Arizona republican., 1919-03-04
GUARD HEALTH
 OF CH|LDREN|S |S
 MOTHERS PLEA
Measures to Safeguard Children Are Advocated By Arizona Congress of Mothers In This City

Inspection and supervision in the public schools to safeguard the health and promote the efficiency of school children, sex hygiene taught in the schools, and establishment of kinder gartens in the schools where there are sufficient children to warrant them. were some of the important items that claimed the "ttention of the fifteenth annual convention of the Arizona Con- gross of Mothers which met in this city yesterday.
 These were the questions discussed and which the members voted to bring to the attention of the legislature, ask ing it to pass adequate legislation GOV ering the measures. It was decided by a unanimous vote to petition the leg islature 10 act on the matters which the endorsement of the Parent Teacher associations and Mothers circles which comprise the congress.
 Many in Attendance
 There were more than 100 present, representing some 40 organizations vitally interested in every phase of child welfare work The meeting was presided over by Mrs. J. c. Norton, recognized as the state leader in the movement, and a~ain reelected presi- dent of the congress, an office she has held for more than a dozen years.
 In addition to the health resolutions passed in response to a compelling plea made by Mrs. Jesse James. presi- dent of the Douglas Parent Teacher as- sociation of the school for negro chil- dren, the congress passed a resolution whereby the members of the legisla- tive board of the congress take such steps as are necessary 10 place the matter before the legislature relative to the school laws pertaining to Afri- | can children. Mrs James insisted that under the present laws the negro chill { dren were not securing justice In the high schools.
 Would Teach Sex Hygiene A vigorous argument was advanced ! for the teaching of sex hygiene in the ' graded schools. 1t is not the desire of the congress that a series of lee lures be given on the subject. but that the children be taught the subject as ! regularly as any other branch of study.
 Declaring that the establishment of health inspection, follow-up corrective work. and the employment of visiting nurse in over half the states and in nearly half of the cities of the United CAdAfN lstc IiONth al cat ldGloi III AIf efficiency of school children, reducing materially the percentage of backward
 retarded children and checking the 1 spread of communicable diseases. the congress voted to petition the legisla- ture to pass adequate legislation to this
 effect.
 For School kinderqartens
 The tendency to close kindergartens
 during the war was noted by the as-
 semblage which agreed to advocate tht
 establishment of kindergartens in tht
 schools A law to compel the kinder
 garten in certain schools was suggested
 and met with the approval of the gath.
 ering which will petition the legisla ture accordingly.
 While the greater part of the tint was given over to general discussion!
 of this character. there was a forma program, the features of which wer' replete with interest The morning
 session was devoted to reports of tn, various associations affiliated with tn congress, the president, Mrs. J. c. Nor . ton. making her annual address afte
 the noon recess. Other speakers in cluded Dr. E. c. Tarr, who advocate,
 day nursery for Phoenix; MT, Charles Howe, who discussed chil , welfare work Mrs. J. L. B. Alexander who discussed laws relative to wome ! and children and taking up many o the bills now pending in the legisla ture.
 Musical Program
 Captain Claud D. Jones, who has jus returned from overseas, gave a splen 2 did talk on military training, and hi | own interesting experiences added a Il interest to his lecture. The musics program was especially well arranged
 Miss Hazel Soule singing a group c . songs and Eugene Redewill, violinis 2 contributing to the enjoyment. % There were few changes in the eX s ecutive board. which for the comin s year will be headed by Mrs. Morton 'l Mrs. Frank T. Alkire will serve as firs d vice president, Mrs. John Longdol - second president; Mrs. F. n Struckmeyer, recording secretary; Mir . F. D. Rider, corresponding secretary
 Mrs. J. W. White, treasurer, and MT e Franklin La Rue, auditor, with leg y islative committee comprising Mir q Struckmeyer. Mrs. c. H. Hess and MT l. W. E. Twitchell.
 h The election of Mrs Norton was COT l. ceded the moment her name was rt s ported by the nominating committe Il Mrs. Norton has demonstrated her fiji "a ness for the head of the congress, ar
 IS immensely popular with the entiI is membership, who appreciate her abi