At Our House
Educationot Children Is Parents Primary Duty l
!By Mary Tinley Daly , It wouldn't be qUitetruthflil to say that we're in a fever of anticipation over an upcoming PTA meeting ... on the other hand, it" isn't as bad as the story they tell of an expectant mother weepin'g profusely while the doctor --'----0---.---~- tries to console her.' "I 'don't mind having an- and· history," she said, "Check'to see that he has done those three." other baby," she's supposed She told 'of a child who stayed to have sobbed, "But I can't up for hours doing a whole page ,<
stand' the thought of ~ight more years of PTA!" Mat t e r of ,,~.:""W"""""'" fact, most par- ,." ,.,........ ents find a midole ground on the sub j e c t: The y realize that a meeting with school" auand thorities with other parIl)nts Is mutually belpful. \. Unless well .organized, howIl)ver, such a meeting presents possibilities of pitfalls: an educator who launches fortn on a long, dlctatoiial tirade, parents who make this their sole social event and prolong it ad infinitum, and~the lady who would air her own grievances . . . . "What This School Needs ..." "Georgie came home last Tuesday _ the day it rained, you know, and his cap and clothes _ were covered with mud _ but I'm getting ahead of ,my story. Anyway, Georgie came home and he said, 'Mummy' he said, ·the children in,that school are 'perf ., ect rowdies. These were his very w»l'ds, ladies and gentlemen,
'perfect rowdies.' Now, I don't mean to say that they were your children. he was talking about. But there are children in this IlChool ... I won't mention any names but I think you all know .whom I'm talking about. "Anyway, those 'boys took my fJon's cap and threw it over the fenc'e into the rectory yard. And
then they made him climb Hie fence to get it back, Over the fence, mind you, not walk through the gate. Why, a'eorgle might have fallen _ or, well, I1lmost anything. I think _ and my husband agrees with me, don't you, Fred - we think that what this school needs ... etc., de." ' Such was our memory of PTA meetings of the past, attended mostly by mothers and they were there only .qecause a prize was given to the class with the greatest proportion of long-suffering representation. PTA Has Changed Fortunately, nowadays; PTA's have' changed, reflecting the fiound judgment and realistic ap-' proach characteristic of today's young parents, as well as the cooperative open _ mindedness of forward-looking teachers. Concerted efforts of fathers, mothers and teachers result in a pooling of thinking on questions vital to I1ll. With the wide age!span in our family, we find ourselves bridges between the old and the new _ many of the young parents being contemporaries of our "old" chlldren and having tots In the early grades while our youngest is In the seventh. We are gratefully
aware of, the change. "
The careful planniI:\g of our present·organization was an eye opener. Rather than a I1elter skelter get-together, just to meet
and "discuss," those in charge
.had set a definite topic, secured B panel of authorities, each with a time limit, then opened' the meeting to questions.' The topic was "Study"-vague untll we .saw the objective ap-' proach. We learned from the IlChool's principal the difficulties caused by crowded classrooms, of the need of parental interest,. ex:' planation of assignment ~ooks. "]f your. child says he bas nomework In arithmetic, speIUng
of arithmetic, though the assign ment book, In the child's' own writing, had stated: "Page II, first row." ' Need Hand at Home One of the points taken up was the' invaluable study technique of separating the known from the unknown, with only a quick 're view. of the known and concen trated .study time devoted to the unknown. (How many times we have seen our children spend their whole time· and energy over familiar ground, hedging away from really digging In and mastering the new work that has been explained in class that day.) We didn't need a blueprint; nor d')'d the other '.pa)"en'ts, to show us that a certain directional 'hand at home during those homework ·hours could channel youthful and inexperienced efforts toward real progress In stUdy. Underlying the entire parent school relationship, and openly expressed, was the truth 'that It· is the parents' primary duty to educate their children: By no Dleans' abrogating their right, ' they simply delegate this author Ity, temporarily, to the school. No longer in vogue Is .the attl tude'. "H'ere' they al'e, S)·stel·. You
take over." Rather,)t Is, "Please,
Sister, help' us to educate our
children."
This Is PTA, 1957 - a Home-
School program that Is meaning full '
Daughter-sof IsabeUClI Select New Of.fida,ls· Miss Martha Douglas of Hya cinth Circle, New Bedford was
elected president of Massachu
setts Past Regents Club, Daugh
ters of Isabella, at the organiza
tlon's Fall meeting and luncheon.
