n2021-4_b001_f05_x02_01

COMMUNTY CHECK LIST of ASSETS, NEEDS AND POSSIBLITTIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

If you were a stranger passing through your town for the first time, would you think its general appearance is Good? Fair? Poor? How does your town appear to the young people? If they returned with critical eyes from visits to other towns would it impress them as: Attractive? A town to boast about? Shabby and rundown? Enterprising and alert? Unprogressive and unambitous? A town with a future? A fine (or poor) place for a young person to start a business? Are newcomers quickly made to feel a part of the town? Do service, veterans, women's and other clubs, civic, business, labor, religious, and welfare groups team up on comminity projects? Is it easy to get volounteers for any worthwhile projects? Are some groups excluded from sharing in the good things of the community? What groups? Why? Who "runs the town"? A few people? A special group? How can the community organise so that everyone has a voice and a responsibility?

TO PROVIDE A BACKGROUND FOR ANSWERING THESE AND OTHER QUESTIONS, TO DISCOVER YOUR STRONG AND WEAK POINTS AND DETERMINE WHAT YOU CAN DO AND WHERE TO DIRECT YOUR EFFORTS SO THEY WILL DO THE MOST GOOD, A CAREFUL STUDY OF AND SOBER ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS WHICH WILL FOLLOW WILL BE HELPFUL.

THIS CHECK LIST IS DESIGNED TO HELP IN MAKING A BROAD, OVERALL STUDY OF YOUR COMMUNITY. IT DOES NOT NEED THE HELP OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERTS. IT IS FOR USE BY CITIZENS OF YOUR COMMUNITY IN MAKING THEIR OWN STUDY OF LOCAL CONDITIONS.

THE GENERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS - 1734 N Street, N.W. Washington 6, D.C.

SCHOOLS [second column] Possible action to be taken Are there inducments to secure high quality, well-trained teachers? Are teachers readily accepted into the community? Is the cirriculum adequate and flexible enough to meet the needs of youth? Are the School buildings adequate? Are they well-equipped? Are the ground well-kept and landscaped? Adequate library facilities? Satisfactory laboratory facilities? Playground equipment? Kindergartern? Are there Citizens' School Committees? Is the school attendance law enfored for all children? Rest rooms ample and sanitary? Sufficient drinking fountains? Good hot lunch program? Is there any provision in the school system for adult education? For vocational training? For vocational counseling? Any provision for scholarships? Are there provisions for education of handicapped childten? Would you say your public schools are: Good? ____ Fair? ____ Poor? ___

HEALTH Has your town ample hospital facilities? Are hospital facilities available to segments of the population? Are special financial arrangements made for people who cannot afford regular rates? Who absorbs cost of such arrangements? Public Health Nursing Service? Health clinic? Are there enough doctors? (one for every 800 people?) Enough dentists? Nurses? Have you a preventive medicine education program?

[Second line] Possible action to be taken: T.B., dental, sight, hearing, etc., school tests? First Aid Station? Precautions to assure pure water? Stream pollution control? Rat, mosquito and other insect control? Adequate sanitary laws? Are they enforced? Have you a mental hygiene clinic or any other provision for treatment of the mentally ill? Is there an immunization program for diphtheria, small-pox, etc.? Ambulance service? Are the hospital and other health services made available to people in the surrounding area?

CITIZENSHIP AND GOVERNMENT

Is there efficient, cooperative local government? What percentage of eligible citizens register and vote in elections? Are there efforts (community canvasses, newspaper promotion, etc.) to insure registration and voting? Are local taxes fair and reasonable? Is the community regularly advised as to the income from taxes and how it is spent? Are the best men encouraged to run for office? Does the community support good men in office? Are courses held in community leadership? Are there Americanism classes for the foreign-born? Does your town hold ceremonies for new citizens -- both naturalized and youth reaching voting age?

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS

What percentage of townsfolk attend church? Apart from their religious function, do your churches serve as centers of: Community activities? Public forums and meetings to build community spirit?

[Second line] Possible action to be taken

Special activities for young people? Are strangers and newcomers enthusiastically welcomed in the churches? Do the churches hold "Junior" and "Nursery" services for children under 12 so parents can attend church? Is there a program for recruitment of Sunday School Teachers and youth leaders? Are your town's cemeteries well-kept? Are lists of churches and their locations displayed in hotels, motels, service stations, etc.?

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES

Public Library? Has it a good selection of books for general reading? For reference? Or mainly discards from family surpluses? What is the circulation of books per month? Are the rural people permitted and encouraged to use it? Is there a Bookmobile? What is the circulation of books per month? Is there a live-wire local newspaper? Press coverage for varying points of view? Is there an art museum? Any other kind of museum? Any provisions for exhibitions of local talent? Other talent? Is anything done to help those with special talents? Have you a local historical society? Is anything done to promote educational TV and radio programs? Are lecture series held, with outside speakers? Is there a Little Theatre? Is there a local orchestra? Band? Chorus? Do you put on community historical or other pageants? Has anything been done, through UNESCO, to get an international exchange of students or teachers? Does the community take advantage of every opportunity to promote adult education?

RECREATION [Second column]Possible action to be taken Public Park? Kept clean? Well-equipped? Supervised? Landscaped? Sufficient play equipment? Picnic grounds? Toilet facilities? Swimming pool or beach? Lifeguards? Public Athletic Fields: Baseball? Softball? Football? Tennis? Track? Horseshoes? Badminton? Are they used for school and other amateur competitions? Or does some other town get the games, the crowds they attract, and the money they spend? Public Auditorium? Accessible? Clean and in good repair? Well-ventilated? Toilet facilities? Heated? Good seats? Well-lighted? Good stage? Cooking facilities? Fire protection equipment? Safe exits? Motion picture equipment? Basketball court? Public address system? Equipment for dances? Equipment for fairs or exhibits? Are rural people encouraged to use auditorium? Would an auditorium, if none is now available, help bring meetings (and trade) into town? Do you hold community-wide observance of holidays? Are there square and folk dance groups for all ages? Craft and handicraft classes and exhibits? Are there children's summer and day camps? Equipment? Leaders? Scholarships? Roller skating rinks?