Evening star., 1953-12-18
Support
Given Bill on
Child Centers
Changes Suggested
In Neiehbor Gore
And Whipping Rule

A proposed ordinance to reg
ulate child-care centers in Mont.
gomery County drew strong sup-
port last night from residents
and officials.
The ordinance calls for the
licensing at a $25 fee and regu-
lation of homes established for
the boarding or day care Of
children for compensation. It's
drafterS say it closely parallels
the District law.
A number of persons, how
ever suggested changes to
strengthen ban against whip
ping, and to permit mothers to
care for one or two of theirs
neighbors' children occasionally
for pay.
The ordinance was drafted
after a four-year-old child stay
ing in nursery home in the
$500 block of Carroll avenue,
Takoma Park. died. The oper-
ator of the home, Mrs. Lois j.
Sparks. who wheeled the dead
baby in a stroller into WASH
ington Sanitarium, has been in
dicted on a manslaughter charge
and faces trial January IL.
Need Stressed.
County health, welfare and in
spection chiefs stress the need
for such regulatory ordinance
to safeguard children of parents
who have to work.
Mrs. Bernard Frank of the
County League of Women Voters
supported the ordinance but sug-
gested an advisory committee be
named to come up with possible
improvements after it has been
in operation year. She specifi-
cally questioned whether the
Welfare Department instead Of
the Inspection Department, as
The ordinance provides, should
not administer it.
DR.. Kay Edwards of the Balti-
: more City Health Department
said the ordinance, as now
drawn, would prohibit a woman
caring for her neighbors' chill
dren even for few hours.
Il don't believe it was your in
tent to go that far into family
living" she said.
Both DR.. Edwards and DR..
Mary Mathews of the Baltimore
County Health> Department
urged a complete ban on whip
ping, The ordinance now pre-
vents whipping without the writ
ten permission of the parents.
"Intangibles" Weighed.
Councilmen indicated they
were apprehensive about "intan-
gible" welfare standards set up
in the ordinance. These stand
ards call for good atmosphere
for the children" supervisors to
be OF suitable age and tempera-
ment to care for children
capable of handling an emer-
gency situation promptly and
intelligently," and supervision
natural and free from tension"
and the handling of child train
ing problems with understand
ing"
The welfare standards also say
that the motives of the applicant
for license shall be carefully
considered. Although barring an
operator from holding any other
Job, the standards also note that
it is preferable that the appli-
cant for a license have a SUBJ
siStence income.
The ordinance provides that
child-care center operator shall
file certificates of compliance
with the building. electrical and
fire prevention codes, and meet
health. sanitation and zoning
requirements. No action on the
ordinance will be taken until
after the first of the year.
In Fairfax County. COM
mittee appointed by the Board
of County Supervisors is work.
ing on an ordinance to regulate
nursery schools. The county
now has no ordinance controlling
or licensing some 81 such schools.
and most of them are not covered
by State regulations.