Cooperation between the school and local government

Title

Creator

Sawyer, Leroy R.

Language

English

Year

1916

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

OTHER ASPECTS OF COOPERATION servation classes have been conducted for their benefit. These teachers upon return to their provinces after visits to city schools have conducted model classes, and have demonstrated the things which they learned while in Manila. In return, the city schools have been able to secure from these same provinces for the coming year the services of a large number of wellqualified teachers. COOPERATION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. By Ler oy R. Sa w yer , Division Superintendent of Schools, Tayabas. The problem in cooperation between schools and local government is not so much concerning how the schools can help the local authorities, for in a hundred ways they have done this since their establishment. The phase of the matter that most demands the attention of teachers has to do with the help that the schools may reasonably expect from the local government in return for service rendered by the school and how that assistance can best be secured. A few examples from Tayabas will indicate something as to what has been done and what can be done. In August, 1915, the enrollment in the barrio school of Lagalag, Tiaong, was exceptionally poor. The teacher was unable to increase the attendance, so the supervising teacher asked the municipal president and the councilor of Lagalag to go with him to the barrio. They called a meeting of the people at which the president and the councilor explained just what was expected. As a result, on the following Monday the enrollment was more than doubled, and the attendance was fairly good during the rest of the year. In Pagbilao the president instructed each barrio teniente to have a display in connection with the school exhibition on Garden Day. Eleven barrios had exhibits of local products. Through the combined efforts of the public officials and of the schools, the day was made a notable success. In another municipality, at the beginning of the year which has just closed, the central school was to be enlarged and a new barrio building was to be erected. There was no money for either purpose; but the president was interested in school work and he had two buildings ready for occupancy at the opening of the term. The visits of the municipal president and councilmen, or of the provincial governor, are often of real encouragement to teachers. And the municipal health officer by his examination 26 THE PHILIPPINE CRAFTSMAN of school children may render a vital service in preserving satisfactory health conditions in the community. Local officials cooperate more readily when they see practical results achieved by the schools; when gardens are kept in firstclass condition; when the industrial output is up to the standard; when the teachers are in harmony with each other in working out school problems; when the teachers regard their work not so much as a matter of hours and wages, as a trust and an opportunity to better the community. Entertainments have proved highly effective in securing favorable interest in the schools. An intelligent and tactful teacher, through a well-planned program, can bring home to the public the most pressing school needs and secure the good will of the officials. The members of the local government who have the most to do in cooperation with the schools are the president, the councilors, the school board, and the municipal treasurers. The president usually belongs to the party in power; and, as he is the presiding officer of the council, he has almost absolute control in the preparation of the annual budget. He has political and moral influence in his community, and any undertaking which he sees fit to support is likely to succeed. If the president does not belong to the party of the majority in the council, the councilors assume a more important place in the administration. Then they make the annual budget, and it is to them that appeal must be made in case of any special need. Often the local school board exists in name only. Its members, except the president, are powerless unless they are men of great personal influence in the town. The municipal treasurer usually does more for the school than any other member of the local government, except the president. His knowledge of conditions through his intimate contact with the people is very useful, and frequently the municipal treasurer is approached rather than the president. COOPERATION OF LOCAL DEALERS IN THE SALE OF SCHOOLMADE INDUSTRIAL ARTICLES. By Jul ia n Mel it on, Teacher, Naga, Camarines. The output of salable articles made in the industrial classes of the schools is constantly increasing, and the problem as to how best to dispose of the goods demands consideration. There are three established channels of sale which have hitherto been relied upon. The first consists in filling the orders that are sent to the division by the General Office. The second, and so far the most effective medium, has been through the division

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