Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-11-02
COUNTY CONFERENCE OF
SOCIAL WORK SATURDAY

The first meeting of the County Con
ference of Social Work which was or
ganized here a year ago after the
State Conference met here, was held
at the Training School building Sat
urday, with about 100 people in at
tendance.
Mrs. w. F. Kellogg, chairman of
the County Conference, presided, and
after an opening prayer by Rev. Jas.
Churm of Port Edwards and a word
of welcome and explanation by the
chairman, State President Mrs. I. P.
Witter told of the State Conference
which was recently held at Madison
She recalled the time when all social
work was a matter of private enter
prise and was often sadly neglected.
Now, she declared, the state of Wis
consin has taken it up as a public
duty, and schools for the deaf, blind
and delinquent, and institutions for
the care of insane and unfortunate,
and vocational rehabilitation planned
for the victims of accidents are some
of the things that have been started
and are being carried on by law and
by state agencies.
Mrs. Witter also told of the splen-
did talks they heard there on child
welfare by Julia Lathrop, first head
of the u S. Children's Bureau, by Dr.
Harper of the State Board of Health,
by DR.. Kinsman of the Anti Tubercu-
losis Association, and others. One Of
the outstanding statements made at
the Conference by nearly all of the
speakers was the emphatic assertion
that the chief need of the present tim
is for more adequate religious train
ing for the youth and for its univer-
sal application. Every serious stu
dent of social work and conditions
comes more and more to believe that
some adequate idea of religion must
be given in connection with the pub
lie school course.
After the singing of a group of
songs by James Jenkins, which were
very well received, G. NJ Hafenbrack,
district chairman spoke of the work
of the Parent Teachers Associations
and emphasized their Importance. He
urged that all attend the district con-
ference promotion meeting at Stevens
Point, and spread the news of it. He
also outlined plan for ''Know Your
School Week." which he proposes to
urge for observance in all school dis
tricts, in which the parents shall take
part.
A group of folk dances was render
ed by little Betty and Susan Nash,
who delighted every person present
with their charming manner and the
perfection of their performance.
DR.. James Vedder, Of the Child
Clinic at Marshfeld told of the work
of the child welfare stations and CT
some of the problems of the child
health worker. He characterized the
grandmother as oftentimes the worctt
enemy of the child and the greatest
obstacle to proper treatment and Gaze
of the child. He urged the use of ser
ums and anti-toXins in the prevention
of the contagious "children's diseases, =
declaring that smallpox is an out
standing example of the perfect work
go Il, =
ton. He said that he has never seen
a case of the real Old-fashioned small
poX, and declared that this was due
to the fact that the immunity given
by vaccination had been transmitted
from mother to children in so many
families that most people now carry
partial immunity. But if the Chris
tian Scientists and other opponents of
such treatments continue and gather
much of following, he said, he eX-
poets to see a few cases of the real
old-fashioned sort before he quits prac-
tice.
Mrs. Anna Clancy reported on the
work of her office, and was highly
complimented in a resolution present
ed by Prof. NJ. H. jackson, and unani-
mously adopted by the Conference, for
her energy, efficiency and zeal in her
work.
After the Treasurer's report by
Miss Farrell, the former officers were
reelected with the exception that Miss
Hassler succeeds Miss Breene as Sec
rotary; Mrs. w. F. Kellogg, chairman;
Miss Livingston of Marshfield and
Miss Caroline Fitch of Nekoosa, and
Mrs. Hafenbrack of Port Edwards,
Vice Presidents; Miss Farrell Treas
urer and Mrs. NJ H. Jackson, chair
man of the Speakers Bureau
Mrs. Louis Fetherstone of Chicago
spoke on the question, Does 1t Pay
to Do Child Health Work ?" and in her
very interesting and convincing way
proved that it does.
Considerable discussion was given
to the conference program for the es-
Enlistment of a Free Children's Clinic
at Wisconsin Rapids. Through the
cooperation of the Child Welfare Com
mittee of the Wisconsin RAPIDS Fed
Grafton of Women suitable rooms have
hno,, 10