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HOME AND COUNTRY Published qumei-iy by The Federated Women's Imtilutol oi onmiu and Tim Institute Brunch Dupurtmont of Agricultun Ontario EDITORIAL Coaufl'n'ns: Mrs. T. J. McDowell, Milwrton. Miss M. Y Powell, \Vbitby. Miss Mary .-\. Cinrku. Toronto. Mner or Pnovxxumn Bonn»: 1938439 Honorary Pren‘dcnl: Her Excellency The Lndy Twccdamuir. Honorary Vice~Pruidmu Miss Mary A. Clurkc Toronto Presidrnt: Mrs. 1‘. .T. achowen, iuiivsrmn. Tint Pres-idenll: ms. 5. H. Monk. Luncnburg. Mrs. A. W. Brandon, RR. 5, Gait. Mrs. Thomas Boslor, Schreibor. Div-chor! on the Execution: Mrs, W. J. Reynolds, Frankvllla. _\[rs. Jumcs Gordon. Benvorlon. Mrs. D. D. Gunlou. Simone. Mrs. L. G. Croller. Wulkcrtnn. Mrs. Dun bloom, New Llsknnrd. Diroclon: . Portcr North Gowur. . . ‘ Mudoc. rnct Shio 3. Ida. 'un Lcmou, on. No. 1, Balaclava. . E. McCulluch. nu. No. 2, Brnmpian, . D. Stewart, Thurman. Miss L belle Young. St. Ma p a. J. u, MPanhlm, Kinguvila. . \. rrnser. Rn No. l. Imerton. .u L. s. Eilcr. Falconbridge. Mrs. W. Hiuimd, Kngnwong. ins. L. Comer. Kcncra. Secretan/»Treamnr: Mm. W. B. Leuthurdulo. Goldwater. Correspondence should bu addressed to "HOME and COUNTRY" The Women's Institute Brunch Parliament Buildings, Toronto This paper is distributed through the seam tunes of Women's Institutes to tho Woman‘a Institute members. EDITORIAL COM MENT EDUCATION \VEEK For the fifth consecutive year the Canadian Teachers Federation is sponsoring a campaign in the in- terests of education, known as Edu- cation Week, from February 5 to 12. The Ontario convener, Mr. W. G. McNeill, has requested that We draw it to the attention of the readers of “Home and Country“. In a circular letter the Education Week Committee for Ontan‘o state: “The aim of Eduwtion Week is to establish among the citizens of our land an intelligent and informed awareness of trends and problems in education. Educational reforms will always be necessary if We are to pro- gress in culture and in skills; but they can come in a democracy only as quickly as public opinion will permit. The needs of the schools must be made known. One of the most important means to this end is the establishment of a partnership between the Home and the School.” The theme of Education Week this year is “The New and the Old in Education". “Match for radio pro- grammes and articles in the press. In another section of this paper Mr. A. B. Lucas, Public School Inspector, outlines suggestions for Rural School Lighting, a phase of school improve- ment in which Institute members will be interested. Since one of our standing com- mittees is Education, surely the W0- men’s Institute should give its whole hearted support to Education Week. If this Week is to accomplish any- thing worthwhile, the interest which it awakens should be carried on throughout the year. Let’s be edu- cation minded! HOME D COUNTRY SCHOOL LIGHTING CAN BE IMPROVED It is hoped that every rurpl school will have “open house" during Edu- cation Week in February. This Will provide an excellent opportunity for parents and ratepayers to investigate the lighting conditions under which their children are working. “Better Light, Better Sight" is the watch» woid in many oflices, stores and. homes, but, unfortunately, the slogan is not in operation in many schools. This would be an opportune time to borrow a light meter from your local hydro superintendent and make a sur- vey of the lighting conditions under which the children of your school are working. The results of this survey may be amazing. Many of our rural school buildings have windows improperly placed. The typical crusslights of many schools cause glare on the blackhoards. The modern classroom has all light enter: ing from the left side of the pupil so that shadows will not fall on the books, and an area equivalent to oneâ€" fifth of the floor space should be made up of windows extending from four to five feet from the front wall to the back wall and reaching with- in one foot of the ceiling. There are several Ways of improv< ing classroom lighting: (1) Remodelled Windows: Many rural schools have modernized their lighting by placing windows on the left side of the classroom as outlined above. Unless the