The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-10-01
0GIALlziNG THE PUBLIC
 SCHOOL IN LOS ANGELES
City Erects a Day Nursery on School Grounds-Domestic Science Taught in 8 Model Cotttage-Some
 Humanitarian Experiments.


 Humanitarian Experiments.
 w. H. slingerland, Department of ! Child Helping, Russell Sage F'oun- dation-ExcIusive Service The Sur vey Press Bureau.
 The Utah street public school Of
 Los Angeles, Cal, is the center of one
 of the largest and most needy sections i of the city inhabited by poorly paid working classes. Here within ] small area are thousands of Russians, Jews, Spaniards Mexicans. Portu- guese, and a sprinkling from several northern nations, as well Aneri- cans. Most of them live in extreme poverty and have. only ha1f-civilized ideas of home life and methods. The board of education, recognizirg this, has provided not only a good school building ample grounds, but has erected auxiliary buildings for a Kindergarten, day nursery, and for model housekeeping instruction in regular cottage so as to initiate or dinary family conditions. These three are on the school grounds. There is also one block away ma
 ternity cottage, serving the same peo-
 pie, but not directly connected with
 the school.
 The Utah School has $50 pupils in
 grades from the kindergarten to the
 fifth. In big bungalow, 24 by s
 ft., is a modified form of Day Nur
 sery. It is all in one room, save
 a small hall in one corner, and 6
 bath and toilet room utilizing the rest
 of the space, across the end of the
 house. In front is a porch. and be-
 hind is an inc1osed yard equipped
 play-ground There are several
 beds, 8 number of baby cabs, chairs,
 low tables, etc. In the back hall
 are facilities for heating milk, ster
 iIizing bottles, nipples and other like necessaries. The Fellowship Socie-
 tyr and other interested philanthropy ists furnish the equipment of this
 plant ard provide trained worker.
 Many of the women in this part of the city must go out to work for the familys support. Where there were several children the older ones stayed ] at home to care for the little ones 1 LLIS Ody hdES0IS IS IO etlN 1 these older children to attend school. l by caring for the younger ones. Ev- cry school morning before nine o'clock 1 these children bring the little broth 1 CTS and sisters, ranging from babes to l four years old, to the day nursery; 1 at noon they take charge of them l 8 gain for an hour, after which they put them in the nursery for the after noon period. This has won for the school many children who would nev- CT otherwise have had it's privileges.
 It was then found possible to do a little more general day nursery work, and so almost any working mother in that section was helped in the care of her children, during the day, if she needed it. Thus the building is now T. used to it's full capacity nearly all the time. The average number cared for daily is thirty, including from three to six babies from one month to a year old, the others are between one and four years, at which age they are eligible for the kindergarten.
 In the day nursery, as in all this work, the things actually done for the children are, while good in them selves, only a means to bring the so- cial workers in touch with the people and the homes. and to bring to bear he uplifting influence of Christian This day nursery seems unique. The claim is made by the 1 board of education that it is the only ,ne in the country so ordered and 1 
 Erected by the board of education, ( on the school grounds, is also the model cottage, or home. It is in { ended to furnish lessons in practical ( for the girls of these poor families, who have seldom or never before seen how comfortable lomes are furnished and kept. The ' bungalow is purpose1y small. It has hree rooms and pantry for the forage of dishes, food and applian- IS. In front is living room, which l erves also for dining room, bed { oon1 and .well-equipped kitchen. In ront of the house is a small porch; 'ehind 8 large one, on which much york is done The furnishings are ! 'lain, but good, such as the average l ouches that taste and culture give to ven the p1ainest home. Here, 10 nake the experiment real, two of he teachers live. |
 Three groups of ten girls each are c ssigned work at the cottage each lay. The first begins at nine o'clock l nd does the mornings work Five I weep, dust, make the bed, place the e urniture, etc, and the other five wash T he breakfast dishes, and arrange t hem in the pantry and cupboards. e The second group of ten then comes r II duty, and while five prepare |