Evening star., 1950-06-11
Committee Calls
DC. BadCit 10
Cupitul's Problems
Unique for Porents,
Survey Declares
By Jeonne Rogers

py Jeohne Rogers
Washington parents must be
better than mothers and fathers
in other places to even things up
for children in this unique COM
AS things are. the program for
children Is made
quate' all the way down the line.
Those were the findings brought
out In report Of the six months
work done by the 20-member Dis
trict Committee for the Midcen-
kury White House Conference on
Children and Youth.
The committee includes men,
bers of boards OF social agencies,
labor leaders, lawyers and repre-
sentatives of the three major re-
ligious faiths.
Called for December.
The midcentury conference, a
decennial meeting which was
called this time by President Tru-
man, will meet early in December.
AT the request OF the national
office Of the conference the COM
mittee found that Programs for
the care and treatment of chill
dren are in general inadequate.
Public and private relief programs
meet the needs. There
are inadequacies and inequities in
education and recreation. Health
instead of expanding COM
fortably with added needs. face
possible curtailment. Family life
and spiritual life for children and
youth are affected adversely by
these realities.
Children in other localities de-
Velop healthy personalities far
more readily than in the "unique
community of Washington" ac-
to the committees find-
Ings,
Difficulties Listed.
Agreeing that Washington par
snts have an abnormally heavy
burden, the report cites:
Lack Of roots for a large seq
nent OF the population.
The unnatural Importance to
citizens of the Federal agencies.
The opportunity for overlapping
and gaps in Federal and local
agency programs due to the di-
vided jurisdiction, the unwieldy
government structure.
Overcrowding and sub-standard
housing for the Income
groups. 4 #a
'Parents seem called on to be
better than average parents" the
report continued. 1t added, how
ever, list of factors which in
terrupt family schedule here.
the lack of social CEN
sure directed toward family
where both parents work, and the
dealtlI of grandparents. aunts and
other relatives.
A "glaring need" for more and
better preventive psychiatric serv-
ces for children-particularly OF
school age - was noted by all
members of the committee.
Teacher Shortage Cited.
In the education field, the sur
'ey showed there is a "definits
shortage of elementary school
,eachers and not enough good
,eachers." 1t stressed unequal dis
'ribution of space for children,
With an excess of seats In white
enior high and Junior high
schools. On the other hand, it
loted a shortage in colored high
schools and white elementary
schools.
Physical facilities are so sub
standard in Al schools today. ac-
'ording to recognized criteria,
hey should be abandoned" the
committee stated. There is an
inadequate teaching program of
pecial services for all handi-
;apped children beyond the ele-
level"
Operation Of the school pro-
'rams on a segregated basis, the
eport said. has resulted in an in
adequate and unequal program
or colored children.
Public health centers now serve
'nly l8 per cent of the preschool
population here. the report stated.
ldding that IS per cent of the
hildren come from families un-
Ible to pay for private medical
10
Achievements Noted.
Among District achievements
by the committee to be
dvancing the well-being of chill.
lren are: tT
The establishment last year of
he United Community Services
S a co-ordinating agency for
Manning community health, well
are and recreation.
The Districts high income aver
ge and its relief load which is
ower than that Of any Of the
tates. The handling of recrea-
ional activities by one municipal
apartment rather than the dual
etup which was consolidated in
942.
D~L IT, c.