The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-03
Day Nurseries for All.

Along with the hue and cry that Is
made for economic independence OF
women comes this question: If women
leave the home to work even after they
are mothers, who is to take care OF the
children? Hotels and apartment houses
have removed the bugaboo of house
work for many without in any way I'M
dermining the fabric of the home and
community kitchens will, no doubt, FUR
Their simplify the problem for many
more women. But how can those VINO
engage in business or professional life
provide for their children at home?
The idea seems to develop the system
now carried out in the day nurseries, and
it makes it possible for children of every
class to be taken care Of through the
daytime when their mothers are at work.
Among other prominent educators who
lend their suggestions as to means OF
carrying out this idea is Signora Nom
tessori. She goes so far as to advocate
these school nurseries in apartm9nt
houses in the cities where the LITTLE
children can be taken without the da1Ser
OF exposing them to bad weather. And
lest some one might think that the ~
dren would miss the care Of the mother,
she makes it clear that children work
best and most happily in groups by
learning from others. Moreover. she
says all mothers are not fit to teach
or to train children. 1t is matter of
special aptitude no less than training,
and obviously every woman who has
children does not need to take this
training. There are other important
sorts Of work to be performed by women
and they should each have their special
training in the line for which they show
the greatest fitness.
Some of the mothers of the children
in any one group of children should be
teachers in the schools or nurseries.
Others would go out TO work happy in
the thought that their little ones were
being cared for better than if they were
at home in the old-fashioned way.
When Signora Montessor was asked
recently whether mothers should teach
their own children she said.
''Of course mothers who desire to spend
all day With little children will fit them
selves for the work. Teaching is a very
special art as music or painting is. Not
every woman has the necessary gifts.
Those who have should develop them"
OF course this is an idea that will not
Immediately find favor There are many
conservative folk 10 whom this com
munity mother idea comes as some
thing shockinE-a perversion of the ac
cepted order of thinGs-no matter how
flawless the logic of the arrangement.
Yet don't We all of us know dozens of
children badly brought up and unhappy
simply because their mothers have not
been trained to the task of caring for
them. or because they have not the
proper qualifications for this sort of
work: And don't we know many moth
crs who arc made nervous wrecks and
irritab bic wives simply because they have
TO spend their days in the task of caring
for their children. when they are not
trained naturally fitted to this kind
successful lawyers, shrewd business
women or excellent household managers
So after all is there anything repellent
in the idea of letting each woman per-
form the task for which she is best fit
ted. just as men are permitted to spe-
cialize in the task for which they are
best fitted?