schooling of their children is expressed at present almost entirely through the payment of school taxes and the care of the children in the home. The school board is the only channel of expression of this interest in the majority of school communities. Any agency which can harness and organize this parental and civic interest in schools and in education should be util- ized to the full by the school teacher, principal and super- intendent. SOME RESULTS OF ORGANIZED ENERGY IN MISSOURI In Maryville an emergency rest room has been estab- lished; in Milan a curfew law has been passed; in Elsberry sanitary drinking fountains were installed in the school; in Irondale money was raised by box suppers to light the school house and paint the interior; in Stanberry a "clean-up day" (3) 4 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN was organized, and $500 was collected for a sane Fourth; in Unionville better sanitary conditions in the school have been secured; in St. Louis the school board was taken out of politics; and in Kansas City and other cities of the state many things which the school board could not do have been done by organizing patrons. "In a parents' and teachers' meeting the mother learns how she is hindering the school work of her children and the school at large; discovers that her children cannot live for themselves alone if they wish to live in the best way. The purely animal mother, not yet beyond the stage of fighting for her children, right or wrong, learns, as she listens to the discussions, that her child cannot have his rights unless he is willing to allow equal rights to others; that the give and take of school life is the best of discipline. She finds out that only by conformity to the school rules can her boy take his rightful place. The heedless parent learns that tardiness and absence are not small matters concerning her daughter alone, but hindrances to the school, by which her child suffers equally with all the rest. The self-centered parent discovers that in school, as in life, the good of the whole must be con- sidered, and the over-ambitious ones ascertain that some kinds of home helps are obstacles to school advancement. "On the other hand, the teacher, somewhat over-balanced by too much dwelling on system and curricula, finds her sym- pathies refreshed by coming into contact with the home rela- tions of the children. She realizes more vividly the condi- tions under which they must study at home, makes fairer allowances for shortcomings, and is often able to suggest changes that are most helpful to her charges. The contact of untrained mothers with the trained mind of the teacher is of incalculable value to the home and to the school." These are a few of the advantages that follow when superintendents and principals do not depend entirely upon the interest of the six busy men who constitute the school board. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 5 ORGANIZATIONS There are several types of organization which may be used by school officials for concentrating the dissipated energy of interest in schools. These overlap each other somewhat because they are each working upon the same problem of education. Two of them are women's organizations ; the third is composed of both women and men. Women's Clubs. — The women's club movement has shown remarkable vitality and has expanded during the last three decades. The problems it has labored with are multi- farious, and much friendly and unfriendly fun has been made of its activities. But the far-seeing educator recognizes in the movement great potential effectiveness in solving educa- tional problems. Women are biologically and historically the educators of children. Men are only secondarily interested in the education of children, yet they constitute the member- ship of school boards in this state. This is the case, however, not because of their greater interest in education, but because of the accident of politics — since women are not voters in this state and, therefore, cannot administer school moneys. The woman's club is not primarily interested in the edu- cation of children, but it often has a department of education through which it comes into touch with school problems and frequently does very effective work. The women's clubs are organized nationally as "The General Federation of Women's Clubs," the Missouri branch having many local clubs in affiliation. It has a Department of Education, of which Mrs. Henry N. Ess, 2416 Brooklyn Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri, is chairman. Mrs. Ess and her committee are doing efficient work in initiating and sup- porting school legislation, in working out educational pro- grams for local clubs, and in the giving of scholarships to Missouri girls who are fitting themselves for self support. Superintendents and principals can get the matters they wish to further to the attention of these clubs through Mrs. O UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN Ess, if they are of state wide interest, and through the local clubs if the proposition is purely local. Mothers' Clubs. — The Mothers' Club is a form of organi- zation whose primary purpose is the improvement of condi- tions for the rearing and education of children, both in the school and outside. This comprehensive purpose necessitates a wide diversity of activities, a fact shown by the presence of such departments as Children's Literature, Education, Lit- erature for Mothers, Child Hygiene, Juvenile Courts, Child Labor, Home Economics, Child Welfare Legislation, Rural Child Welfare, Good Roads, and Marriage Sanctity. School Patrons' Clubs. — The third type of