South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-04
UNCLE SAM HELPS
HOME EDUCATION
Bureau Organizes Branch to
Direct Mothers With Refer
ence to Health, Games and
Play of Children.

WASHINGTON, Dec.4. - send all
the information YOU can TO these
mothers. We are 10 miles from
doctor. So many women die"
Many women in this district live
from so 10 100 miles from a physi-
clan"
Appeals like these received by the
bureau OF education throughout the
United States in the past year indi-
cate the need which mothers. espe-
ciaIly in remote districts. feel for ad-
vice in the care and training OF their
children.
In recognition Of these needs the
home-education division of the bu-
reau Of education has been establish
ed. It's objects are:
ITO help parents in the home edu-
cation OF their children with reference
10 health. games and play, early men
tai development, and formation OF
moral habits" Also " 10 interest boys
boys and girls who have left school
and are still at home" The method
is "by directing their home reading
and study; and TO further the educa-
ton OF the parents in the home
To accomplish this the bureau Of
education cOOperates with the ma
tionaf congress of mothers and parent
teacher associations, with view to
A series Of bulletins on home edu-
cational problems has been prepared
and parents desiring advice in child
nurture and home making may receive
T. from the bureau.
AS a basis for further work the
characterization division has obtained
a carefully selected list Of women in
all parts Of the United States TO CO.
operate in extension of opportunities
TO all parents for education in home
making.
County superintendent of schools
were asked TO furnish the names Of
women in their communities who
could be depended upon for a certain
amount of initiative and leadership.
Get 49, 900 Names.
Through the efforts of 1888 wo-
men thus selected and from other
sources, the bureau has been furnish
ed with nearly 40, 900 names of moth
ers who feel the need of information
on the care and home training of
children and it is with these 10000
mothers that a beginning has been
made.
The bulk Of the requests are for
held in the problems of home making
and the care of children. The mothers
ask the bureau for help in choosing
literature, III reading courses for
themselves and their children.
They ask for bulletins on 'home
matters, material for home study for
boys and girls; literature on moral
training: books suitable for children
who have completed the common
school course; methods Of bringing to-
gether the home and the school; sug-
gestiOns for forming sewing and cook
ing classes; and information neces-
gary for forming parent-teacher asso-
Citations.
Some of the states. through packet
libraries and by other means, are
reaching these people who are with
out access to the usual sources of in
formation.
No Effort to Reach Mothers.
In most localities, however, no effort
is made to reach the mothers them
selves with the facts that are essen
tiaI to the sound development of the
children and the home.
1t is in this field that the home
education division plans to do It's work,
not by interference with local condi-
tions, but as q clearing house of in
formation for state and local author
tiles.
II connection with the foregoing
Gov. McCreary of Kentucky recently
announced the appointment of a
state illlteracy commission and the
beginning OF campaign to eliminate
illiteracy from his state.
A thousand volunteer teachers spent
the latter part Of the summer at work
in the moonlight schools teaching
Kentucky's 2OS,OOO adult illiterates
how to read and write.