The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-12
The Mothercraft Movement
BY MRS. RHnAP SUMMER SPENCE.

which they did not include. The
classes are all informal, permitting
each student freedom OF discussion.
DR.. q. Stanley Hall. president OF
Clstk University; DIR, Arthur Dean.
chief Of vocational division. New York
State Department Of Education; PRO.
lessor Maurice Bigelow. OF Teachers
College; DR.. Henry E. Champion OF
Barnard College, and DR.. Philander =.
Claxton, United States Commissioner
of Education. are the educators VINO
endorse this school and its motive.
DR.. g. Stanley Hall, DR.. Arthur Dean
and DIR. CIaxton have spoken at SONS
or the public meetings OF the scnooi:
At A meeting of the local Mothers
Congress in washington. ID. e., on De-
cember IS, where Miss Read was IN
vited to talk about "Mothercrafr IT.
Claxton emphasized her statements py
saying: 1--WE have supposed until now
that mother instinct was enough to
teach q woman how to care for her
little child. But mother instinct does
not prevent O child's dying or grow
| ing up in ignorance or becoming an
idiot or imbecile. The mother needs
| to know all that great completeness
Of things-the arrangement or the
home, everything about the heatlnS
and lighting. the temperature. the
food the child should have. the difter-
emit stages of its development, tne
beginnings of it's intellectual develop
ment--observakion, sensation. the
forming of habits Not only does sne
need to know all this and much more,
but she must be able to do. simple
knowledge IL fruitless unless 1t can
be changed into doing the right thing
at the right time. The life OF nttle
child depends upon the mother. There
10 nothing else In all the world OF any
! Importance, except Al 1t relates 20 tns
| little child.
s.The boy on the farm no longer
expects to 70 into the neld with his
! father and learn to be good farme r.
He must go to a special sohooi. an n,
AGRICULTURAL school, and learn al
about soils and seeds and methods OF
| producing the best crops We nave
| had schools for agriculture and law
and medicine and engineering, pns NC
schools for motherhood. Everytnins
In the world has Importance a. r.
lates to the life of ths little child. we
need schools where women can learn
this great science and the great art
| The School OF Mothercraft 10 but an
| exurasston of q movement that ID az
wide AZ Christendom--the movement
To nut the training and care OF chill
dren moon A. more scientific basis, TO
develop the power OF the mother. IN
| crease her wisdom. and give her stores
OF knowledge and the power to apply
| this knowledge in thu bringing up OF
| her little ones 1t Is type or scnoo'
that should be In every community.
II should be the privilege and oppor-
| tunity Of every young woman IN COL
llege or high school to become &C
| uuainted with the theory and the
| practice of child care and training
| AS long as these opportunities are nos
| provided In the regular curricula TOT
Young women there Is necessity fof
/ such special schools as this to supply
/ the needed training. This schooi u
demonstrating the prAticabiiity OF
| teaching home economics under tnf
conditions OF daily home life. II q
leading in a new movement IN Ameri-
can education. The value OF this edu-
cation TO the mother. In relief from
work due to uncertainties and ex.
j perimentations, can hardly be meas
/ nred. Thu Joy OF doing for her chill
dren what she knows Ia for their wei.
fare and proper development vii
bring sunshine TO her home. and tbs
happy. rosy faces of the children vii
1reray her for whatever trouble IL ha'
cost her.
Traitors note: Mrs Spence has had
i exceptional opportunities to study ths
i intimate problems involved in home
making. Young women. who are con
tempiating marriage. will find interest.
ling ana Instructive reading In the
pamphle. edited by Mrs. Spence or
.Mothercrafs" 1t was the onl,
| pamphlet on sale At the Richmond
Baby Week Exhibition. II may b
obtained directly from Mrs p. 8
spence. sos East Marshall street b,
i mail for IS centa.)