The Washington herald., 1922-07-23
REPORT URGES CITY
GET FULL CONTROL
OF CHILD WELFARE.
Mothers and Teachers
Committee Would Gen.
tralize Authority.
PARENTS NOT GIVEN
POLITE TREATMENT
Believe Guardians Should
(. Have Outside Worker to
Probe Conditions.

AOo< SOAAaAtkOAAos
Recommendations for child well
fare. based upon a study of condi-
rons surrounding children in Gus
tody Of the Board of Children's
Guardians. were made by the in
vestigating committee of the Con-
eress of Mothers and Parent-Teach-
~s' Association in a report made
public yesterday.
Capitalization of authority in a
department of public welfare, hu-
Hanization of methods of the Board
81 Guardians and retention of the
Industrial Home school are stressed
IN the committees recommendation.
I Beginning this week the Congress
0f Mothers committee will make
public alleged deplorable conditions
discovered by Investigators in the
boards placement homes, and in the
treatment of children in these
homes.
Z. The committee report. in part.
follows:
= Report I'm Part.
The committee of the Congress
OF Mothers. Parent Teacher Asso-
eiation, for Dependent and Neg
lected Children, wishes to advise
the citizens of the District of Co.
Investigation of the activities of the
Guardians.
hAIf ha II far
School should be retained.
= We believe we should have in the
District of Columbia a department
Of welfare. under one head. where
all responsibility would be placed.
All boards should be controlled and
Investigated to prevent future oc-
currence of existing conditions.
we believe the Board of Guard
iRns should place at once an out
side worker in Office to learn the
complaints and requests and to
know first hand the activities of
their agents. as they acknowledge
hey were not aware of the present
conditions.
. We have found children being
rapidly changed from the homes
Complained of. This action ac-
knowledges the complaint as being
true. showing the proper investiga-
don had not been done before
placing children in the home.
We have evidence that parents
are not receiving proper and cour-
teous attention. Undue advantage
has been taken in several families.
Too many children have been placed
outside the District of Columbia.
where parents are not able to visit
their children. therefore adding ex-
pense and worry to the burden of
the parents
Find Mistake Too Late.
: We have discovered mothers who
have asked the Board of Guardians
TO aid them in caring for their chill
dren, believing this to be a tempo
rary aid and realizing too late they
give up all power over their chill
dren for an indefinite time
We believe parents should have
the right to ask aid in caring for
their children. without giving up
the. control or losing power over
their children. The children are the
future citizens of the state and
should be cared for and protected
in the home.
We believe when the Board Of
Guardians place Protestant children
IN Catholic homes or Catholic chill
dren in Protestant homes. they are
depriving citizens Of the country
of religious freedom and confusing
the mind of the child. destroying
the early teachings of the child.
We do not consider this construc-
tive work.
We petition all organizations to
sppoint committees to investigate
and aid in the movement.
We intend to continue our work
until conditions detrimental to the
home, parents and child welfare are
changed
MRS. EDMOND BRENNAN,
Chairman of Committee for De-
pendent and Neglected Children,
Congress of Mothers. Parent and
Teachers Association.