Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1940-11-07
NURSERY SCHOOL

We at loss to know why the overwhelming
majority of Greenbelt mothers of three and four
old's who favored the establi sr4ent Of nursery
school at the time of last summers survey not
making themselves more vocal against current objec
tions to the project that are being made both In
private and at meetings of the town council by
Greenbelt men who charge that a nursery school is
entirely unnecessary and that it would only provide
a convenient dodge for lazy mothers those who
prefer a job to home-naking.
Since most Greenbelt men spend five and a half
days a week in town at their jobs, they perhaps do
not realize that the bestinentioned mother is
prevented by her housekeeping duties from supervs
ing her child's play habits closely she would
like to. Children of nursery school age are not
benefited by Continual bossing, but they do need
skillfll guidance from time to time mother who is
summoned hurriedly from di sh washing by a childs
is hardly in the right mood to deal effec-
lively wi tn juvenile quarrel. She arrives the
too late to deal out constructive suggestions
that might have avoided the situation. The two
usual followed to say feebly to the Of
fender (if she determine the original culprit)
"You shouldn't have...", else to deliver slap.
Neither method provides for the child example for
future behavior and both resented by the mother
of the child is attempting to dicipline. Too
often two Greenbelt families won't speak because
of incidents like this. One Greentelt father CON-
planned that all the children picked his son. not
realizing that the first thing his child did upon
arriving the nei ghborood playground to give
wallop to each child in sight. Anyone who has
the banks of little ganGsters who systenatical-
ly bully and terrorize the other children in the
ighborhood realizes the for TIE type of
skillMlly supervised play afforded by nursery
school.
One wonders how many belli gerent, ill-adiusted
individuals would be making better % of it in
ciety, had nursery schools been twenty,
thirty, and forty years ago. The Boys Club move
Aent censored by police is another example Of
public recognition that money spent super
vsed recreation for youngsters less taxpayers
money spent in the future police protection,
foraatories, and jails.
S1nce there are many Greenbelt children of
nursery school age, shifts of than or
three hours visualized by the oEittee in order
ficul to
how a child's mother could hold job under these
circumstances. She would have ample time left to
provide the right sort of home Influence,
doubtless feel inspired to do So for her
respite. through the nursery school teacher,
over, she could Keep an objective check-up her
child's growth in poise and self-confidence.
It Will be unfortunate if Greenbelt cannot see
its way clear to providing place in the budget
nursery school facilities for all four year
olds. IF all are not included in the program some
of those who need the training will elimina-
ted. American citizens have accepted many years
the theory of public taxation send everybody
children through both elementary hi Oh school.
toWn-supported nursery school would be oui te
according to precedent, and would pay inestia-
bic dividends in cormni ty harmony in the future
conduct of CT izens.