Evening star., 1897-02-19
Yesterdays LATE SESSIONS
Many Valuable Papers of Interest ia
Mothers Read.

Yesterday afternoon there was anothe,
OF the congress, and humber of papers
that were extremely valuable in the sug-
gestions they made to mothers were read
and attentively listened to.
The first speaker of the afternoon was
Miss Frances Newton of Chicago, who l.
actively connected with kindergarten work
She spoke on the subject The Mother $
Greatest Needs In the course of her pa.
Fer Miss Newton said:
Il realize in working with children what
some of the needs of a mother are. The
first thing for a mother is to realize what
home means to her child. Home life should
be made harmonious as far as possible.
There is 4 need of women having an or
ganZed life of their own, the same organ
iZation we would find in Il plant where the
blossoms and leaves gradually unfold one
after another. Father. mother and child
should keep on growing and not keep in the
same cid ruts.
I'VE cannot overestimate the value of
organized home life. In the kindergarten
we have an organized plan. Mothers would
find Ii SO much easier if they had a plan
for the child something that they could fit
to the child as it grows. Another need,
and, If possible, more important than any
other, is sympathetic cooperation between
husband and wife. A mother should SO
live as to be an ideal to her child in every
thing. Mothers should do as Mrs Booth
had said, love the children of others. Every
child can be taught the rights of relation
ship before 1t leaves the nursery
Miss Mckenzie on ''Playgrounds.-
Miss Constance Mckenzie of the kinder
garten department of the Philadelphia pub
lie schools read a paper on Fairgrounds. -
in which she called attention to the urgent
need for these breathing spots in grea.
cities. She caid that she looked for the
time when every city of any Importance
would provide such places where the chill
dren, especially the children of the poor.
who do not go away during the heated
term, would have the opportunity to enjoy
the fresh air and the benefits of outdoor
exercise. There are four cities, she said
which have taken the lead in giving public.
Fairgrounds to the children These are
Boston, which began in 1886: New York. in
ls9l; Providence, in 1894, and PHILADELPHIA.
In 1873. Boston began with Fairgrounds
IN the day nurseries. In New York ex-
Mayor Abram s. Hewitt has been a leader
In the movement for Fairgrounds and now
they are supported in part by private, in
part by pubic funds. 1t Is provided that
the parks shall have a place for the chill
dren to play. In Philadelphia the pJav-
grounds are entirely provided for by public
money.
The Fairgrounds should be put under con.
slant friendly guardianship. There must
be constant, wise, strong supervision. AS
a rule, kindergartners are called for to di-
rect the Fairgrounds. Philadelphia will
have only kindergartners of approved ex.
periepce. The grounds are opened six davs
In the week all day for two months. In
Boston they are open seven days in tho
week about five months. The tendency IS
toward longer continuance
The grounds are equipped with apparatus
Ior physical development gymnasium ont
fits, etc. There is no room In any. so fa r
as known Tor foot ball, and Fairgrounds
Ior ooys must be established where the
stronger games may be enjoyed. If ts In
these games that self-reliance and fairness
may be iIculcated. At Providence. lincoln
Park OF Brown University. is made avail
able for the boys to play base bali and ths
like, and Is very valuable.
Practical Results of Child study.
DR.. G. Stanley Hall of Clark University
spoke in an interesting way on the subject
Practical Results Of Child Study" DR..
Hall said that in many universities chairs
have been established for the study of