1939 - Convention Report

              48 A L B E R T A WOMEN'S INSTITUTES
REPORT OF EDUCATION AND BETTER SCHOOLS
Mrs. A. H . Rogers, 10835 84th Ave., Edmonton, Convener
In presenting the report to the Alberta Women's Institutes of the Stand­ing
Committee on Education and Better Schools, tribute must be paid to
those Constituency Chairmen of this committee who have so faithfully,
efficiently and modestly carried out their duties and who have forwarded
their reports to me. In spite of the fact that this year it was not found
feasible to send the District Directors to the Constituency Conferences, the
reports have come in surprisingly well. Since the name of the Provincial
Convener of this committee will appear in the Convention report and so will
be readily ascertainable, may I suggest that the Constituency Chairmen,
who have already been appointed, get in touch with her rather than wait
for her to get in touch with you.
Although in reality all the subjects studied by the Women's Institutes
are educational, we gather from the reports submitted that every Branch
has had at least one day each year specifically set aside for, the study of
some definite phase of education as such.
The programmes of the Branches show an interesting variety of edu­cational
topics. Members who have been abroad or who have travelled ex­tensively
on this continent have given travelogues and interesting talks on
their impressions of other lands. Teachers and clergymen, lawyers and
doctors have given freely of their time and talents as speakers in their own
lines. The Geology of the Drumheller Valley, The Fossils of the Red Deer
Valley, A Study of Provincial Coats of Anns, A Study of the Indian with
poems by Pauline Johnstone, Grey Owl, the Famous Naturalist, Budgets and
Better Financing and a series of studies of Canadian books and their A u ­thors
are subjects which proved particularly valuable. We heard of a
spelling match which ended in a tie between a grandmother and a high school
girl . . . presumably " the game was called on account of darkness."
Education in other lands, England, New Zealand, Scotland, South
Africa and Denmark, has been studied in many Branches but the subjects
of immediate and general interest have been The Enterpiise System of Edu­cation
and The Large Unit of Administration of Rural Schools. These timely
topics have been ably presented by school Inspectors and school teachers in
practically every Branch in the Province and such thorough discussion has
been the result that the W. I. women should be well informed on these per­tinent
questions. The Enterprise System seems to find very general approval
among the women. In most of the Province the Large Unit has not been in
operation more than a year or two, so is still somewhat in the experimental
stage as to details and there is still some ironing out of minor difficulties to
be done. From the reports received it would appear that the principle of
the large unit is approved in general by the women. The increased taxes
reported in many quarters must be warranted by increased facilities and
improved service if the scheme is to be a success. It is hoped that the discus­sion
to follow this report will shed further' lig'ht on how the scheme is re­garded
at present.
The usual practical interest in Better Schools has been maintained;
scholarships, cups and prizes have been offered by many Branches for
achievement in intermediate and high schools especially, both in school work
and music as well as in athletics; library and reference books and maga­zines
have been given to the schools; the National Geographic and Animal
Life have been favorites; a set of " Junior Book Shelf" was presented i n one
school, in another $ 15.00 worth of Orthophonic records to assist in teaching
music appreciation, and in still another, an electric radio has been installed;
in one instance a pillow and blanket were furnished for the primary room;
First Aid kits have been provided in many schools and cocoa and other hot