Welsh Journals

(c) How to assist the child and parent in securing that the abilities and interests of the child are applied, through life's work, for the good of State and individual. I have given in a disjointed fashion some of the points in which I think the primary school can contribute to the solution of the special problem with which the School of Social Service is now concerned. Many problems have been skipped, e.g., the questions of sex instruction, of religious, moral and civic education, of the de- tailed content of the curriculum, of the discipline Anglesey Union of Village Halls and Societies. By Emily Matthews, J. P. /npHE story of the formation and development of the Anglesey Union of Village Halls JL and Societies may prove of interest and encouragement to other rural neighbour- hoods. It should be regarded, not in any way as a model or perfect scheme, but rather as a young plant, vigorous and full of possibilities. Starting from very small beginnings, with prac- tically no resources, it has grown steadily in usefulness and power in the island, and has succeeded in fostering the spirit of unity and co-operation beyond the expectation of its founders. We work on in the confident hope that, profiting by mistakes and learning from experience, the Union may be of increasing benefit to the social life of the county. Inauguration. Anglesey has the distinction (as befits Mon Mam Cymru) of being the first county in Wales to form a Union of Village Halls. The Montgomeryshire Recreation Association was formed, quite independently, a few months later and developed more quickly. Later in the same year (1919) the Village Clubs Associa- tion came into being, and, through its organiser, Mr. Edward Jones, valuable work has been done in N. Wales, and Unions have been formed in Lleyn, Arfon and the Conway Valley. It is interesting to note that, after two years' experi- ence of carrying on the work in England, direct from headquarters in London, the V.C.A. have followed the example set by Wales, and now advocate the formation of county organisations working in close touch with the V.C.A. Previous to the formation of the Anglesey Union there were eight Village Halls or Institutes in the island which had been built and presented to the communities by generous donors. Some of these were playing an important part in the life of the village, while others, possibly through lack of imagination on the part of the trustees or committee of management, were not being utilised to the best advantage. In several locali- ties there were schemes for the erection of Village Halls as Memorials. and tone of the school, and so on, but the aim has been merely to endeavour to show the general attitude which schools should adopt in the face of our problem. It is desired to reiterate that what really matters is not the content of knowledge but habits of mind which have been formed and impetus and inspiration carrying on to self- education. What matters for the boy is that the spirit of his school shall be a fine one, for it will surely accompany him to the end of his days. The idea of forming the Union originated with the North Wales Branch of the Welsh National Association for Reconstruction. In February, 1919, the committee sent out a letter to all existing Institutes and Societies interested in the recreative and educational needs of the people in Anglesey, inviting them to send representa- tive(s to 'a County Conference, to discuss the advantages of closer co-operation on a county basis. The conference, held at Llangefni, was well attended by representative people from all parts of the island, and it was unanimously resolved to form the Anglesey Union of Village Halls and Societies,­-Undeb Neuaddau a Chym- deithasau Pentrefol Mon. Sir John Morris-Jones was elected President, and his name alone is sufficient guarantee that the Union is founded on thoroughly Welsh lines. A provisional Executive Committee was elected to draft the constitution, which carried out its work promptly and efficiently. The constitution, as then drawn up, has so far needed very little amendment. They very wisely made as few rules as possible, knowing that time and experi- ence alone would determine the best methods of carrying on the work. Constitution. The objects of the Union were thus defined — (lj To serve as a Federation of Village Halls, Institutes, and Societies in the County of Anglesey, with the object of furthering their activities. (2) To promote the establishment of Village Halls and Social Centres, the control and management of which are in the hands of a body representative of the inhabitants or elected by the members of a Village Society, membership of which is open to the inhabitants generally. (3) To further the development of the social, recreative, and educative aspects of life in the villages. It will be seen (according to No. 1) that, in districts where there is no Village Hall or Insti- tute. Village Societies are eligible for affiliation to the Union. In this the Anglesey Union differs from other County Unions subsequently formed under the auspices of the V.C.A. It was felt that. owing to the abnormal cost of building, it might be some years before many villages would be in a position to erect their Institutes, and that it was very desirable, in the meantime, to link