The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-10
EDUCATION ron THE HOME.

EDUCATION FOR THE HOME.
Send all the information you can
to these mothers. We are Is miles
from a doctor. Sor many women die.
Many women in this district live
SO to 100 miles from q physician"
I'VE are 40 miles from town and
need help for ourselves and our child
rem"
I'VE are % miles from the nearest
postoffice. We need help"
Appeals like these received by the
federal bureau Of education from
thousands of women throughout the
United States in the past year indicate
remote rural districts. feel for advice
In the care and training of their child
rem. In recognition of these needs the
home-education division Of the bureau
of education has been established. Its
objects. are: ITO help parents in the
home education of their children with
reference to health. games and play,
early mental development, and forma-
ton of moral habits; to interest boys
and girls. who have left school and are
still at home. by directing their home
reading ana study; and to further the
education of the parents in the home"
To help accomplish this the bureau
of education co-operates with the Ma
tional Congress of Mothers and Par
ent-Teacher associations. with view
to reaching as many homes as possible.
A series of bulletins on home educa-
tional problems has been prepared and
parents desiring advice in child nur-
ture and home making may receive it
from the bureau.
As a basis for further work the
home-education 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
certain amount of initiative and lead
ership. Through the efforts of the
1893 women thus selected and from
other sources. the bureau has been
furnished with nearly 10000 names of
mothers who feel the need of infor
nation on the care and home training
of children. end 1t is with these 10000
mothers that a beginning has been
made.
The bulk of the requests are for
help in the problems of home making
and care of the children. The moth
ers ask the bureau for help in choos-
ing literature. in reading courses for
themselves and for their children.
They ask for bulletins on home mat
ters;" material for home study for
boys and girls: literature on moral
training; books suitable to children
who have completed the common
school course; methods of bringing
together the home and the school:
suggestions for forming sewing and
cooking classes; and information nee
essary for organizing parent-teacher
associations.
Some of the states, through packet
Libraries and by other means, are
reaching these people who are without
access to- the usual sources Of infoY-
nation; but in most localities no effort
Is made to reach the mothers them
selves with the facts that are essential
to the sound development of the child
rem and the home. 1t is in this field
that the home education division plans
to do its work. not by interference
with local conditions, but as a clear
ing house of information for state and
local authorities.