Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-03-18
TOTS IN RUSSIA
MAINTAINED At
PUBLIC EXPENSE
Colonies Have Been ProVid-
ed Where Children Are
Kept Throughout the Day
Without Cost to Parents.
tBr The Accounted Pre.s.l

Philadelphia, March 17,--Child-
rens gardens or colonies, in which
boys and girls between the ages Of
and 8 years are kept throughout
the day at public expense, eonsti-
tute one of the most interesting
phases of the soviet government in
Russia, according to information
received by the American Friends
service committee.
Arthur ]. Watts, English Friend,
who with Anna j. Haines of
Moorestown, N. j. is in Moscow
inspecting institutions and dis
tgibuting supplies for the Ameri-
can COMMITTEES, describes these col
onies in a report just received here.
Mr.. Watts says that more than
100000 children are registered in
children's gardens in various parts
of Russia. Some of the gardens
have nearly 1000 children en-
rolled. They go NTH the morning
to the garden, which would be
called playground in America,
and remain there throughout the
day. They attend classes, exercises,
play games, eat lunch and supper
and return home at night.
Mother Is Relieved.
This relieves the mother of a
vast amount of responsibility and
if she is a wage Garner, she can at
tend to her labors in the factory
or store without hindrance from
her family.
Ua,4dna ithaca eyopHopu Cn1.
onies, there are special summer
colonies for children located most
" in country districts. The largest
OF these latter is az Dyetskoe Selo,
forty miles from Petrograd, where
TIE children are lodged in two PAL
aces that belonged to the late En-
peror Nicholas. 1t was formerly
known as the Cars Village"
Several houses which formerly be-
longed to the emperors courtiers,
have been. converted into child
ren's colonies a group of three or
four houses forming O. colony and
twenty-five boys and girls, under
the direction Of manager, occupy
each building. ..-. ~.
These colonies are conducted on
the co-educational plan which is
preferred because Of the natural
comradeship between boys and
girls.
Colony for Detectives.
One of the colonies at Dyetskoe
Selo is conducted along the lines
of the George Junior republic for
morally defective boys and girls,
Parents are permitted to visit
their children in these homes and
colonies and the atmosphere is not
at all institutional" Mr., Watts
says It is made as homelike as
possible,
Russia has no orphanages. There
are thousands OF orphans but they
are registered in the gardens,
boarding schools and colonies with
the more fortunate children who
have parents.
Corporal punishment is forbid
den in these institutions. A boy
or girl who comes to the table with
dirty hands is punished by getting
no food and the disobedient child
Is isolated from its playmates.
The feeding and clothing of
every child registered in an institu-
ton comes under the provisions
of the peoples commissariat for
supplies. This organization has
special kitchens and supplies food
to the little folks on family ration
cards.
Russian parents for the most
part are eager to send their child
rem to the colonies and gardens
because they know they will re-
ceive meals regularly there, which
is not always the case in the house,
says Mr.. Watts For this reason,
many parents who might be dis
inclined otherwise to place their
children in these institutions are
reconciled to the new system.
Food Problem Acute.
Nevertheless the food problem
has been so acute in Russia, owing
to war and blockade, that thou
sands of children in these institu-
lions. which are under government
supervision, are underfed and in
many cases are reported as starv-
ing.
Most of the children of eight
years of age and upward are sent
to the day schools, where they re-
ceive one meal at noon, or to com