The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-10-09

among the parents of the Universit
Nursery School. Students of this La
group conducted a survey to find GU
how many children would be enrolle
! in a pre-school on a fee basis. TIL
mothers were willing to pay a small
monthly fee which could be used t,
pay the costs of such school TIL,
Missoula Recreation Department
would provide supervision for tn,
school and the Lab would provide stu
dent assistants. The money could BIZ
used primarily for rent and equip
ment.
Lack of Concern Confronted Project
The preliminary survey resulted In
enough enrollments to allow small
start. Margaret Love of Miles City, a
student, conducted the survey. Par
ents were interviewed, parent meet
ings were held, stories were released
in the local papers and finally, a
group of Is children was available
for the school. Parent interest in
pre-school education was definitely
limited. A small group of mothers,
however, had a determined interest to
carry the program forward. They be-
lieved that the education of children
should be advanced by every means
possible and that to assure that chill
dren should be at least before they
enter a school program is not sensi-
BILE. They should enter school pro-
grams as early as the children can
profit from such experience. Further,
they believed that education involves
something more than acquiring infor-
nation. Education involves the bal
anced physical, mental and social de-
velopment of their children In order
to utilize their full possibilities of de-
velopment. Some mothers didn't take
these ideas very seriously. They per-
haps wanted a little more freedom
from their children. Or perhaps they
didn't believe they could learn much
more about child development At
any rate, the community didn't seem
to be ready to support an adequate
pre-school program.
HothCfo Hooufic SSfiooi EcducISHip
In October, 1889, the Play School
was started by the Mothers Club,
with the cooperation of the Missoula
Recreation Department and the Lab
oratory. The Is children met three
days each week for two hour periods.
The University Congregational church
provided space for monthly fee. The
Mothers Club charged a small lee,
collected it and budgeted definite
amounts for rent, play equipment and
school materials Two students from
the Lab and a worker from the Mis-
soula Recreation Department planned
and administered the program. The
Mothers Club helped wherever posi- |
BILE. This was greatly appreciated be-
cause it contained former teachers, /
home economics majors, etc. |
and all took their responsibilities as
home makers quite seriously. To- |
gether, the fundamentals of the unit |
plan described above were defined |
and all felt that definite Roadway was
being made. In May, 1910, when an
inventory of the project was made,
the Mothers Club planned expansion
for the next school year.
Expands Program for Second Year
In September, 1910, the play school
was moved to more satisfactory quart |
ers in the recreation room of private
home near the University. The num-
Der of children served was extended |
to 40, 20 for the mornings and 20 for |
The afternoons. Two hour periods
we're continued but for five days each |
week The WPA supplied a super
visor and the Laboratory supplied as
sistants. The Mothers Club elected
4 board of control of representatives
,or the two groups of children served.
The morning group Of children were
chiefly two and three years old. The
afternoon group of children were
chiefly four, five and six year olds.
The fee charged was $500 a month
plus $1.OO for registration. During
he summer, the Dads made outdoor
squipment-a slide, jungle gym,
swing, sandbox and teeter-totters
Tables and chairs were bought as well
Us toys, books and work materials.
lab Carries Practical Responsibility
During this second year of the Play
School, a difficult situation arose. The
supervisor supplied by WPA resigned
o get married. Her leadership had
lot particularly satisfied the Mothers {
Jlub and the Lab. The program was {
90 regimented and little attention
vas given to the creative purposes of
he school. The resignation caused a |
hift in policy. The responsibility {
or the program was placed directly
n the students Of the Lab who were I
rganized as group with student t
hartman. l worked closely with the G
roup. And the Mothers Club in
reased its interest and help.
iothers' Club Provides Graduate
scholarship
In May, 1941, when another inven-
Dry of the project was made, the
Iothers' Club produced a new idea
,r better program leadership In the
lay school. Why not select a grad
ating senior who knew the problems
n