1937 - Convention Report

              TWENTIETH PROVINCIAL CONVENTION
times. Marks were given for neatness, pronunciation, meaning stated clearly,
and the value of the sentence respecting the meaning of the word. This contest
caused much thought and burrowing into dictionaries, and was considered by
all members as being particularly helpful to a Limited vocabulary.
Industrial Education— Several meetings had as their topic such industrial
subjects as Paint, Tapioca and Wheat, with discussions of the industries pertaining
to these. One Branch had a demonstration of Rayon from the spruce tree to
the finished product.
Art— In conjunction with the Department of Education several Branches
held lectures on " Art" with exhibits of pictures and handicrafts.
Miscellaneous— Several Branches donated sports equipment to the schools,
and others gave medals for the field meet. Some Branches served hot cocoa to
all children at the field meet, and provided hot dogs and pie at cost to the
children. Two Branches report the gift of rhythm bands to the school. Another
W. I. bought curtains for the schools and the members take turns washing and
ironing these curtains. Another Branch has raised $ 100.00, which it will use in
putting a fence around the school grounds.
While many Branches spoke of co- operating with the teacher and assisting
her in various projects, Standoff W. I. belies its name in that it makes a specialty
of " keeping the teacher happy" by getting better acquainted with her through
invitations to their homes for week- ends throughout the winter months. And
having been a teacher in a rural communit3', I can appreciate just how much
that would mean, especially to a girl who was naturally a little shy or reserved
and away from home for the first time.
One Branch put on a special tea and raised funds to send three girls of the
district for ten days to a special C. G. I. T. camp under trained leadership.
Several Institutes have made the education meeting a public one, one Branch
holding theirs in the school. A program is prepared, with the school children
taking part, and several speakers giving short addresses on educational topics.
Community singing, and of course refreshments, complete the successful and
entertaining meeting.
Stony Plain Constituency had every Secretary report without being asked.
In conclusion, I would like to give these words by Angelo Patri in his article
" Why Educate Them?"
Why bother sending children to school? What future is there for them?
The professions are overcrowded, the arts have no market, trades are over­crowded
in every field. Nobody knows what's going to happen, but it is a sure
thing the old days are gone forever.
Nobody ever did know what's going to happen. Some people thought they
did, but they were wrong. Yet children went to college and to high school and
trade school, strong in the faith that their efforts to improve themselves would
not be lost. I think that faith was justified, and still is.
The mistake has been that for the past 100 years and more we confused our
minds in relation to the purposes of education. We fixed upon the subject
matter of the course of study as the chief end of schooling. It never was the
chief end, and if this social upheaval makes that point clear, it has been worth­while.
Lessons are nothing more than the tools the teacher uses to develop the
mind and soul and body of the pupils. . . . We send the children to school, or
we ought to do so, to develop and strengthen their characters, their minds and
souls. And souls come first. A society that is without a soul is doomed. An
education that is centred on getting information and knowledge that leads to
selfish living is doomed to die. The one certain imperishable quality on earth
is the human spirit. It is to educate that, to liberate that, that we educate
children, . . . No matter what comes or goes the human spirit goes on through
the ages and education is the breath of its being. By all means send the children
to college. Not to get marks and medals and good jobs, but to get understanding
of the way of life. The job follows naturally, for there is a place for every one
of us provided we are fitted for it.