WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9210, 13 April 1908, Page 4

WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

A meeting of the Women's Institute was held on Friday evening in the Manchester Street Chambers, the president, Mrs Atkinson, in the chair. The secretary to the conference in regard to neglected and destitute children^tated that, to 135 letters forwarded to Parliament, she had received nine replies i of which mosy were in the ordinary stereotyped parliamentary style. It was decided again to convene the conference to consider the Commissioner* report on Te Oranga. The question of the necessity for women to seek office, on school committees at the coming elections was discussed, and the following open letter to the women of Canterbury was authorised: "As the time for the annual election of school committees approaches, the Canterbury Women's Institute would urge upon women the necessity of using then powers in Ihe interests of the children. The Institute believes that the school sphere is but an extension of the home sphere, and as such, is eminently in need of the helping hand and mind and heart of woman. Our education system had in it much of good, but good must give place to better and better to besi in the progress of the world towards the higher life to which we tend and in the upward movement woman's help is needed. A consideration of some of th< functions of school committees will serve to show of what great importanot to women whose functions are : — (1) Selection of teachers: School committees have considerable powers in the choice of teachers, and, as the teacher's character and example exercise so vast and far-reaching 1 an influence over the character of the children under his control, the mother is surely as much interested in and affected by the choice, of teacher as the father. (S^Care and supervision of school buildings : The conditions of cleanliness, ventilation, space, warmth, seating accommodation, lighting, sanitation, lavatories, baths, shelters, all of which intimately concern the health and comfort of the children, are eminently woman's affairs, and need all the intelligence she can bring to bear on them for the public good of the children. (3) Co-operation with the teacher in respect of rewards and punishments, recreations, sports and games : A wise understanding in these respects would certainly lead to good issues, and more especially as regards rewards and punishments woman's knowledge of child life should make hei advice and counsel of benefit/to teacher and scholars. The Canterbury Women's Institute, therefore, u'rgea.upon women to attend the forthcoming meefc\ ing 6of householders and parents, and, where possible, nominate women and allow themselves to be nominated for positions ooi school committees, as, foi the reasons already advanced, it ' believes the return of women on school committees would tend to make the school life of the child a better preparation for a happy and useful career at worker and citizen."