THE UNIVERSITY OP OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE THE OKLAHOMA CONGRESS OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS, 1922 to 1957 A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE CffiADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION BY JESSE ELVIN BURKETT Norman, Oklahoma 1958 THE OKLAHOMA COHGRESS OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS, 1922 to 1957 APPROVED BY DISSERTATION COMMITTEE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer is indebted to the chairman of his committee, Dr. D. Boss Pugmire, for his wise counsel in developing the design of the study and for his encouragement a M expert guidance in directing the writing of this dissertation. He is indebted to Dr. Thurman White vho as a member of his committee and historian of the Oklahoma Congress provided valuable liaison with that organization. Grateful acknowledgment is made to Mrs. George E. Calvert, a former president emd historian of the Oklahoma Congress, who compiled the files of the state presidents and collected other materials which were invaluable sources of data for the study. The writer wishes to thank Mrs. W. Fred Scott, president; Mrs. C. E. Scott, executive secretary; Mrs. C. H. Stapp, associate secretary; and Mrs. John A. Wadlin, director of field service of the Oklahoma Congress for their assistance in the collection of data for the study. The writer also thanks the other members of his doctoral commit­ tee, Dr. W. B. Ragan, Dr. Glenn R. Snider, Dr. Lloyd P. Jorgenson, and Dr. Gail Shannon, for their encouragement and assistance in the planning and preparation of the study. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ........................................ v ü Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ........................................ 1 The Problem The Data The Method Related Studies II. THE PARENT-TEACHER MOVEMENT COMES TO OKLAHOMA .......... 10 A National Organization Is Formed The Parent-Teacher Idea Grows in a New State Oklahoma Is Organized as a State Branch of the National Congress III. BUILDING AN ORGANIZATION (1922-1929).................. 23 The Background of Social and Political Unrest The Background of Educational Needs Organizational Problems and Needs The First Three Presidents Organizational Growth IV. THE OKLAHOMA CONGRESS OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION (1929-193$)........................ 7$ Oklahoma in the Great Depression Depression and Education The Plight of Teachers The Fourth State President The Fifth State' President Other Leaders Instruction in Parent-Teacher Work Maintaining the Organization in Depression Promoting New Units and Increasing the Membership V. SIGNS OF PROGRESS (1935-19^0) 102 Progress in Dealing i-rith Depression iv Chapter Page Educational Progress after Three Years of Chaos The Sixth State President Strengthening the Organizational Framework Establishing a State Headquarters Launching a State Wide Project Progress in Publications Achieving the Second Objective Growth Toward Maturity VI. MEETING THE CHALLENGE (1940-1S46) .................... 1]4 Oklahoma in the War Years Education in the War Years Parent-Teacher Leaders in the War Years Organizational Problems of the War Period Growth of Parent-Teacher Cooperation Publications and Publicity Improving the Local Organization The State Office Leadership Training Parent-Teacher Instruction in Colleges Grovrth in Strength and Numbers VII. RAPID GROVJTÏÏ IN THE POST WAR YEARS (ig46-1957)......... l6? Oklahoma in the Post War Years Education in the Post War Years Leaders of the Oklahoma Congress in the Post War Years The PTA and the Profession Oklahoma-National Congress Relations Parent-Teacher Publications Growing Importance of the State Headquarters Development of Field Service Improving the Organizational Patterns Patterns of Growth VIII. PARENT-TEACHER MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS . ,........... 219 Changing Patterns in Local ffeetings District Nbetings and Conventions Early State Conventions Conventions of the Depression Changing Patterns of Annual Conventions Post War Conventions IX. PROMOTING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN AND Y O U T H ............ 26? Fund Raising Projects Welfare Projects for Underprivileged Children Health and Safety Projects Chapter Page Projects for Juvenile Protection Projects for Peace and International Understanding Protecting Children in War Time Improving the Learning Situtation X. RAISING THE STANDARDS OF HOME LIF E .................... 313 Literacy Education The Mothersingers Parent Education Classes Schools for Parents Conferences on Child Welfare and Parental Life The Bureau of Child Development and Parent Education The Oklahoma Family Life Institute XI. SECURING ADEQUATE LAWS FOR THE CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH ................................. 