Evening star., 1946-03-03
Mothers Seek
New Locations
For Nurseries
Group Votes to Set Up
Corporation; Asks
Use of Churches

Use of Churches
Temporarily abandoning hope Of
using IA public school buildings as
day care centers for children
mothers and teachers from the cen
ters met last night and voted to
set up corporation as soon as
possible to finance independent op-
Grafton of the centers. In the
meantime, the group will seek the
use of clubs, churches or other
places to resume operations Of the
nursery schools tomorrow morning
The group, which met at Pierce
Hall, Sixteenth and Harvard streets
acted following report by Harry
s. Wender, who volunteered to act
as counsel. Mr.. Wender offered to
draw up the Incorporation papers
He suggested that the group avoid
any public demonstration against
public officials involved in placing
the ban on the use of school build
ings.
The corporation would be set up
he explained, to solicit funds from
the public to be added to the fees
obtained from the mothers. From
these funds. money to pay the
teachers would be turned over to
the District of Columbia govern
ment. This plan, he hoped, might
lead District officials eventually to
permit the use of the school build
ings, but in the meantime would
finance cooperative system to
continue the day care centers.
One of the groups of children was
assigned new place to meet last
night. Instead of the H. D. Cooke
School at Seventeenth and Euclid
streets NV, where % children have
been accommodated. tomorrow they
will go to All Souls Unitarian
Church, Sixteenth and Harvard
streets NV.
Offers were being received last
night of other places, including the
Washington Hebrew Congregation,
which Mr.. Wender said would be
available.
The campaign for funds will be
directed by the Rev. Francis w.
McPeek of the Washington Fedora
tion of Churches.
Warns Against Hiatus.
Mr.. Wender warned against a
hiatus of even one day in the oper-
alton of the centers.
The ban on use of the school
Mr. Wender said, was a
disappointment but was based on
a ruling by the Board of Education.
Proposals for public demon
stration by the mothers, such as a
march on Franklin School. head
quarters of the school authorities,
definitely should be abandoned, he
said.
A campaign to raise money will
be launched Immediately. A fund
Of about 500 900 will be needed to
operate the centers until July /. it
was explained BY that time, Mr..
Wender said, it is hoped legislation
may be enacted to set up the day
care program on a permanent basis.
An appeal to the public to sup
port the campaign will be made
through many channels, it was an
nounced. Treasurer of the campaign
Is Joshua Evans, jr., vice president
of the Hamilton National Bank, to
whom checks may be sent. They
should be addressed to him as
treasurer of "The Mothers Appeal
for Day Care Centers Fund"
Hope to Raise S45,000.
Rev. Mr.. McPeek, who was un-
able to attend the meeting, told
The Star that it was hoped that
about s45, 900 might be raised by
public subscription in the cam
oaign. The rest of the 500 5000, he
will come from fees paid in
oy mothers.
The teachers reported that 81, 300
n cash already has been collected
from fees paid by mothers and
hat pledges had been made for
at least $1,000.
Despite the fact the day care
,enter program came to an official
End on Thursday night, efforts by
he mothers organization succeeded
n having their children attend the
,enters on both Friday and yester-
lay.
School officials ruled yesterday
hat under law, the school buildings
Gould no longer be used for that
purpose.
The school officials made their
decision informally, on advice of
Vernon E. West, corporation counsel.
Mr.. West also said yesterday he
hought it would be several days be-
ore the District Commissioners
would make any decision on whether
he proposed corporation, known as
The Child Day Care Centers of the
District of Columbia, Inc.," would be
recognized by the Commissioners as
means of continuing the centers
'fficially. Under the proposal the
corporation would pay for the chill
lren's food and provide for the
eachers' salaries, and the District
II Columbia would pay for only light
md heat in the buildings.
In the meantime, with the IA
chool buildings closed tomorrow, it
vas believed the six centers under
upervision of the National Capital
iousing Authority would continue
n operation as usual, since they are
lot involved in the controversy
aused by expiration of the Child
;are Act last Thursday night.
S District Firm.