agency is the club composed of both men and women whose primary pur- pose is the education of children. In many communities these clubs are known as Parent- Teacher Associations. As the name indicates, the teacher is given an efficient position in the organization and the meet- ings are usually held in school buildings. For the most part the meetings are held in the afternoon and, hence, are at- tended chiefly by mothers, but with frequent evening sessions for both men and women. In St. Louis alone there are nearly 2,000 mothers in such Associations, to say nothing of the Patrons' Alliance. The Patrons' Alliance of St. Louis is composed of men only and has done during its fourteen years of existence a remarkable work. It has taken the public schools out of par- tisan politics ; has been instrumental in increasing taxes for school purposes; and has supplied from its own funds school equipment aggregating thousands of dollars. This equipment includes such articles as works of reference, stereopticons, folding chairs, reflectoscopes, pianos, statuary and pictures. One of the pictures given in this way cost $3,500 and another is worth $2,000. In addition, it arranges appropriate exer- cises for the commemoration of national holidays, aids prin- cipals in making necessary arrangements for annual school SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 7 picnics, Christmas festivals and other school functions and exercises. The Mothers' Clubs and the Parent-Teacher Circle are organized nationally under the title National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Associations, with branches in thirty-six states. Missouri was organized in March, 1912, the President being Mrs. James Nugent, 5847 Maple Avenue, St. Louis. Mrs. E. R. Weeks, Vice President of the national organization from Missouri, is doing an effective and unselfish work in helping to organize and maintain interest in these clubs. In the Triennial Handbook of the National Congress issued in 1911, local clubs in Missouri in affiliation with the national organization are situated in Kansas City, Butler, Unionville, Milan, Stanberry and Irondale. For information, literature and personal assistance, school officials are invited to write to Mrs. E. R. Weeks, 3408 Harrison Street, Kansas City, Missouri. School Improvement Associations. — Under the leader- ship of the state of Maine, local clubs known as School Im- provement Leagues, and School Betterment Associations have been formed in several states. These have had a rather wide development in the southern states, particularly in the rural districts. There is no national organization, and in Missouri no state organization. Few clubs have been formed, though the Kirksville State Normal School has recently through its school paper, The Rural School Messenger, been pushing the formation of Rural School Improvement Clubs. For infor- mation about these associations, the "Year-Book of School Improvement in Arkansas," published by Honorable George B. Cook, State Superintendent, Little Rock, Arkansas, is probably the best. Social Centres. — Another form of agency which is fur- thering educational interests is the Social Center Movement. Here the school is benefited indirectly through the efforts to "give the school building its widest range of activity." This movement has been recently organized nationally. At present b UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN . the best source of information is the Social Center Service, Farm and Ranch, Dallas, Texas. THE USE OF THESE AGENCIES In school communities where women's organizations are already formed, the Superintendent by co-operation with them can frequently get very effective assistance in pushing movements for school buildings and sanitary conditions, for improvement of equipment, etc., especially where these neces- sities can be made to have a popular appeal. Frequently, too, the women's clubs have provided money for needed improve- ments when the school board could not. The Superintendent can get this co-operation both by dealing directly with the club leaders and by having strong women teachers take up propositions in the clubs to which they belong. What is needed in women's clubs is not interest in school affairs; the interest merely needs direction. In school communities where there are no clubs that are available for school purposes, if the Superintendent feels the need for them, it is advisable to form clubs in which both men and women are represented and whose primary purpose is the improvement of school conditions. The membership should not be limited to parents only, but should be available to all patrons. The best unit for organization in cities and towns with more than one school building is the district or ward from which the children go to one building. The usual meeting place is the school building. It is probably wise to have an organization for women which meets in the afternoon and one for men which meets at night, since school matters which in- terest men are not always quite the same as those which in- terest women. Joint meetings may be held at which matters of common interest are taken up. The constitution and machinery should be made as sim- ple as possible. The most important committee is that on program. On this there should be an active and efficient SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 9 teacher, either the principal, or some strong member of the corps. The other officers should all be patrons. OBJECTIONS ARE NOT SERIOUS Sometimes superintendents fear that such organizations may become officious and do harm to the schools because of misguided ignorance