The San Francisco call., 1899-06-11


to the credit of being the first
x city to start school for nursery
maids Her papers are writing
L. up the school at great length as
If II We're a notable development
in education. San Francisco can go her
at least year better in that line OF edu-
cational work.
For more than year past san + ran
cisco has boasted of possessing the only
nursery maids school in the United
States. And this school is the outgrowth
of an intelligent and persistent demand.
For many months prior TO the inaugural
tion Of the school the matter was earn
estly discussed in exclusive circles, ana
the advantage of securing intelligent
carefully trained girls for the care Oh III
fants fully recognized.
To meet such a demand a school for
practical training seemed Indispensable,
and to conform to the ideas of its pro-
moters must lie purely benefcent in its
workings. Opportunity to put into ope-
ration plans that had been formulated
was not presented until the opening OF
the San Francisco Lying-in and Found
ling Asylum in April, 1898, at SlS Golden
Gate avenue.
During many years Of self-sacrificing
experience in the work Of The Florence
'Crittenton Home for Firing Girls. Re". ].
W. Ellsworth was almost daily brought
face 10 face with the need for 4 founding
home. at that time there being no proTi-
sion in all San Francisco for helpless lit
tie waits. Yielding 10 q conviction OF
duty. Mr.. Ellsworth. supported by influ-
ential business and professional men,
opened the Golden Gate Avenue Home,
which from it's first months history has
been a most successful venture.
At the present time forty-eight home
less little human beings, all under one
year of age, find shelter and motherly
care in this institution, and recently an
eight-roomed maternity annex has been
added. with an equipment uneQualcd in
any hospital in the land.
Here. with these opportunities for prac-
tical experience, supplemented By theo-
retical work IN class, more than thirty
bright. intelligent young women arc
schooling themselves in the care Of
infants. to meet a demand in San Fran
cisco alone that far exceeds the capacity
OF tie institution.
No girl under 16 or more than 30 years
os age is received as a pupil, and before
candidate is taken into the institution
she must show evidence Of possessing Il
common school education, and present
recommendations as to her moral charac-
ter She must also pledge herself to wear
the uniform prescribed, and for the first
year after graduation must not ask more
Than s. per week for her services.
The course of instruction covers n
period OF eight months. the first of which
IS one of probation. At the end of the
month the directors OF nurses Will de-
eide upon the fitness OF applicants to re-
main as pupils.
Pupils are boarded and lodged at the
expense OF the school. and receive 50
per month. No compensation is made for
The first month unless the probationer is
accepted.
Pupils are taught to bathe and dress
infants and children, 20 prepare the diff
fercnt foods for infants. TO care for chill
dren at night and 20 care for children's s
rooms and clothing. The need of truth
fulness on their Part and the great crime
of frightening children are firmly i'm
pressed upon them. Tney are taught what
kind OF stories to tell their young charges
and how to play kindergarten games with
them. In addition. they are given lessons
IN plain laundry work. plain sewing and
raending
Positions are found for the pupils two
months before they graduate, and tic Ge-
mand for the thoroughly trained young
woman is so great that there is no diff
Guilty about getting places. Many girls
have become convinced that IL is better
TO care for the children in a well-regu-
lated household than 10 stand beind &
counter all day al s. or even Sc per week.