classroom is abnormally Wide (over twenty-four feet) or the ceiling is abnormally low, there will be no further need of the windows on the right side of the room. They may be closed. The whole cost of this remodelling, even in a solid brick school, should not exâ€" ceed $200.00. A fifty per cent grant will be given the rural school board, if the expenditure is approved by the local inspector. A frame building can be modernized much more cheaply. (2) Hydro: Even with the best lighting conditions there are many days, especially in the fall and winter season, when there is not a sufiicient amount of natural light. In many cases the work of the school is sus- pended due to the inability of the children to see the blackboard or to use their books. Hydro is the only solution for this difl‘lculty. When properly installed, so that the light is properly diffused without glare, hydro is well worthâ€"While. Before any installation is made, careful planning is necessary so that efficiency will be obtained. The Engineering Department of the Hydro Electric Power Commission, Toronto, will give expert advice free to any school board. (3) Blinds: Even in extreme cases where hydro is not available, or when remodelling is not possible, much can ' - li ht'm with Biop‘ig‘nesclfoolm li’rl’ds.‘ gTo!)g mflny schools are equip ed With dark greoil. opaque blinds, w ich make ventpbfi dungeons of the classrooms when it I: necessary to lower them to shut.ou the direct glare of the sun. All blinds should be made of such material is will allow light to pass thrcug They should be_equlpPEd With 300 spring rollers With cords attached so that they can be raised to the very to of the window when not require. Washable blinds are preferred. The teacher should always bear in mind that half the light that enters her classroom comes from the upper third of the window. If this were more fully understood, blinds would not be left drawn over the upper portion of the windows. _ (4) Care in Clinics of Curtains: The use of curtains is open to severe criticism unless they are made lot transparent materials and are tied well back from the Window. (5) Clean Glass: 'Twenty-fiva to fifty per cent of available light may be shut out by dirty Windows. (6) Decoration: One may still find the walls of many Ontario schools painted in dark grey or brown colours, which absorb seventy Ito eighty per cent of the light which reaches the room, and reflect the re- mainder. Such colours make a most depressing and gloomy classroom. White, of course, would be the best reflecting colour, as ninety per cent of the light may be reflected. However, an all-white classroom would be unâ€" pleasant to the eyes. One of the best colour combinations is an egg-shell white ceiling, light ivory walls and a somewhat darker wainscoting. Cer- tain light shades of green for the upper walls and darker green for the lower walls may be used with the white ceiling, but great care would be necessary in selecting the proper shade and the proper texture of green. The protection of the eyesight of our school children is an important phase of health education. But often our whole health programme is upset through the poor lighting in the schools. The new Pro name of Studies in Ontario schoo s, with its greater emphasis on reading, makes it necessary for the present-day child to use his eyes much more intensively than his parents or his grandparents may have done in the same school in past years. More than ten per cent of all‘children reaching Grade VII have vision defects so serious as to require professional treatment. Let us put into practice in our schools the "Better Light, Better Sight Programme". (Contributed by Mr. A. B. Lucas, London, Public School Inspector.) Financial Statement Oct. lst, 1937 â€" Sept. 30th, 1938 Federated Women’s Institutes Rucmrrs. Balance in bank, Oct. 1 1937.$4,060.08 Federation fees an ex- changes .. “A _ 3,891.91 Sale of song sheets M 21.00 Sale of Hand Books. 26.00 Sale of Federation pin 43.50 Bank interest __. 11.45 $8,053.94 EXPENDITURES. Allocation to F.W.I.C. 500.00 Allocation to A.C.W.W. 50.00 Grants to Conventions. 400.00 Convention speaker’s ex- penses .. 521,80 Board meeting .. 522.40 Federated represents. expenses .. 288.27 District Ann expenses ...