Evening star., 1950-01-09

~ ID oeCduSe man spirit Is moving to ever
higher planes that we have the assorted New
Deals, Fair Deals and Welfare States coming
into being. Taxation Is the device by which
the lost rights Of the less able are being re-
turned to them. VIM. H. REYNOLDS
Expresses Appreciation
OF Pictures of Fifty Years Ago
TO the Editor Of The Star:
thoroughly enjoyed The Star Pictorial
MAGAZINE OF Sunday, January /. Keep up the
good work.
A SUBSCRIBER TO THE STAR.
Urges Religious Institutions
To Undertake Day Care of Children
To the Editor Of The Star:
1t has been estimated that ITS, 900 women
are either employed or seeking employment
in the District of Columbia; that $4,000 of
these women have children under ls years
OF age. and that 105oo of the women with
cnlldren are from homes where the husband
is absent. The number of children in these
families is likely to be at least double the
number OF mothers. On the basis of the above
estimates. there are more than "a 900 chill
dren OF working mothers in the District of
Columbia. Only 1850 of these children re-
celve> day care in some organized facility
oren $50 are in private nursery schools sup
ported wholly by payments from parents.
2oO are In family day care homes where the
parent pays the full charge of the foster
nome. but general supervision is supplied by
the Foster Day Care and Counselling Asso-
citation, Chest-supported agency; $50 are
in day nurseries operated by six Chest-sup-
ported settlements and two churches. and
300 are in the Child Day Care Centers now
q m iYN NfefA h~
Board OF Public Welfare Few of the $50
children in these organized facilities are
over ten years old. The majority probably
are Of school age.
Not Doing Enough for Children.
AS the spiritual leader of one of the con-
gregations in the city. cannot help but feel
the startling inadequacy of our approach to
the children OF our community We would
like to see every child in our midst, of every
race and creed. have a decent upbringing.
My children will be affected by the standards
OF character and the spiritual health of
every other child We are doing fine job in
the public and private schools OF our city,
but we are not doing enough for the pre-
school child and for the extra-school recrea-
ton that will have far-reaching effect on
the next generation. The District Of Colum-
bias present budget Of 100000 for the day.
care institutions only reaches a mere 400
children from a few low-income families
What about the remainder of the "a 900
children OF working. mothers. whether their
need is for physical care or only for guidance
in the use OF after-school hours?
What about the greater number of neg
lected children from the less INDECENT homes
where their characters are nodded by the
fortuitous influence of unframed maids or
governesses or harassed mothers without the
insight or the facilities to really bring out
the best In their children? It is miracle
under these circumstances that we do not
breed more selfish snobs or egocentric
wastrels and bigots.
The great untapped reserve of our COM
munity is our religious institutions. There
are hundreds Of houses of worship in our
city. Millions of dollars have been poured
into creating them and millions more will be
spent In the next decade to build new
churches and synagogues. Their cost repre-
sents substantial portion of the assets, the
limited assets, Of our community The
startling fact is that most Of these houses
Of worship are almost empty most of the
week. They are to be found in every neigh
borhood, and many of their members are
persons of unusual character and training
and with the desire and the time to be able
to serve our children.
Church Program Advocated.
believe. judging from the fine work al
ready being done by some. and indorsed
enthusiastically by others, that the devoted
members Of these congregations will be
happy to use their buildings and give their
personal aid In carrying out q comprehensive
child-care program. I believe that the fruit
OF such program, with appropriate expert
guidance. will bring new spiritual meaning
to our institutions Of faith and increase the
interfaith fellowship Of the larger COM
munity. Many a non-Catholic has been
healed Of his anti-Catholic prejudice because
he attended Catholic school. Many nom
Quaker has learned to love friends because
he attended Friends school. Many a non-
EpiScopalian has learned q new respect
for the Episcopal tradition, without in any
way undermining the faith derived from
the home, because he attended fne school
like st. Adams
When q building, owned and administered
by the members on one creed, opens its doors
to the children Of other creeds to the limits
Of It's capacity, In the accomplishment it
identifies religious differences with demo-
cratic fellowship. It is the inter- -sectarian
common program and not the non -sectarian
religious evasion that builds for the highest
kind OF free citizenship.
That is why it is my judgment that If the
churches Of our community undertook, with
appropriate expert guidance. to dedicate
their empty buildings to new comprehen
sive pre-school and extra-school program
for all our children, to supplement the public
and private schools we now have. we would
be taking the high roads of democratic eff
cheney and spiritual vitality that will build
for the best Of the American community.
It would be great step of community states
manship that would help make the dream
OF free men to come true for new genera
ton that has come to birth in world that
~IAn> Sl~Af 4~fAl -
the West NORMAN dERSTENFEID.
Minister Of the Washington Hebrew
Congregation.