1928 - Annual Convention

              26 A L B E R T A W O M E N ' S I N S T I T U T ES
T r a v e l l i n g Clinics.— Last summer 1,000 operations were performed
out one casualty. A vast amount of dental work and immunization
diseases was accomplished. A l l reports on these clinics praised their
ciency and the beneficial results gained. This summer the clinics have
extended from the rural districts to the towns and villages. The
today busy with the medical inspection of the public and high school
i n the Sugar City Municipality, of which Raymond is the centre.
August 2nd the entire school population of the town and surrounding
schools, numbering more than 1,000 children, w i l l have passed the
tests and received its treatment. This is real health service and does
to progressive Alberta. ' >
Child Welfare.— The Institutes are supplementing the clinics by lectures,
health talks, sick v i s i t i n g committees and financial assistance to needy cases.
The Warner constituency stands foremost in its child welfare work this
year, having held a nursing class for mothers' education, sent donation Of
$ 41.00 to Red Cross, Calgary, and clothing to Nursing Mission, Lethbridge;
and visited a l l sick. The baby clinic went through the constituency. Half
of the constituency was served by the travelling c l i n i c ; the other part will
be served this year. They paid the expenses of the provincial convener erf
child welfare, who lectured in each Institute on " Individual Welfare Prob­lems."
Not one phase of established health a c t i v i t y has been neglected by
this efficient constituency group of Institutes.
Maternal W e l f a r e . — A r a l l y call to look into maternal mortality has come
f r om the Federated Institutes of Canada. A study of Dominion statistics
shows that during the last five years, maternal mortality has decreased in
A l b e r t a , but there is s t i l l room for improvement. When the F . W . I . C . sent
out this call to service, A l b e r t a Institutes were already at work on a solu­t
i o n , and had arranged with the government for a course of t r a i n i n g for
home helpers. It is a matter of regret that this course had to be abandoned
for this year, as there were only three applicants. The outlook for health
progress i n A l b e r t a is very bright. We are t a c k l i n g our problem i n a clear­headed
western style. The Women's Institutes stand foremost in the move­ment,
of which fact your convener is very proud.
EDUCATION AND B E T T E R SCHOOLS
( Mrs. W. C. Short, Convener)
V e r y encouraging is the number of good reports which have been re­ceived
on the past year's work. In District No. 4, four out of eleven con­stituencies
reported; in D i s t r i c t No. 3, eleven out of fifteen,, and in District
No. 2, two out of eleven. I feel quite certain that although the other con­stituencies
have not reported, that good work has been done in them. The
following varied and sometimes unique activities have been carried o n : Prizes
for essays on such subjects as " The Romance of the Hudson's B a y C o . , " " W h y
I am glad I am a Canadian," " N a t u r a l Resources," " National holidays and
what they mean," and " C i t i z e n s h i p " ; prizes for efficiency, attendance; com­petitions
among schools for spelling, flag d r i l l , general knowledge contests;
f o r best posters on good foods and health habits, and for those passing Grade
V I I I . Playground equipment of all kinds has been given; libraries and
l i b r a r y books; blinds, maps and bubbling and d r i n k i n g fountains have been
supplied, also furniture for a school k i t c h e n ; hot lunch supplies; Christmas
cheer and assistance to school fairs. A great many report having helped
w i t h the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Many honor rolls have been supplied, flags and flag- poles; seeds to be
planted at school, pictures and picture shows from the Extension Depart­ment;
paper towels and a gramophone for one school and a piano for tvni
other. Some have attended the annual and school board meetings to impress
upon the trustees the importance of having the fire escape in good condi-,
t i o n ; also fire d r i l l in the school. The necessity of having a flag- pole and a
f l a g which w i l l be flown according to school law. The importance of clean,
sanitary toilets, and of providing wash basins for the pupils.
This is a step i n the right direction. It is the duty of the school board
to provide these things, and it is up to the ratepayers in the d i s t r i c t to se1e>