Evening star., 1946-05-10
Educator Urges
D. {. Leadership
In Child Care
Dr.. Mary Davis Tells
House Group of Need
For Day Centers

"ooAAiAlStoAl, " DIS tIle NaLlOn Cdp1.
tai, should be an example for the
States in any program touching on
the care of children, DR.. Mary Dab
ney Davis of the United States Of
flee of Education today told House
subcommittee opening hearings on
operation of the District child-care
centers after June 80.
She was one of three persons to
testify before the subcommittee, of
which Representative Healy, Demo-
crat, Of California is chairman, be-
fore the hearing was abruptly re-
cessed at 11:15 am, when another
of its members, Representative Nc,
Donough, Republican, of California,
insisted on the break so that the
members might answer House floor
roll call
Chairman Healy, who hoped to
complete the hearings today, an
nOunced the session would be re-
sumed provided subcommittee mem
bers obtained permission to absent
themselves from party affairs. 1t
was not Immediately clear whether
this would be possible.
d. c.. Has Many Precedents.
DR.. Davis previously had testified
when We can't define by age the
that "the time will shortly come
proper functions of nursery or kim
dergarten schools" in urging estab-
lishment here of program for the
care of children whose parents are
absent during working hours.
Washington has many prece-
dents in it's record" which back the
need for some sort of program Of
child care, she said, recalling Presi-
dent Garfield first approved plans
for establishment of the initial
training school for children of kin
dergarten' age here.
Citing instances of sweeping jul
venile delinquency" throughout the
Nation, Dr. Davis declared that
young people have featured in each
social and industrial crisis of our
Nation"
Cites Draft Reflections.
She called attention to the shock
ingly large number of selective
service rejectees for mental and
physical reasons" which, she as
serted, could have been corrected
and made into better citizens had
there been a broader program for
care of children under the age
of 6.
DR.. Grace Langdon, formerly in
charge of child care centers operat-
ed under the WPA and a wartime
child care consultant for the Gov
ernment, told the subcommittee her
experience covering two emer-
gency programs" had convinced her
there has been complete acceptance
of the idea that whatever is done
for children should include educa-
ton and is part of education
District officials and department
heads were to testify if the session
was resumed after the recess.
Mason Questions Fund Source.
Commissioner Guy Mason, speak
ing for the Health Department, as
sured the subcommittee that agency
"is in a position to cooperate" with
any child-care program that may
be inaugurated, but wanted to know
where money to operate the child
care centers would come from.
Chairman Healy answered his
question by stating that the bill
under consideration was only en-
abling legislation but obviously the
money question would be decided
later. In recessing the hearing,
the chairman said he was still hope
full that the legislation could be sent
to the District Committee tomorrow
in time for House action Monday.
He quoted from an article in q
local newspaper concerning an IL
year -old girl who had contracted
venereal disease because OF parental
neglect to show the obvious need"
for prompt action.
| Chairman Mcmillan scheduled q
session of the House District Com
mittee for tomorrow at II am. to
receive the Healy Subcommittee re-
port, if it is ready.
| One of the main questions raised
at Wednesdays session of the full
committee, when the bill was sent
to the Healy Subcommittee, was
whether the Board of Public Welfare
instead of the Board of Education
should be charged with operation of
the centers.
The Commissioners have opposed
the bill. Dr. Hobart M. Corning,
superintendent of schools, said he
believed there was a need for the
day-care centers but protested they
should not be placed under school
administration even If school build
ings we're used, since fees would be
charged.
company's offer was not for wide Of
this mark.
Capt. H. G. Whitehurst, District
highway director, said that even be-
fore the strike contractors were hard