1930 - Annual Convention Report

              S I X T E E N T H A N N U A L C O N V E N T I ON 39
REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND BETTER
SCHOOLS
Mrs. G. M . Gibson, Drumheller, Convener.
When I sent out my outline last July I suggested that we make a special
study of M r . Baker's proposed " New School Act." I want to thank you for
the wonderful response to that suggestion. I felt, when reading the reports
of your Conveners, that the women of Alberta must now know nearly as
much about this bill as M r . B a k e r himself. Papers were written on i t ; i t was
made the subject of debates. There were roll calls on its weak points and
on its strong points. Addresses were given to our Institutes on the subject
by inspectors and teachers, and Strome W. I. had the honor of having M r .
Baker himself discuss the question with them. It seems to have been thor­oughly
discussed throughout the various districts and I feel we have done
our share to create an intelligent public opinion on the measure. The con­census
of opinion, i f I read it aright, seems to be as one Convener expressed
it, " That it is a step in the right direction and that the bill, if put into force,
perhaps with a few changes, would do much to solve the many problems of
rural education."
Another suggestion made in the outline was that we should concentrate
on health education in our schools this year. This has also met with a gratify­i
n g response. The Junior Red Cross has been organized i n some schools and
the children encouraged to live up to its health rules. Prizes have been given
for the best health posters and for essays on " Healthful L i v i n g , " competitions
have been held and prizes given for the greatest improvement in the sanitary
conditions, both inside and outside of the schools. This competition generally
included all the schools in a School Fair District. Many health plays have
been given. One Institute reported a contest to encourage personal cleanli­ness
and neatness among the puibils of their school. The rules for the com­petition
called for clean hands and faces and hair neatly brushed on the part
of the children. F a i l i n g in this they had their names written on the board.
The secretary added that the competition had proved so successful in attain­ing
its end that only two names had appeared on the board since Christmas.
The awards presented to the pupils with most credits consisted of book covers
procured from the National Dairy Council.
A n improved water supply has been secured and separate towels and
d r i n k i n g cups have been provided for the pupils in many schools. A veritable
epidemic of placing mirrors in school rooms has descended upon us. I trust
we are not making our young people vain thereby. No doubt it was in answer
to a real need, for if one is to keep one's hair nicely brushed, perforce one
must have a mirror to see one's self in. Schools have been cleaned and
painted attractively and fresh and pretty curtains put up by the tireless
workers of the W. I.
Many Institutes report medical inspection of their schools during the
year. Dental clinics and Eye clinics have been arranged in others, and a
few report a visit from the travelling clinic, while others speak of the visit
of Dr. Thompson and the value of his lecture and slides on " Mouth Health."
New and modern schools are reported built in a number of districts this
year. No doubt some of our members interested themselves in seeing to it
that they were modern. One Institute helped to build a school kitchen.
The hot lunch has been served generally throughout the Province where
there was the need. One Institute served hot cocoa to fifty children during
the winter and supplied groceries to some families when they discovered the
children were coming to school with insufficient food. Another had a roll
call on suggestions for better school lunches.