The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-22
AND BABY
WASHING.

Whenever the vexed question of the ed
ucation of girls comes up for discussion,
some outside person is sure to argue that
their training should be such as to fit
them to be mothers. Just now this is to be
accomplished no one. so Tar as the Jour-
nal is aware. has ever set forth. There is
always a vagueness and uncertainty when
it comes to a consideration OF methods.
All that seems to be clear to the advocates
of this form of education is that every
GIRL being a potential mother, ought to
be taught at least the rudiments OF her
future profession. What these rudiments
are they neglect to define, and after all
sional educators seem to have evolved no
plan of action, and nonprofessionals and
the classes to be benefited show either
painful Indifference to the matter or a dis
tressing levity when it is mentioned. AS
q result girls go on. just as they have
done from time immsmorial. getting what
education they can on all sorts Of things
as they proceed, and evolving at last into
mothers who seem to answer the needs
Of humanity fairly well. And still the
theorists are not happy, for they are sure
that something ought to be done, though
they are not sure precisely what it is.
1t has remained for q London School
Board to solve the problem. Four hundred
lady teachers were called together for a
demonstration" said demonstration being
the washing of real live baby in their
presence by a trained nurse, with Incl
dental comments by an attending physi-
clan. Now, of course, the London School
Board Is not interested in the maternal
possibilities of the four hundred teach
ers. 1t does not care, SO far as the teach
ers themselves are concerned, whether
they are trained for the common profess
sion of woman or not. And for that mat
ter, unless they are more given to marry
ing than the teachers of this country, 1t
really is not of first Importance. What
the board wants of the ladies is that they
shall in turn be able to teach their girl
| pupils how to wash babies. Naturally,
this brings new and novel element to
educational life. The wonder is that no
one ever thought of it before. Young
mothers often confess that their first at
tempts to wash their own babies are at
| tended with much tribulation to them
| selves, so that If the art can be acquired
| in advance it will be so much gained.
| Young women will feel that they are, to a
| certain extent, at least, equipped for their
sacred calling.
| The educational movement once started.
it. will without doubt become extremely
| popular and will be adopted by American
school boards, not as a "fad'-perish the
| thought,-but as a dignified and essential
part of the school system. School teach
ers will be required to pass an examina-
ton on baby-washing and sooner or later
on baby-dressing. the preparation Of the
| baby's bottle. the treatment of him when
| is Weakened in the middle of a nap, in
short. they will have to show themselves
ready to meet every ordinary emergency
| in infant life. Where the babies for this
| object-lesson service will come from Is not
| quite clear, but doubtless enough frivo-
lous and idle mothers who have never been
trained will be willing to lend their in
fants and thus escape performance Of the
necessary tasks themselves. And there Is
no doubt that the pupils will welcome this
sort of instruction. A good many of hem
| will, OF course, be familiar with such
rites through observing them in their owr
homes as applied to small brothers and
sisters. but this viii not lessen their JOY