of school conditions. This is not a seri- ous matter where care is taken in keeping the groups well directed. It is not advisable, for instance, to organize such a club when the principal or some other teacher who, because of age or experience, can take the lead, is not strong enough to keep the patrons interested and at work on helpful prob- lems. Where reasonable care is taken and ordinary tact is used, the members of the club are both willing and anxious to be helpful and sympathetic. HOW TO ORGANIZE When a superintendent and principal agree that a mothers and teachers organization should be formed in a school, the principal should talk informally to a few energetic women about what needs to be accomplished and get their co-opera- tion. These women should select a date for the first meeting and prepare a list of other women whom they will see in the meantime. A general invitation should be sent to all mothers and other women likely to be interested. This can be done easily by having the children write the invitations as a com- position exercise and take it home to their mothers and neighbors. Where more than one child in a family is in the school, the oldest or the youngest may be selected to write the invitation. Sometimes it is advisable to state that ar- rangements have been made for a creche, or kindergarten, to care for the babies and young children that cannot be left at home. In order to secure a large attendance, as attractive a pro- gram as possible should be prepared. Parents' Day at the school may be announced in connection with the opening meeting. Have in the assembly room an exhibition of pupils' 10 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN work from the different grades or departments, and this may be shown the visitors when they first arrive. Or, a short pro- gram may be given in which the different grades contribute something — a reading lesson, songs, caHsthenic drills, recita- tions and the like. After the program has been given, one of those issuing the call should state the real purpose of the meeting: to or- ganize a Patrons Club, Mothers Club, Parent-Teacher Asso- ciation, or whatever form of organization is best suited to the community, with the purpose of bringing the home and school closer together in order to secure the best training for the children. A temporary chairman and a secretary should be elected to take charge of the meeting. The object of the organization should be fully explained by the person who is best informed and most enthusiastic. The leader should bring out skillfully the need of such an organization in that community, should give some of the topics for discussion, point out improve- ments which could be made in the school surroundings and, if possible, tell what is being done by similar associations and something of the scope of this great movement. This may be followed by questions, discussions, and expressions from parents and teachers as to whether they favor such an organi- zation being formed. Motion is made that a club be organized. Some one seconds the motion, and the vote is taken. If the motion is carried, a committee should be appointed to prepare a constitution. The meeting adjourns to a date not later than two weeks. MODEL CONSTITUTION Article I — Name. The name of this organization shall be Article II — Object. The object of this association shall be to further a closer sympathy between the school and the home, to the end that patrons and teachers may co-operate intelligently in the edu- SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 11 cation of the children; and to further the cause of education in the community. Article III — Membership. Any parent or teacher in the district and any person in- terested in the welfare of children may become a member. Article IV — Officers. The officers shall consist of a President, a Vice Presi- dent, a Secretary and a Treasurer, elected annually at the reg- ular meeting in May. Article V — Committees. There shall be the following standing committees : Mem- bership, Program, and such others as shall be deemed neces- sary. Article VI — Meetings. Regular meetings shall be held on the of each month. Special meetings may be called by order of the President, or upon request of five members. Article VII — Amendments. This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided the same has been introduced and discussed at a previous meet- ing. Article VIII — Departments. This organization may have two departments; one for men and one for women, to be known as the Men's depart- ment of and the Women's department of the Each department shall have a chairman, a secretary-treasurer and a membership and program committee, together with such other committees as seem necessary. At the second meeting, the officers of the first serve. The Secretary reads the minutes of the last meeting, which are approved if there are no corrections. The Committee on Constitution reports. The Constitu- tion is read, amended and adopted. 