The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-01

and quality of the milk supply is look ed into; measures assuring protection for mothers and children are inaugu- rated.
 The second beg feature of the chill dren's year was a recreation drive, "to save the nations children from war time hazards by giving them a chance in the summer vacation to grow well and strong through play" Group games, badge tests of physical efficiency, sim- pie pageants and folk dancing were among the suggested types of recra- tion, all leading to. a patriotic play week" in September as a grand finale for a summer of supervised good times.
 It was logical that back to school" should be the next watch word. Child welfare chairmen were furnished with certain succinct facts regarding the unnecessary employment of children al a time when adult unemployment was a serious problem. Moreover, children in their teens were urged to stay in school the better to prepare them selves for wage-earning futures Ger tain local child welfare committees made surveys of children of school age and endeavored to follow up individu- al cases of nonattentdance at classes. In some instances the judicious award of scholarships enabled children to stay in school who might otherwise have been driven to secure employment and increase the family income.
 Given these major activities directed from Washington, the states were not slow to adapt them to local conditions. In the south, particularly ip Louisiana, the weighing and measuring tests opened an avenue of approach to wei fare work among colored mothers which led to the opening of health cen- ters. In Ill.nois the child welfare com .t. ie;1 bined Standardization work with in- structions of foreign born mothers in child care through a Well Babies Primer" which gave lessons in sim pie English and large, clear print.
 Some of the states took no chances on failure to reach the non English speaking population, however, Thus it happened that children's year 1itera
 ture was reprinted in Japanese and Polish and Greek and Italian and Ar menian. Residence in the United States was the only qualification any mother needed to secure the help of the child welfare committees.
 In- many cases, the weighing and measuring stations developed into per manent child health centers and clinics, where children could be brought for examination and supervision of diet. Such clinics have been organized in 27 states with 149 centers reported. At least two states were covered" by travelling clinics. In Michigan the "Children's Year Special" was an inter urban electric car completely equipped and routed about the state. A poster with the notice, Coming! The Connecti- cut Baby Special Is Coming to Town, blazed the way for an automobile con taining clinical supplies, literature and steroptieon slides and aroused interest among rural mothers that could only be implicated by the small boys anti cipa tion of circus day
 As the activities of the child welfare committees expanded, the permanent value of the work became evident. The 1 organization in several state will be absorbed by some permanent state de- l partments such as child hygiene di- | visions in the departments of health or l child welfare boards in the departments of education. In some cases a new de- l partment has been formed to conduct | future programmes co~cr"~ing child 1 Legislation providing for coun- | ty public health nurses has passed in | certain states because children's year l achievements have proved their value | to far-seeing legislators in bettering l state health conditions. An increase of 1S0 in the number of such nurses has 1 already been reported. Other states will continue the programme through vol unteer social service agencies.
 In commemoration of children's year activities Chester Beach has designed medal symbolizing the obligation of the government to the child of today who as the citizen of tomorrow will re- pay his obligation to his country.
 The children's year was officially concluded on April 6. However, in re-