The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-03-14

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
Thi. relieves the mother of vast
amount Of responsibility and il she IS
a wage Garner. she can attend to her
labors in the factory or store without
bindrance from her family
Besides. these gardens, or colonies,
there are special summer colonies for
children located mostly ih country dis
tricts. The largest OF these latter -
at Dyetskoe Selo, 40 miles from Petro-
grad, where the children are lodged in
two palaces that belonged to the late
Emperor Nicholas. 1t was formerly
known as the "Czar's village. Several
houses. which formerly belonged TO the
emperors courtiers. have been convert
ed into ehildren's colonies. q group OF
three or four houses forming colony
and % bows and girls, under the direc-
ton of manager, occupy each building
These colonies are conducted on the CO.
educational plan which is preferred be-
cause of the natural comradeship be-
tween boys and girls.
One of the colonies at DSetskoe Selo
is conducted along the lines OF the
George Junior republic for morally de-
fective boys and girls.
Parents are permitted to visit their
children in these homes and colonies
and the atmosphere is not at all in
stitutional," Mr.. Watts saws. 1t is
made as homelike as possible.
Russia has no orphsnages. There
are thousands of orphans but they are
registered in the gardens, boarding
schools and colonies with the more for
tunate children who have parents.
Corporal punishment is forbidden in
these institutions. A hov and girl who
comes to the table with dirty hands
is punished bv getting no food and the
disobedient child is isolated from its
playmates.
The feeding and clothing Of every
child registered in an institution comes
under the provisions of the pcople's
commissariat for supplies This organ
I zation has special kitchens and sup
plies food to the little folks on family
ration cards.
Russian parents, for the most part,
are. eager to send their children to the
colonies and gardens because they
know they will receive meals. regular
: lv. there, which is not always the case
/ in the home, says Mr. Watts. For this
reason, many parents who might be
disinelined otherwise 10 place their
children in these institutions are re-
conciled 10 the new SYSTEM.
Nevertheless. the food problem has
been so acute in Russia. owing TO war
and blockade, that thousands OF chill
drrn in these institutions, which are
under government supervision, are un.
derfed and in many cases are reported
as starving.
Most Of the children Of eight wears
Of age and upward are sent to the
schools. where they receive one meal
at noon. or to commune houses, other
wise known as children's houses. which
/ correspond to American boarding
/ schools. Mr.. Watts said that 6000, 900
children are registered in day schools
where they are taught manual training,
such as carpentry bookhinding, needle
work and millinery. There are special
schools for instruction in music and
art
All this work is under the direction
of the commissariat for public instruc.
ton. Its work i supervised or pre-
coded by that Of the commissariat for
the protection Of health which eyerei~es
supervision over the health Of the child.
| beginning is work before birth.
Judcr- the Russian system, accord
/ ing 90 Mr.. Watts. a mother who works
/ in factory j. given turlouUh 81 ~
weeks with fun nav at the birth 81
her child eigh, weekly before and eight
weeks afterwards Mr. Watts saw the
/ rest homes for mothers. maternity has
nitals and maternity exhibitions on an
extensive scale are included in The Rus
sian scheme 81 child welfare The ma
tcrnitv exhibitions are given to show
/ the dullest minded women the need 81
nroper care for both mother and child.