336 Early Efforts to Secure Legislation Parent-Teacher Legislative Programs in the Depression Legislative Programs in the War Period Post War Progress in Securing Adequate Laws XII. THE OKLAHOMA CONGRESS OF COLORED PARENTS AND TEACHERS . 378 Early Negro PTA Units Oklahoma Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers Organized Committee on Intercultural Relations Last Convention of the Oklahoma Colored Congress The First Year of Integration in Parent-Teacher Organization XIII. THE CHALLENGE OF THE F U T U R E .......................... 395 Prerequisites for Achievement Improving the Welfare of Children Raising the Standards of Home Life Securing Adequate Laws Bringing Into Closer Relationship the Home and the School The PTA and the Profession Miles to Go BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................................. \qG VI LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Membership in Oklahoma Congress by Regions ............. I65 2. Financial Support from Membership Dues ................ I65 3. ^fembership in Oklahoma Congress by Regions, 1946-47 to 1956-57 ................................... 218 4. Total tfembership and Jfembership Dues in Oklahoma Congress, 1946-47 to 1956-57 .......................... 218 Vll THE OKLAHOMA COMGSESS OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS, 1922-1957 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The Problem In 1957 the Oklahoma Congress of Parents and Teachers observed Its thirty-fifth anniversary with a membership of 172,014.^ A voluntary organization which attracts a membership of this size commands the atten­ tion of students, and professional members, in the field of public school administration. The Oklahoma Congress of Parents and Teachers lists as its objects: To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, church, and community. To raise the standards of home life. To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth. # To bring into closer relation the home and the school that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the training of the child. To develop between educators and the general public such united effort as will secure for every child the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education. ^Oklahoma Parent-Teacher, Vol. XXIX (April, 1957), P* 7* ^"Objects," Oklahoma Parent-Teacher, Vol. XXIX (January, 1957), P* 3 . 2 The pursuit of these objectives has involved building an organization, publishing a state bulletin, conducting meetings and conventions, spon­ soring study groups, and planning and activating programs and projects at state and local levels. Of necessity, the first years of the Oklahoma Congress were con­ cerned largely with the building of an organization. Projects were few, and goals were stated often in terms of members to be gained rather than programs to be achieved. During these years, however, the organization placed considerable emphasis on parent education and also sponsored many "schools of instruction" in which members and potential leaders learned parent-teacher procedure, policy, and organizational techniques.^ The Oklahoma Congress of Parents and Teachers was only seven years of age when the great depression came with all its damaging effects on education. Steady growth bad been made, but organizational stability had not yet been achieved. "Widening the Circle" was a PTA. slogan during this period, but membership declined during I929 and 1930. Although mem­ bership increased slightly in I93I, it wavered again in I932 and 1933* From 1935 to 19^0 membership in the Oklahoma Congress increased substantially. More important, however, than the growth in membership was the development of a sound organizational structure. Under the lead­ ership of Mrs. George E. Calvert of Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Congress succeeded in: (l) establishing a permanent state headquarters with em­ ployed personnel, (2) establishing a state bulletin as a regular publica­ tion, (3 ) amending the by-laws to produce a more functional organizational ^"Twentieth Anniversary," Oklahoma Parent-Teacher Bulletin, Vol. XIV (April, 19 ^2 ), p. h. 3 structure throu^out the state, and (4) founding the Oklahoma Family Life Institute as a state-wide project in cooperation with the University of Oklahoma.^ When the attack on Pearl Harbor precipitated the United States into World War II, the Oklahoma Congress of Parents and Teachers was in a position to cope with a period of crisis. Without neglecting the affairs of organization, the state congress made substantial contribu­ tions to the welfare of children in hones, schools, and communities beset with the problems of wartime. Ihe post war period, with its educational crisis and educational growth, produced an amazing increase in the member­ ship of the Oklahoma Congress of Parents and Teachers. As PTA membership grew, the organization achieved the financial ability to support an ex­ panded state office and employ a full time