1924 - Annual Convention Report

              A L B E R T A W O M E N ' S : I N S T I T U T ES
i n c o l o n i z a t i o n , i t m i g h t be w e l l to spend some m o n e y i n p r e v e n t i n g t h e d e a t h of
those b o r n here.
We are also f i n d i n g t h a t people are w i l f i n g to p a y for w h a t t h e y r e a l l y w a n t.
I f t h e y w a n t h e a l t h t h e y a r e ' w i l l i n g t o p a y for i t — b u t i f w e c a n m a k e t h e m r e a l i ze
t h a t i f t h e y do not have h e a l t h t h e y p a y more, we w i l l t h e n not be h a n d i c a p p e d for
l a c k of m o n e y or h e a l t h . Just here i s where our I n s t i t u t e s c a n be of so m u c h v a l u e.
We are one of t h e channels for s p r e a d i n g h e a l t h e d u c a t i o n . Let us t h e n consider
for a moment how b y h e a l t h e d u c a t i o n we c a n reduce the i n f a n t a n d m a t e r n al
m o r t a l i t y .
F I R S T .— L e t us educate parents t o t a k e a n i n t e l l i g e n t care of m o t h e r d u r i ng
pregnancy. An eminent E n g l i s h a u t h o r i t y , after a careful s t u d y i n t o the i n t e r ­r
e l a t e d causes of i n f a n t m o r t a l i t y makes the direct statement " t h a t i n the last
a n a l y s i s i t is for l a c k of good m o t h e r c r a f t t h a t babies d i e . " A n d l a c k of mother-craft
is not because mothers a n d fathers do n o t care— but because t h e y do not k n o w .
( a) L e t us have lectures a n d papers b y nurses, doctors a n d members.
( b) D i s t r i b u t e h e a l t h l i t e r a t u r e.
( c) A s k y o u r W . I . t r a i n e d nurses t o consult w i t h a n d advise a n y women who
need a n d seek a d v i c e.
( d) A d v i s e t h em to select and consult competent p h y s i c i a n s at the v e r y first,
( f) T e a c h t h e m t o i n some w a y to secure sufficient rest f o r t h e m o t h e r . Gardner
says, of p r e - n a t a l influence o n p o s t - n a t a l g r o w t h a n d development, " F r o m the
evidence a v a i l a b l e i t appears t h a t o v e r - w o r k a n d under- feeding of t h e m o t h e r d u r i ng
p r e g n a n c y reduces the size of t h e offspring at b i r t h , a n d m a t e r i a l l y increases the
p r o b a b i l i t y of d e a t h i n t h e first few m o n t h s . 1'
S E C O N D .— L e t us s t u d y the p r e v e n t i o n of contagious diseases:
( a) Insist u p o n q u a r a n t i n e a n d f u m i g a t i o n.
( b) U n d e r s t a n d the use of serums for r e n d e r i n g i m m u n i t y f r om d i p t h t h e r i a,
t j ' p h o i d , s m a l l p o x a n d w h o o p i n g cough.
( c) E d u c a t e against the s p r e a d i n g of s o c i a l diseases.
( d) Spread the knowledge of t h e p r e v e n t i o n of t u b e r c u l o s i s.
T H I R D .— We s h o u l d u n d e r s t a n d our s a n i t a r y laws and our pure food laws,
a n d i n s i s t u p o n t h e i r enforcement.
F O U R T H . — L e t us i n s i s t u p o n sufficient a n d easily a v a i l a b l e h o s p i t a l f a c i l i t i e s,
doctors a n d nurses.
I t seems t o me there i s so m u c h t o do, a n d so l i t t l e done t h a t t h e r e i s v e r y l i t t le
excuse for an)' B r a n c h t o r e p o r t t h a t t h e y do n o t k n o w w h a t to do, or see l i t t l e need.
M R S . F. S. P O R T E R.
R E P O R T O F E D U C A T I O N A N D B E T T E R S C H O O L S.
T h e movement i n e d u c a t i o n , as i n d i c a t e d b y changes i n t h e present year,
s h ow v e r y p l a i n l y a r e a c t i o n against the o l d s y s t em of r i g i d , s t a n d a r d i z e d , u n i f o rm
s y s t em of e d u c a t i o n.
Some of t h e i n d i c a t i o n s m o s t n o t i c e a b l e are:
1. T h e change i n t h e course of studies w h i c h has been c o m p l e t e d a n d is b e i ng
observed i n t h e P r o v i n c e , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e H i g h Schools.
2. T h e announcement of P r e m i e r F e r g u s o n , also M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n in
O n t a r i o of a v e r y r a d i c a l change i n the same d i r e c t i o n , g i v i n g extensive options,
a n d greater l a t i t u d e for t h e p u p i l s.
T h e r e is w i t h o u t doubt a r e a c t i o n against the methods i n force i n a l l of the
P r o v i n c e s of a c e n t r a l i z e d , u n i f o r m , u n c h a n g i n g course of studies, set out b y the
d e p a r t m e n t and f r om w h i c h t h e r e i s l i t t l e chance for v a r i e t y.
T h e r e is e v i d e n t weakness i n t h i s r i g i d system. The D a l h o u s i e R e v i e w , one
of the ablest C a n a d i a n newspaper reviews r e c e n t l y accused C a n a d i a n s of d e v e l o p i ng
i n t o a mediocre n a t i o n.
I f we have the same course of studies for the b o y who m a y develop i n t o an
a r t i s t or a poet, as we have for t h e b o y w h o is l i k e l y t o be a good p r o f e s s i o n a l m a n ,
or a good engineer, or a g o o d stone m a s o n a n d b r i c k l a y e r , a n d v e r y l i t t l e v a r i e t y,
we c e r t a i n l y are going to become a n d r e m a i n a n a t i o n of mediocres. Under our
s y s t em there has been no v a r i e t y , no encouragement for t h e teacher. She is u s u a l ly
t e s t e d b y the result of the e x a m i n a t i o n s a n d there is no v a r i e t y i n t h e m.