__ .._ 305.10 President's travelling allow- ance ..._..__._.__ .. 75.00 Secretary’s honorarium and mi _... __ 287.00 Representatives to other or- ganizations _ 27.00 and. fee _._ 11.00 Special meetings _ 18.50 Printing Home 8: Country (2 issues) 824.72 Peace garden u keep - 12.00 Subscription “'Fhe Country~ woman" ...... 1 25 Peace literature 2:00 onveners’ postag 17.41 Stationery and sup e _ '74 94 Pins, life members 1p and . .Federation ._._ 69 00 Gift to The Lady Tweedsâ€" ' muir _.. ._.... 50.00 Flowers and presentation 25 30 Express on relief parcels. 5000 Exchange 4164 Fees refunded _ 5'90 Auditor 1937 a 10:00 Total expenditure _... Balance in bank, Sept.$4,193-93 30. 1938 . ..... 3,860.01 $8,053.94 Certified correct, J. C. anR, Auditor. Winter, 1938419 PARENT cove/mow STRESSED or PROVINCIAL convencn We frequently hear it ‘ nation’sgreatest asset is istinghllllIt a Does this not depend on the harm of the qualities and virtues which!” children deVelop‘I Such qualities” justice, love of fellow men. sell as trol, obedience to 'ust audios? honesty and reliability make y' future cfitizen ml) asset. ities suc as ice ous en and untrustworthinzss 35kg“? future citizen n. menace to the nutiuB It is readily agreed that in the hamll is the foundation of education. 1: ,8 there, in the every day living a”: such basic qualities as personhl n. sponsibility public need and (to-Opal- ation are born and stimulated. 1,; view of these facts, it is suggesm that child psychology and parent edu. cation be the outstanding subject, of this year’s educational program"|E This would include not only the on: com-aging of parents to stud be. haviour problems of their children but the study of family relation: shipsâ€"relationship between husband on wife, mother‘and children, {other and children, children and children, Peace and cut-operation in the bums are contagious germs which will ds velop into peace and co-operution in the community and in the nation, The Ontario School Trustees and Ratepayers Association, having In its motto “Develop the school and preserve Democracy", has a new plat. form which is worthy of our con- sideration. Copies of this may be secured from Mr. M. A. Cum]:de Secretary Ontario Trustees and Rate- payers Association 30 Bloor Street Vest, Toronto. De ates or discussion in Institute meetin on some of the planks, such as " qual educational opportunities for every child in On» tario”, would give all members an in- telligent, informed awareness of some of the problems of education. (Contributed by Mrs. Jas. Gordon, Gamebridge, Provincial Convener of Education). But qua]. Scottlsh Institutes Will Visit Ontario In August of this year, a group of members of the Scottish Wumen’u Rural Institutes under the guidance of Miss Winifride Wrench, Editor of the Scottish Home and Country, will visit Ontario. The Scottish Women’s Rural Insti- tutes originated during the years of the Great War and by December, 1938, have grown to have 1,017 Insh- tutes. These 1,017 Institutes are organized into four areas. Crossing the Atlantic on the Donald son Atlantic Liner, "Letitia", which soils from Glasgow, July 20, the 11am will land at Quebec City, July 29. The trip across Quebec and Ontario Will be entirely by bus, so that the men bers may see as much as possible of the countr . From Quebec City they w11l trove to Montreal, thence '10 Ottawa where they will enjoy a city tour ending at the Experimental Farm. Leaving Ottawa the party will travel first to Kemptville and NUI'JI Gower, then via Smiths’ Falls, Perth. Madoc, Peterborough and Lindsay to the Bobcaygeon district, where they plan to relax for a day. In the Tor- onto district they will visit Donsle Farm and tour the city. Their trip then continues along the Lakcsbore Road to Hamilton, then to 'Stouei’ Creek, Salt, and St. Catharinesifl Niagara Falls. While travelling across Ontario, the party will sleep: not in hotels, but in tourist campe They will have the opportunity W welt several Women’s Institutes i131 Ontario farms. As Miss Wrench 5w : "The members just want to see H15 sort of life lived on a Canadian farm Further details will be given in 013 next issue of “Home and Count? when the plans for the tour are more nearly completed.