New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-12
GOOD MOTHERS RARE.
Mrs. SchOf Wishes There Vas a"
Institute for Parents.

Teachers spend a good many years IN learn
ing how TO be teachers" said Mrs freue'icH
SchoR. president of the National Congress OF
Mothers, in her address at the mothers rneetils
at Public School 165. at Amsterdam avenue anu
iOsth street. yesterday afternoon HOW nucn
time has the average mother spent in learning
how TO be mother?
Physicians tell US how many children Gle IN
infancy-and especially first children-as re-
suit of the ignorance OF their mothers. In my
work among so-caned criminal children (but you
don't know how I hate TO hear them called
criminal for they are no different In essence
from our own children. have seen over ana
over sgain how It is the parents who are re-
spOnsible Judge Lindsey. Of Denver, who has
oficiated in more than four thousand divorce
cases. told me that in many instances these
DIVORCES could be traced back TO wrong teaching
or lack Of teaching the part Of the mothers
Most of US can look back and see how little
we were prepared in girIhood for the duties of
motherhood. I've often looked at teachers going
10 Teachers Institute and wished that there
could be an institute for parents
1.-THE National Congress of Mothers which
was formed ten years ago in Washington, is an
effort on the part of mothers to secure better
opportunities for the physical, moral and mental
development OF children. Though it is a moth
ers' congress, the fathers have part in it, for
we try TO have them present at some Of our
functions, and then every good wife tells her
husband the things she learns.
You can't secure the best conditions for your
child without cooperating with other mothers.
Won can't help your child by always staying at
home" Mrs. Schof warned her hearers And
you can't have good conditions for your child
unless there are good conditions for other chill
dren, for your child must go out into the world,
vnuef live and work with others
Mrs. schoff told OF some OF the good things
that have been done for children since the
Congress OF Mothers was organized. In 1900
] had occasion 10 examine the laws pertaining
20 children in the different states. In one state
the laws I speak OF covered less than half a
page. and in some other states It was almost
as bad. Matters are improved in that respect
now, but there still remains much TO be done
The National Congress Of Mothers has
reached a much fuller development in Phila-
delphia than in almost any other city. There
the women have full charge of the probation
system. and. whereas in 1900 there were five
hundred children in the county Jail. to-day the
speaker said, there is not one. The local circles
OF the Mothers Congress have secured medical
examination for all delinquent children in Phil
adeiphia- ard special schools for such children,
also.
Il want TO tell you how the organization is
appreciated by the children, too the speaker
said. Several years ago / helped form a local
circle IN part Of Philadelphia A couple
of years afterward found that the little
daughter of Of the mothers who belonged
was going about asking women TO join.
asked her mother why the child took such an
interest Well she said, you see. Annie
notices such difference in me since 1 Joined
Tn more patient with her,
In Los Angeles. whittier Mrs. Schof is going
now to attend the national conference of the
Mothers, tbs organization IS very strong. In
Southern California it has at least twenty
thousand members. And to show Won what
organization do said the speaker five
hours after the earthquake loads of sandwiches
were on their way from the Mothers circles
in the south of the state TO San Francisco.
You couldn't do that here. You would have
the VIII and the desire, but you couldn't do it.
because you are not oreanized"