The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-20

gress urgently recommends the ap-
pointnlent OF a woman upon said
commission.
This was passed unanimously and
enthusiastically by the closing session
Of the Mothers congress April 2Tth.
1t would be impossible In the time al
lotted her, said Mrs. Spiers, To even
touch upon many interesting features
of the congress, and she wished only 10
bring out the two points which chiefly
impressed her as of most vital signific-
ance. The first Of these was the in
creasing recognition which the con-
gress and subsidiary branches are OBJ
tanning from prominent educators and
welfare workers as educational agen-
cies for reaching that in which all ed
vocational problems center--and indeed
for which all educational agencies ex-
ist--that is. the homes OF the nation.
This means to reach the mothers of
the public schools--the molders OF the
future citizens of the repuhlic-with
help in meeting understandingly and
efficiently the problems and respopsi-
billties which are fast multiplying
upon them under modern conditions,
so as to enable them TO Cooperate eff
fectiyely with the other educational
factors, the school and the church and
society, or the State
The second point was the spirit in
which the mothers and grandmothers
who were there as officers and dele
gates, were attacking even the routine
work of the organizations which COM
nosed the congress aud of the congress
itself. II was best expressed by quot
ing the words Of q State president to
herself. The subject OF the converse
ton had been some feature with
which many were dissatisfied and to
which some wished to take public Elk
ception. This State president had
said: NO. we must not provoke dis
sension or waste time in argument
over minor points. The work is bigger
than any detail of it-bigger than any
woman or group of women. Let us
sink all difference and pull together
for the big things in sight we are all
agreed upon" That, said Mrs. Spiers.
is the only spirit which aecomplishes
good things, and when that spirit is
regnant in any organization, nothing
can prevent it from reaching its aim.
Therefore, the efforts of the Mothers
clubs and Parent-Teachers' associa-
tons to properly correlate school ana
home and church, are certain to sue
ttEu, III spite VI itidttt ts,ls ifiNSAtAi -
spiritual obstacles which stand like
lions in the way, and dlsmay and dis
COURAGE many public school mother
from lending hand In the work
Professor NJ. O. Shea, of the Unlyer-
sity of Wisconsin, said that the prob
lem of education and the rejuvenatior
of society Is to make the coming gem
erations plastic and adaptable to
changing conditions-in other words
To make thcm docile and teachable
without rohbing them of individuality
and force of character. Now. contin-
ued Mrs Spiers, there is nothing on
earth SO plastic, docile and teacnabie
as n baby, and yet the child of five
in these days is often very unmanage-
able beng. 1t is spoilt by It's mother
in nine eases out OF ten, because she Is
ignorant of the general principles of
child training. and unimpresssd with
the sacred character of her RESPONSE
nilities The children's bureau and the
bureau of ed..caton in Washington are
working in affiliation with the Nation
al Congress of Mothers, to help every
mother In The country who is con-
scious of needing help, and ii Is ills
consciousness of need which individual
clubs must help to arouse.
In every mother who will take the
time and trouble to attend with any
regularity her individual club meetings,
lies potentially an ideal mother, eager
for the assistance which will enable
her to be 10 child home and society
all that the most exacting could re-
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