Evening star., 1943-08-23
0n|y16Chi|drer
Enroll in Three
New Nurseries
More Are Expected
As Vacation Ends;
Capacity Is $50

Sixteen children appeared today
at the opening of the Districts S
three new public nursery schools
for youngsters from to years old.
Capacity of the nurseries is about
100 children. A total of 46 so far
have been registered but many of
these will not actually enter for
some time. They are still on vaca-
ton, have not yet been examined
physically or are in some way not
available for immediate enrolment.
Miss Dorothy Pearse, day care di-
rector explained.
Slow increase of enrolment is
preferable in nursery schools. Miss
Pearse said. because the young chill
dren are slow to adjust to new
surroundings and new faces. Seven
came today to 314 D street Sc.
seven to the Truesdell School at
Ninth and Ingraham streets NV.
and two to the Smothers School for
colored children at Forty-fourth
street and Washington place Sc.
AS numbers increase teachers will
be added to maintain ratio of
l teacher to every 10 nursery school
children.
Draft May Bring Increase.
Start of the father draft In Octo-
Der is expected to bring much larger
numbers to the schools, Mrs. Henry
P, Chandler, chairman of the Day
Care Committee. declared. 1t is ex-
pected also to swell the enrolment
In the four school-age centers. so
far caring for only half of their
capacity of 200 children.
Six adjoining houses have been
renovated at 314 D street S.E. to
make large center for both nurs-
cry school and school-age children.
Only the nursery school children
have been enrolled so far, however.
Mrs. Janet Roe, director of the en-
tire plant there, said that about 80
nursery school children and about
80 Older children could be accommo-
dated eventually.
Mirrors nave been placed two and
three feet from the floor for the
younger children at d street. Low
oeds are provided for maps. Blocks
for the children to stand on have
been placed before wash basins.
Tiny tables and lockers close to the
floor have also been provided.
Children Settle Down.
One 4-year-old boy, Stewart. was
lonesome for his mother and walled
continually the first hour at the
center, At first. Howard, 3. batted
Patsy Ann, 3. over the head when
he wanted her toy. Within an
hour and half, however, the seven
children there had all settled down
to play together, Tiniest of them
all was 2-year-old Kenneth Wong,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Fay Wong
His mother and father work on
changing shifts and will alternate
in bringing him to the center each
day.
Toys on wheels are needed at all
three centers. Despite granting of
priority and money to buy TOYS,
the centers have been unable to
purchase enough. Wagons. tricycles.
scooters, ''hupmobiles and any
other toy on wheels" it was ex-
planned, would be accepted CRATE
fully from the public. Victrolas
and children's records are also
needed.
Working mothers who wish to en-
roll their children in the seven CEN
ters now open for children over 2
years OF age can apply to the day
care office at 480 Indiana avenue
NV.
Private Foster Homes.
Children under 2 cannot be cared
for in the public centers, but day
care counselors have list of private
foster homes to recommend. Rates
IN public centers run from So to So
week per child, according to the
parents ability to pay. Parents with
two or more children enrolled are
granted a decrease in rates.
The mother can leave her child
at a nursery school or day care
center any time after am. Each
child Is given tomato juice at $50
m, lunch at 11:30 a m. or noon.
and milk and crackers at 3 pm,
Both older and younger children
take maps in the afternoon. All of
them are weighed and inspected
physically as soon as they arrive
in the morning. Later the nursery
school centers hope to supply cod
liver oil for each child.