New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02
Woman to Ask L. S.
Bureau to Help All
Mothers i'm Country
Mrs. Cans Wants Nation
Wide Movement to Spread
knowledge of Child Care;
Would Extend N. Y. Work

In order to interest the Federal Blu
reau OF Education in incorporating into
It's reconstruction programme nation
Wlde movement to educate mothers
Mrs. Howard S. Cans. former president
OF the New York City Federation for
Child Study, Will leave to-day for
ashlngton with all her argumenta-
tive guns set
"ln my work in this city with the
federation,' Mrs. Cans said yesterday.
Il soon learned that if we were to ac-
comphsh the greatest good for the
child we must begin with the mother.
1t did no good to introduce strange
contrivances like the tooth brush INTO
the child's daily life while at the clinic
and then send the youngstcr to home
where the advantages of tooth brush
were not comprehendcd.
TO suggest to a child that a change
OF diet would mean an increase Of
weight and vitality, better mentality
and higher average in class records
brought complete acQuiesccnce on the
part of the child-and complete for
gctfulness as soon as he left the clinic
or federation class.
Tried to Reach Mothers
$50 we tried to reach the mothers.
Like myself, or yourself, they hated to
change their habits and modes of daily
living without very good reason for
doing so, but they were open to rea-
son and hungry for the information we
had to give them. A brief and graphic
explanation and demonstration of what
tooth brush can do FOR child's gen
eral wellbeng was enough. Johnny
had tooth brush thrust upon him, and
parental supervision while he used it.
Then Mary stopped having tea and
bread for breakfast because Mary's
mother was convinced that tea wasn't
good for Mary and gave her no nour-
ishment. Instead Mary had cereal for
breakfast, and Mary's mother burst
into the clinic one day, delightedly
waving Mary's weight card. There,
carefully recorded by the clinic at
tendant provided by the federation,
was Mary's increase in weight during
one month.
MARY said her mother, got a gold
star on her spelling card Yesterday
the first she's ever ad-and she
doesn't get headaches any more like
she used to- Marys mother had been
educated.
Wants Expansion of Idea
"And that" said Mrs. Cans, ais what
ought to be done not only in New York
City, but throughout the country. Our
Federal Bureau is conducting a back
to school drive, and the whole country
i ondeavoring to give these little citi-
zens of the country their chance. The
l ribune, for example, when it recently
brought to light some defects in the
children's laws of this state was con-
Quoting an admirable campaign for
children's rights.
'This education Of the mother is a
part, and an important part, of the
child welfare movement; but it is
something which ought to be taken up
by the Federal government and in
corporatcd in its reconstruction pro-
gramme.
"ln each community there is always
a group of mothers Who have studied
and applied those principles Of diet and
training which tend to physically and
mentally alert child. Let such mothers
be sent into homes where other moth
ers nave had no opportunity to learn
these principles, and let them be
taught
Urges Vacation Schools
Furthermore" Mrs. Cans added. ~
hope while in Washington to take up
with the Federal Children's Bureau
the necessity OF establishing thorough
out the country system of vacation
schools such as our federation has con-
Quoted during the last two years, where
children can be taught simple rules of
health and hygiene, trades, etc. | have
already talked with several people in
Washington regarding these two move
ments and find them heartily in accord
with us. Indeed, ! think it will not be
long before mothers are demanding in
struction in the care of their children
and the public in general Will ask that
the public schools be opened in the
summer for supplementary education
of the child"
Mrs. Cans has been asked to become
member of the advisory board of the
Society for the Advancement of Pro-
gressive Education. q movement which
has started in Washington as result
of this back to school drive and in
creased interest in the development of
children, and which promises to be-
come national in its appeal.