12 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN Permanent officers are then elected, according to the pro- vision in the constitution. Elect a parent as President and let the organization be officered largely by the parents and teachers assisting in the work. Appoint a program committee to prepare meeting pro- grams and entertainment programs that will be worth coming to hear. A teacher as chairman of this committee would be of great assistance. Meet every two weeks for the first few meetings until the organization is in good working order. The meeting should occasionally be held in the evening, so that the fathers can attend. In order to keep interest alive, immediately appoint some committee and set them to work. Give the circle an object to work for, perhaps, something to buy for the school, that will take and hold the mothers. They will then see some actual work going on that will make them feel that the organ- ization is worth while. ORGANIZING MEN'S DEPARTMENT Usually the men's department should be organized after the women have been organized, because the women talk about it to their husbands. The plan of procedure for or- ganizing is similar to that of the women. One thing that must be taken care of is that the meeting should be as informal as possible. Hold the meetings in some place where the men may move around. If a room with school seats in it is selected, have as many chairs in the room as possible. If the men are to be interested in coming, they need to feel a sense of freedom and the absence of formality. A lady principal can organize these men's departments any carry them out effectively. SUGGESTED PROGRAMS The program is the factor which makes the success or failure of the movement. It is absolutely essential that it be crisp and practical. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 13 It may be supplemented by having such things as tea and wafers for women and patrons teas at private houses, by having a baby show, or by having children take part in a pre- liminary program. Often attendance is stimulated by the hanging of a picture in the school room that has the largest number of mothers present at the last meeting. Programs are of two sorts — general and local. The Con- gress of Mothers provides a series of written lectures upon general topics. These can be borrowed for twenty- five cents a copy and information about them may be secured by writing Mrs. A. A. Birney, 806 Loan and Trust Building, Washington, D. C. One of these may be used to good advantage occasion- ally. The programs for the most part should consist of topics that are "up-to-the-minute" among the members. Every year there should be certain things chosen which are to be done and not merely talked about. The enthusiasm necessary to carry these projects through should be generated and main- tained by discussions and addresses at the meetings, for as soon as the meetings become perfunctory, the attendance will dwindle. Tap the interest of the patrons at every meeting. For instance, if the school house is unsanitary or the grounds unlovely and you wish to improve them through this agency, have a tour of inspection, pointing out what is wrong and what needs to be done. Have, if possible, an expert to show plans for ornamentation, etc., and before the meeting is over, see that a committee is organized to do something. Or a talk may be given about the amount and kind of home study that is best, what help may be given at home, and the proper conditions for home study. Or a physician may be brought in to talk about some definite topic (not too general) such as the prevention of colds, etc. Or a topic such as the difference between methods of teaching now and the time when the parents were in school may be discussed. 14 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN Again, in the men's meetings, in addition to the foregoing, discussions may be had upon the school rate and the expendi- ture of moneys. This may easily form a good place for the school board to show what they are doing, and create senti- ment for what they want to do. The essential and emphatic value of these programs lies in their being the means by which plans for betterment of school conditions may be carried out. Unless the superinten- dent and principal have live plans which they push vigorously through the patrons, the organizations are usually not worth the trouble. If these school officials have such plans and are earnest and energetic themselves, there are no agencies so powerful. CITY AND STATE UNIONS It pays to have a central organization in a city so that all the force of the clubs may be turned upon the city prob- lems. It is wise, unless prohibited by the slight expense, to have a membership in state and national organizations of this sort — such as the Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Association. For information concerning the method of se- curing membership, write to the National Congress of Mothers, Washington, D. C. OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE It is not necessary to have an organizer come in from the outside. The method of organization is very simple. In case, however, a fund for paying traveling expenses is avail- able, the University of Missouri will usually be able to send some one to help organize, or Mrs. Weeks, Vice President of the Mothers Congress, will be able to help up to the limit of the fund she has for the purpose. However, do not depend upon outside assistance. If you are in earnest and feel that something must be done, de- pend upon no one and do it yourself. If superintendents and principals wish any information not contained in this pamphlet, feel perfectly free to write to SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 15 W. W. Charters, Dean of the School of Education, Univer- sity of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN EXTENSION SERIES EDITED BY SAMUEL D. GROMER Secretary of University Extension. Published by UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI Columbia, Missouri Issued Quarterly Application for entry as second-class matter at the postofiBce at Columbia, Missouri, pending. Copies of the University of, Missouri Bulletin, Extension Series, may be obtained from the Secretary of University Exten- sion, Columbia, Missouri. 'Mk^q