The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-06
OVER TWO MILLION
 BABIES WEIGHED
Children's Bureau Reports on Work Done During
 the Past Year
By Associated Press


 Washington, April 5.-Weighing Of more than 2,OOO,OOO babies. establish ment of many new health centers to advise mothers on the care of their children, and stimulation of the gov ernment to keep chikren in school and provide them adequate recreation, were reported today by the children's bu- reau as some of the results of it's chll- dren's year campaign
 More than 11,000,OOO women partici- pated in the activities of the year, which was inaugurated last April 6, the first anniversary of Americas declara- ton of war. It was planned to save at least 900 of the 300000 children who die annually of preventable dis eases.
 The first activity of the year was test of children under to see whether they were up to the standards of weight and height for their ages. Near ly 100000 record cards were issued, of which more than 2,000,000 have been tabulated with others yet to be turned in. A number of communities have un- dertaken second test this spring to include children missed in the first and also to note improvement in those pre- viously registered.
 Need for preventive work on behalf of children was said to have been em- 1 phasized by the information obtained 1 in the test. According to reports re- l ceived from state welfare chairmen of l the council of national defense, com 1 munities in "A states have emp1oyed l new public health nurses during the year. From 10 of these states total | of 137 new nurses have been reported. | One hundred and thirty-fou- children s health centers to which mothers may 1 odHY in l best means of caring for their children | have been established during children s | year in communities in IS states. l Swimming pools, playgrounds and l new leisure time activities have become
 a part of the play life of boys and | girls in many communities as result of the year From 16 states the estab- | lishment of new playgrounds has been reported.
 Forty three states, New York city ! and the district of Columbia are en- gagged in campaign to prevent boys and girls from going to work before they have the training they need for
 successful and happy lives. Back to School' and stay in SchooF' are the
 slogans of this drive. A number o communities have provided scholarship funds to enable children of needy par ents to continue their education after they reach the legal working age. Al least one such scholarship for each o the PSI 900 schoolhouses in the United States is the goal that has been set.
 Although children's year is officially over plans are under way in several
 states to make every year children's year. A new consciousness of the value of the child and his need for good health. wholesome play, adequate schooling and protection from prema- | ture work is said to be indicated by laws contemplated by the states. These include many bills for the protection
 of children.
 The childrens bureau has planned 1 d conference with foreign experts who | have had a part in the work done by 1 European countries for the protection | of children during the stress of war l The conference will consist of two dis l tinct parts: First, a small working
 committee of American authorities to
 be invited by the Secretary of Labor
 and members of the bureau staff who 1 will meet informally with the foreign l guests at Washington during the week 1 of May 6: second. a series of regional l conferences in various parts of the 1 country at which the discussion oi
 minimum standards can be continued
 under local auspices sand with refer 1 ence to local conditions.