Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-05-20
WarWorkers'
Welfare Held
Parents Duty
Copt. Rhode MiIIiken
Speaks at PIT. A.
Convention

Liulilty ICSpOIlSlUlllIy VI ilCW SUNs
eminent workers in the Capital as
we'll as the responsibility for the
welfare of their own children during
the war. Capt. Rhoda Milliken, head
of the Metropolitan Police Women's
Bureau. told today's session of the
convention Of the District Congress
of Parents and Teachers.
She pointed out that there was
now noted as before the depression,
when everybody had everything he
needed except good sense" an in
crease in shoplifting cases involving
girls from well-to-do families. Capt.
Milliken said she thought this might
be accounted for by q need for ex-
element, when the air Is sur
charged with 1t and young girls
have not the outlet their mothers,
fathers and brothers have in war
work She urged that the parent
teacher group devise some partici-
patton In the war effort for young
girls of high school age, to save
heartaches later.
1t will be well, also, Capt. Milliken
told the convention, to consider
calmly the problem posed by the fact
that young men in uniform take on
considerable glamour in the eyes of
girls from IS to Is years old, and to
provide means for them to meet in q
healthy and wholesome atmosphere.
They're your children and your
responsibility, she said.
The Women's Bureau head chal-
lenged charges that have been made
against Washington conditions, as
serting that the influx of so many
girls has been problem, but not so
serious as rumored.
Also addressing the morning ses-
sion, DR.. Charles Schottland, assist
ant to the chief of the Children's
Bureau, discussing DAY Care Of
Children" told the group it is vital
to maintain the home and normal
family life as much as possible
Mothers, he urged, should not be
taken into war industry, unless act
ually needed for some specific task,
until all unemployed have been alb
sorbed.
He pointed out, however, that
1000 900 women are expected to be
employed in war tasks in 1913, and
that studies are being made to pro-
vide adequate arrangements for
children whose homes are dislocated
by war.
Half of the congress panel of
newly-elected officers, to serve with
others remaining in office, were in
stalled today. They include Mrs.
H. N. Stull, second vice president;
Mrs. B. w. Costenbader, fourth
vice president; Mrs. Florence H.
Rogers. sixth vice president: Mrs.
Donald Warren, secretary; Mrs.
Roderick D. Moss, treasurer: Mrs.
Z. B. Sinclair, assistant treasurer.
and Mrs. Hildegarde Davenport,
historian.
The convention will be brought to
a close tonight, with the annual
fellowship dinner at the ballroom of
the Willard Hotel.
Change in Food Habits.
Yesterday afternoon members of
the congress heard DR.. Helen
Mitchell. head of the nutrition di-
vision of the Office of Defense
Health and Welfare, promise that
we are not only going to prevent
disease. but we are going to make
average people feel better
The major problem faced by the
Governments nutritionists. DR..
Mitchell said, is selling" people
change in food habits. The infor-
nation Federal representatives pass
along to State nutrition committees
and other groups will not help solve
the problem of malnutrition, I'M
less it is followed by those suffer-
ing from malnutrition.
DR.. Mitchell's talk was followed by
a panel discussion of The Practical
Application of Health knowledge, as
it Relates to the Home, the Church,
the School and the Community"
conducted by DR.. N. P. Nelson, exc
cutive secretary of the department
of health, physical education and
recreation of the National Educa-
ton Association
Others Participating.
DR.. Rex Huston, director of the
Washington Institute of Mental
Hygiene; Mrs. Ola Day Rush, direc-
tor of home economics of the Dis"
trict schools; the Rev. C. E. Haw-
thorne, pastor of Wallace Memorial
Church; Miss A. Grace Lind, super
vising principal of the fifth school
division, and Mrs Albert L. Gard
ner, national chairman of Congress
publications, were among those
participating.
DR.. Nelson, speaking before the
panel, urged favorable attitude on
the part of both educators and pub
lie toward physical education,
stressing it's Importance as a part
of the regular school curriculum for
every student.