Other election results were as
follows:
Vice-president, Mrs. Lillian
Reilly, Benedict Circle, .No. At-
tleboro; Secr~tary, Mrs. Mary O'Sulllvan, Msgr. Francis X. Do Ian Circle, Dorchester; Treasurer, Mrs. Anna Sulllvan, Cardinal "Glbbons Circle, Taunton. .. SCribe, Mrs.· Marion Mullen, Assumption Circle, Fall 'Rivei'; Trustees, Mrs. Ellen Marcoux, De . Valera Circle, Newbufyport; Miss Sophie'Jurga, Sacred Heart Cir ele; Shirley; Mrs.' Cora:. Niquette, Alcazaba Circle, Attleboro. . Rev. Edwin Loew, chaplain, welcomed the members and gave an' inspirational talk to the gl·OUP.. National Director Miss Helen O'Donnell of Fitchburg gave an Informal talk on her recent tripto EUl-ope during which she rep resented the National Circle at the World Federation of Catholic girls and· young women In West Berlin.
Sister of Mercy.
Guest ,Spe~ker
Sister Mary" Verona, KS.M.• o .The first councll meeting of M,A., a mell}ber' of the faculty at .the season 1957,..58, New Bedford 'Mount St. Mary' Academy, Fail District Council of Cat h ~ ll'c River, will be guest speaker at . Women, was held Ip St. Anthony Youth Center, Mattapoisett; with Miss Kathn'n T. McCarthy, pres dent in charge. Miss McCarthy ,Introduced the following offic'ers: Vice President, Mrs .. Joseph Fer reira; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Homer Mandesville; Correspond ing Secretary, Mrs. Walter J. Gagnon, and Treasurer, Miss Lucille Benjamin, ' Committee chairmen include: Spiritual Development, Miss Lll llanRoss; FamilY-Parent Educa tlon,Mrs. Michael J. O'Leary; Youth, Mrs. Charles Dupont; Study Clubs, Mrs. James Mosher; Organizational,and Development, Miss Mary McGrath; Hospitallty, Miss Lenor Luiz; Ways' and Means, Mrs. George Collette and Publlclty" Mrs. Edward R. Po nlchtera. , . "To Know Christ as a Person," "Better Understanding of the Ma§s" and Proper Preparation for, Christmas," were t h r e e themes presented by Miss Ross for future discussion. • Mrs: O'Leary announced ·that
the Cathoiic Teachers' Institute t~ be held 0)1 Friday, Oct. 25 at holy holiday'customs of different
LaSalle Academy in Providence. nationalities would be discussed .
,. :Endeavoring to bring the latest at a future' date. An entertainment will be held trends in music teaching to the parochial schools, Sister Verona In the new Kennedy Memorial wlll speak on "Avenues to Music' Youth Center on Sunday, Oct. Education in' the P l' i mar y 27, the beginning of "Catholic Youth Week" was announced by Grades," . Sister Mary Verona has been the Youth Committee ChaIrman, 'teaching in Fall .River for the Mrs. Dupont. A "giant rally" will past 18 years both a.t St. Mary's end the district celebration. Diocesan President, Mrs. Em Cathedral School and at Mount St. Mary's A'cademy. A graduate mett P. Almond, Introduced by of Catholic Teachers' College In Miss McCarthy, stated that the Providence and of' the Catholic theme of organization this year would l1e"Healthier, Happier and University of America in Wash Holier Youth."
ington, D. C" she has been well Congratulations were extended
trained in music education as to the council by Very Rev. Hugh
was evidenced in the very suc cessful workshop in music skills A~ Gallagher, Moderator, for the splendid work done in the past which she conducted' in Provl four years. In his brief talk to' dence last Spring, At.present Sister Mary Verona the council, J!'atherG.a-llagher is In charge of the liturgical and asked for fUl'ther cooperation in IIchool music at Mount'St. Mary's the coming year alld stressed Academy and is th'e director and' the fact that, the acc'ent will be. on youth and education. '
Instructor of the aciuiemy or Miss Emily C. Perry, immediate chestra.
No. Att~eboll'oCirrde
Yo install Offic.en Banquet and instaVation of of- . ficers are slated for Tuesday, oct. 29 In .the Attleboro Falls School by the Daughters of Isabella, Benedict, Circle ,No. 61, North Attleboro. G~est speaker and entertain ment are planned.
