The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-20
CHILD STUDY CLUB
Woman's Unique Organization
for Youngsters in Topeka.
LOvable Mothers Look for Well
fare Of Their Children.
Fathers ARE RECOGNIZED. TOO
Well Known Authorities Speak
Before Association.

Those ssFresh From Godn Are
Loved by Their Parents. :
No iron-bound rules or strict code
for order in this club. In one room
a dozen daintily dressed babies are
| playing joyously under the direction
of trained Kindergarten. In an
other room the mothers are stitching
rompers and middies and bibs while
they discuss child psychology, Biaet
! tests or the Montess0ri method. The
Child Study club. organized seven
was organized solely for the child
| Part Of it's membe are children.
To the meetin. 8 come mothers,
trundling Billy in his go-cart and
helping Sister over the crossings.
! Wraps removed, curls are brushed.
bows perked and socks Strengthened.
Then the youngsters are given into
the charge Of some one who plays
delicious games and knows all the
! "once-upon-a-time" stories.
To the music of baby voices the
mothers are listening to lectures on
child culture, hearing minutes, pre-
pairing programs and answering roll
call. The relation of the child to the
home, the nurse, the parents and the
school Is discussed.
While the mothers are drinking
Russian tea the kiddles are eating va
nilla ice cream and angel cake Fol-
lows a general frolic, witnessed by the
maternal parents of the participants.
One small girl remained busily in
a corner. kindergarten shears in her
fist. She sought her mother. white
frock pulled over one plump leg.
n or rivVsy
and a large piece Of pink knee.
1T was little bitty hole she ex-
planned. tearfully, tried to cut it OUT,
did,
Proof that even Child Study mothers
have troubles at home was supplied
by another baby who danced up to her
mother with a small slice of angel
cake
Here It is. muvver." she chirped;
you said this morning you wanted a
little peace!"
Something New in Topeka.
Froebel clubs. mothers clubs, and
other organizations of grownups are
common in this day of scientific up
bringing OF little folks. But club at
tended by the babies themselves is an
innovation in Topeka
Seven years ago the club was start
there are twenty-five mothers and
nearly twice as many children.
i The last meeting of the year il al
ways Children's day, when the small
est club members supply program
recitations. folk dances and songs.
Then comGs a family picnic, to which
the fathers are invited.
This year the club has been interest
ed in what Maria Montessori calls the
"rediscoveTy of the ten fingers''-the
sense of touch; children's finger-tips
are unbeltevably sensitive. Monies
sori. with her original methods for
teaching the child independence. has
received good bit Of attention.
JIooray! Fathers Day at Last.
The program for the 1914-1915 club
year has just been published. There
Is fathers day and mothers day and
authors Gay with it's apt quotation,
He danced along the dingy days, and
this bequest of wings was but book"
There is guest day, a thimble party,
and special programs for Thanksgtv-
ing, Christmas and Easter. Among the
lecturers will be DR.. Fiske of Wash
Smith. superintendent of Stormont
hospital.
The officers for next year are: Mrs.
L. C. Harbaugh. president; Mrs. L. F.
Clearinghouse, vice president; Mrs. J.
w. Newell. secretary; Mrs. H. D. Dris
coll, treasurer.
Two Elmhurst Fairgrounds where
the youngsters can swing, see-saw and
dig in the sand under parental obser-
Walton, are an outgrowth of the club
kind Of children Alfred Noyes was
thinking of when he wrote, what
can a wanderer bring to little ones
loved like your" But the watchful
care hasn't deprived them of their
originality or individuality. Despite
psychological study Of their pranSs
and virtues, the babies are as roly-
poly, sun-burned and unaffected as
kiddies whose mothers don't know
whether Montessori was an anarchist
or an opera singer.
Graduate at Seven Years.
As soon as the Child Study club
youngsters are seven years Old-bi2
enough to enter the realm of readin'
writin, and 'rithmetic-their MEM
bership expires. They're big enough
to carry a primer and look after
is taken by their younger brothers
and sisters.
The members Of the club are: Mrs
C. D. Brouyette. Winifred and Helen
Brouyette; Mrs. l. c. Harbaugh. Kerr
meth and Louise Harbaugh; Mrs r.
Mrs. H. A. Claussen, Arthur Claus
sen: Mrs. r. r.. Rollman. Dorothy
Rolfman; Mrs. James Nelson. Ger
trude and Dorothy Nelson; Mrs. John
w. Newell, John. Marjorie and Nor
man Newell: Mrs. e. L. O'Neil. Tom
INV O'Nefl; Mrs T. s. Richenbacher,
Vera Richenbacher; Mrs. w. J. Rich
enbacher, Helen and Ruth Richen-
bacher; Mrs. Alfred Bishop. Dorothy
and Ruth Bishop: Mrs. Hugh f. Ben
ner, Evelyn and Albert Benner; Mrs.
n. D. Driscoll. Hugh Driscoll: Mrs.
F. :. Frick. Mildred and Freddie
Frick; Mrs. Louis Clearinghouse: Mrs
Dave 0ossett, willard and Richard