1932 Convention Report

              E I G H T E E N T H A N N U A L R E P O RT 21
- out whole. I- t is so heavy, however, that the average student may well spend
five years on the four grades, and be greatly benefitted thereby.
Dora M . Baker, in her report to the recent federated convention, says :
" I n Canada the annual crop of graduates from our colleges is equalled by
the number admitted to mental institutions each year." This is, indeed, an
a r r e s t i n g thought. It seems that we must be pushing our youth too rapidly,
and will have to pay more attention to the recreation and athletic sports
w h i c h should balance the hours spent under the nerve strain of our
schools. Let us remember that we desire from our educational system well
balanced individuals. " Mens sana in corpore sano" should be our motto. And
it is one of the most important tasks of motherhood, to watch over our
children, both as to t h e i r mental and their physical development. Both are
too important for either to be neglected at the expense of the other.
In t h i n k i n g i n terms of education, let us remember that we are " c a r r y i ng
the torch, that we must carry it t i l l we drop by the wayside, and hurl it to
the host behind." We have the privilege of handing on our faith in the
precepts and promises of the Divine Father, our hope for the future and its
wonderful opportunities, and our love of home with its blessed obligations ; of
youth, w i t h its boundless energy, its bursts of folly and of wisdom, and of
country with its boundless possibilities.
In regard to ' the work actually done along these lines by the various
Institutes, the reports show that the subject is receiving careful consideration.
The requests for help seem to be in t h e line of solving the rural school and
H i g h School combination, . and in this line I have a very good paper prepared
by a teacher, w h i c h may be had for the asking. There is also one on " The
Preservation of our Mother Tongue" prepared by another teacher, which is
excellent reading.
P r i z e s for progress, punctuality, neatness and such have been given, as
well as for highest markings in examinations, in history especially, and in
other subjects. Some report receptions for teachers. Others try to help the
schools by adding equipment for the playground, and reading material. If
interested in this ' line, the Canadian Geographic is an excellent aid for the
school room.
Some of the Institutes have formed in groups to offer prizes for essay
w r i t i n g on vital topics, as " A g r i c u l t u r e , " " The Problems of the Empire" and
" One Hundred Years Progress in Education in Canada." Books and money
seem to be the favorite prizes.
M u c h concern seems to be felt over the drop in teachers' salaries, and in
the discontinuance of the loan to normal students.
O n l y one D i s t r i c t D i r e c t o r reported, but many of the branches sent indi­vidual
reports.
As Convener, I keep on file all articles that I read that pertain to educa­t
i on of any kind . and I have several good papers that form a l i b r a r y to be
sent out on request. Of late almost every mail brings a request for informa­t
i o n a l o n g some line of our work, so I k n ow that the interest is quickening.
In clos- ing, I wish to t h a n k a l l who co- operated with me by sending in the
reports of t h e i r work, and the few who were so kind as to send in their
especially good papers on our topics.