--Maranda's
past president, presented the moderator with it gift in behalf of. the outgolng board of direc tors.
. Mrs. Almond and Mrs. Joseph
Colllns, in charge of the social
hour were assisted by the follow-'
Ing hostesses: Mrs. Anthony De
Costa, Mrs.. David Furtado, Mrs.
William" Junler, Mrs.· Elizabeth
Pettey, Mrs. Allred Sylvia, Mrs.
Lena Texeira and Miss -Ann'
Sylvia.
Mrs. CoJlete will head the com
mittee for the cake sale, sch~d uled Fl'lday, Oct. 25 in the Star Store.
Pr'oviderm(:e Writer
In New 'o$~tion _ NOTRE DAME (Nc> - Ap pointment of Barbara C. Jencks as Instructor in journalism at St. Mary's College for Women has been announced by Sister M. MadelevR, college president. She haB conducted a column. "Jottings" for the Providence V is ito r. dIocesan newspaper. which was syndicated In six other Cathollc papers. She is a native of Pawtucket. .. VieDIT' Apostolic
WINONA (NCl-Bishop-desig-' ~ate Alfred J.[. Stemper, a Mis sionary of the Sacred Heart, will be consecrated vicar apostollc 'of a South Pacific mission territory here in Minnesota on Oct. 28. A vicar apostolic has spiritual jurisdiction over a territory in a. missionary country which is not yet raised to the status of a. diocese. Generally, he enjoys faculties similar to those of resi dential bisliops in their own dioceses.
St. JllIJdle Novena EVERY 'II'H1URSDAy'AT 10 A.M.-12:10
50 75 100 100 25
U..5. Camems , .. .25 U;S. Comems , .' .75 U.S. Comems ... 1.50 U.S. Comems .', .2,50 Dif:. German . .. .50 Dif. Colombia Pic.... 50 0
A.M.-8:45 'A.M.-IO A.M.-12:10 P.M.
CONFESSFONS-DAILY 8:30 A.1H!. to 9 P.M.
St. AFidhony Novena Every 'Fuesday at, 10 A.l\f. 12:10 P.J\.l!.-3 I!'.M.-5:10 P.M. 8 P.l\I.
Broadcast 'Fues.-WNBII 10 A.l\t. & W,4ILE 7:30 P.M. Wed. WSAR 7 P.M.
For FUlrt'lfIell" information ,and Novena !Booklets Please ·write to:
.OUR llDY'S CHAPEL ,FRANC:iSCAN FATHERS 572 Pl1.I:ASANT STREET' NEW BI:IDiF:ORD, MASS.
JOHN R. TWEEDIE P. O.BOX 118
NEW BEDFORD, l\US·S.
PLUMBING &- HEATING
ST. LOUIS WOMEN'S GUUl.lO Illviles YOIl 10
Itladria: Drain & $ewer SerYlce
P.M.
Broadca.st WSAR-8:45 P.M. DAILY MASSES-7 - ~.l\1.-8
'
- A"£TEN".rION STAMP'/COLLEClORS 2~
P.~I.-5:10
, 7 11.'.1\·][.-8 P.M,'
266 NORTH FRONT S'll'. NEW BEDFORD WYman 2·5400
AN OLD FASHIONED PlARTY With
J>
,
SQUARE ByDANCING
MOLLIE DOONAN AND HER l1RIO
Wed:, Oct. 16 of '8:30 '- Sf: Louis Al!Jditorium FALL RIVER
Refres;~meillts
Tickets 99 cents with
Steady Dating REMSEN (NC)-A ban against "going steady" has been put into. effect for students at two Iowa >Catholic' high schools. The .schools are St. Mary's High SChool here,'which has '192 students, and G e hIe n High School In nearby Le Mars, which has '170 pupils. Pupllswho violate the, rule adopted by the schools wlll be banned from school acti vities, honor societies and posi- , tions of leadership. . . .
WHITE~~
Family ,Restaurant
111. 6 at The lNIarrows in North Westport
~
)4~1~
-;g.'
,,\Farsi!' @ffR{oll1ldl . .NEW YORK (NC) - Fordham University has instituted what 'Is belleved to be the first regular univerSity course for social work ers dealiJ18 with alcoholics.
New Bedford Council of· Catholic Women Plans Season Program
lMi\@~e ~ib'~ (lhla~!J Ask /For TlDem To(//o"