The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-08-10
Former Bluffton Girl
Head Of Cleveland
Welfare Body
CONTINUED from page Il

NSOAhiA6~0 AAOAA% 1~0~
siasm for working with children, as
we'll as working with her contem-
poraries in charge of children's in
stitutions to improve child care.
To raise the standards of institu-
tional child care is exactly why the
Association of Housemothers was or
ganized eight years ago.
AS in every other group, the
housemothers' association comprises
a cross-section of types. Some OF
them are young, others are moth
erly" matrons. Some are married,
others unmarried or widows. But
they all have one ambition in com
mon:
To refresh constantly their ideas
on child care.
To keep up to date on improved
institutional methods.
To enlarge their circle of con-
facts.
To raise housemother standards
to the same level as that of ele-
mentary school teachers in training
and salary.
VARIED BACKGROUNDS
The backgrounds of the members
are as varied as their ages and ex-
perience. Miss Ruhl, for instance
is a graduate of Bluffton College
and of the Reserve School of Ap-
piled Social Science, class of 1881
Hung upon the wall of her office
at the Nursery is a lovely charcoa
sketch, signed "Ruhl" It's only one
of the sketches she's done as al
outside pastime, the result of hel
extra-curricular study of art. Fancy
sewing is another accomplishment
added to her achievement of success
in social service work.
Step one in the associations ain
to give housemothers the opportun
ity of broadening their vistas wa
taken in 1885, when the School o.
Applied Social Science started
course for them, with Psychiatfis
DR.. Oscar B. Markey as instructor
Such was the recreational workers
and housemothers' response that i
has been given every year since b!
yayi0,,c inctY.1cforc
What the association considers ;
giant stride in its development il
the opening of full-time, 21-montl
course at the school next fall. An!
house mother who is college gradu
ate may attend this course ant
eventually receive her M. A. degree
Another years course will be Civ
en- at Reserve next fall, open to al
institutional workers and held ono
week in the morning. While TIL
youngsters are in school, the house
mothers will be in school themselves
Whence it can be seen that tn
term "housemother" no longer mean
! the traditional matron who sternl
ruled a children's institution wit
little training or no knowledge o
child psychology.
With fresh ideas, larger circles o
contacts, greater awareness of insti
tutional improvements, the modern
housemother no doubt enjoys he
work more than ever before. Sh
has more to put into it, with re
warding results.
HoUSEMoTHERS' OFFICERS
Association officers for the comm,
year include Miss Ruhl, chairman
Mrs. Gertrude Merkling of Perkin
Day Nursery, vice chairman; Mis-
Ruby Flick of Jones Home, secre
tary-treasurer. Serving on the steer
ing committee are Mrs. Ralph Lep
hert, Miss Helen Cronin of Gather
inc Horstmann Home; Sister Rich
ard of st. AIMS Maternity Home
and Miss Nora Esslinger of Belle
faire.
Housemothers and workers belong
ing to the association represent tn
following institutions: Association
for Crippled and Disabled Children
Beech Brook, Bellefaire, Blossom
Hill, Booth Memorial Home AM
H o spital, Catherine Horstmanl
Home, Children's Aid Society, Child
ren's Council Office, Children's Fresl
Air Camp, Cleveland Boys Farm
Convent of the Good Shepherd, Da,
Nursery Association, Florence Crit
tenton Home, Home of the Hol,
Family, Jones Home, Parmadale, ST
AIMS Maternity Home, st. An
thongs Home, Sunny Acres, Sana
torium, Summit County Children'
Home, Training Home for Girls
The Junior League also is repre-
sented.