New-York tribune., 1903-02-10
MOTHERS CLUBS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Volunteer Nurses to Care for Babies During
Sessions.

I'VE adults get our best moral training in our
eudeavor to train children said Mrs. Harry
Hastings. president of the New-York City Mothers
Club, yesterday, in address on Moral Training
at the monthly meeting. The Froebel thought, 10
learn by doing. is applicable on either hand. we
find the ideals of the child mind almost exact re-
Elections of the adult world about them Only the
child ideal is nearly without exception. expressed
in terms of the concrete. 1t is what we do and
say and seem that shapes the child's thought
We may be very loving and painstaking mothers
but if love and anxiety result in the frown or
sharp word or overwrought nerves. ii is these
outer things that leave their banefu impress on
the receptive mind. 1t is not until very very long
afterward that the love behind the frown is under
stood.
I'VE ought TO give thanks daily that habit is
stronger than nature that we have the opportunity
to remodel the faulty natures of our little ones
which ourselves have bequeathed them There
is much habit of virtue. as some one mas H.
the habit of obedience. of reverence. Difference
courtesy. They learned easily in the dawn OF
life and no later advantages ever quite take the
place of the unconscious influence of the home life
in which these ha bits prevail The morality of tfe
home is. in my opinion, religion in itself All the
elements of character building and fitness for the
responsibilities of civic duties may be found in the
relations and routine of the simplest home 100
much stress cannot be laid the presentation OF
simple. undiluted truth in the daily life OF a
child. Tell child no hing If you can't tell him
the truth Do nothing If action would have equivo-
half truths. and there is no more keen discerner
of falseness than the pure intuition of child
III the discussion that followed the paper, Mrs
Henry Parsons said that she never knew herself
so thoroughly as when she saw herself through
her children'S eyes.
II used to give them part of the garret for
their own she said "A chalk line marked off
their domain. Anything that found it's way on my
side of that line they knew likely to find its
way a little further to the fire or the rubbish pile
That taught them order-that there a proper
place for everything. I can tell you. the little
world on the childrens side of that chalk line on
the garret floor was my own world in miniature
Nothing seemed to escape them. They knew the
weaknesses of every member of the family. and
re-enacted them their doll play: The little snams
that creep into the daily lie OF the pest ol US
perhaps, were there slammed over again In uncon-
The discussion of the formation of mothers clubs
in the public schools brought out number OF
volunteer workers among the members. According
to letters teachers and principals READ at yes
terday's meeting there are comparatively rev Sucn
clubs formed in the schools but there seems 10 De
an almost universal desire for their organization
teered her services in the work Of getting them
started >, ,- ,5a.,S s.jd
'rs much in favor Of this work. In Superinten
Maxwell's last report he outlined and urged just
may be sure that will have the heartiest sup
port In that direction. On the other hand, we may
be sure that there is real neeo OF tnen ana lhd
the field is ready for the seed we have to SOW. II
any of you have gone into the public schools as
have, you will realize what ! mean when l say say
many mother doesn't even know dirt wnen she
sees it She may know the cruder surface varieties
but they often the least harmful; We need
too volunteer nurses ana caretakers VINO VIII take
entire and intelligent charge OF the babies and little
children who would otherwise prevent the mothers
attendance at the school club. We hope 10 get
rooms in the schools aside for this purpose
Nominations for the club officers resulted in the
naming of Mrs Hastings for the presidency for