The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-06-22

1t was a founding home
in South America that
had been established by
some wealthy people to
care for abandoned in
fants. The physical features
were excellent, the nursery
equipment modern, and the
doctors and nurses competent
professionals. Everything per-
sonnet and materielwise for
the development of healthy
children was apparently pres
ent.
AFTER SOME experience,
the authorities discovered a
very high mortality rate
among their infant charges.
Despite the excellent treat
ment, they failed to respond
as expected. In fact, many of
them just seemed to fade
away and die.
The usual medical research
was conducted without re-
vealing any of the usual
physical causes. Finally, the
high mortality rate was trac-
ed to the fact that, while an
average of so infants were
present at a given time there
were only five nurses to care
for them. With all the other
duties these nurses had, it
wasn't possible for them to
give personal attention to
each baby. Each child ended
up with less than one-tenth
of a mother, not sufficient to
answer his need for personal
love.
They solved the problem,
in part at least, by hiring
neighboring women to come
in for a few hours each day
and pay personal attention to
each baby. The infant was
held in the arms of the SUBJ
stitute mother while being
fed. It was cooed over and
sung to and fondled by the
same woman. The diapers
were changed personally in
stead of in an assembly line.
IN FACT, the nursery ceas-
ed to have the appearance of
an infant service station into
w the babies were
brought for fueling, talcum-
ing and oiling, and became an
extension of the mothers
womb where warmth and
peace and security were to
be had.
The infants weren't cared
for more frequently Or fed
any better, but a new ele-
ment was added. There was
established a love relation
ship between the substitute
mother and child which had
previously been missing, and
because Of which lack SO
many died. The substitute
mother fulfilled the minimum
requirements for life.
The gift of a parent is not
only a gift of life that a child
might have existence, it is al
so a gift of love that the life
possessed might grow and de-
velop. II is a parents role not
only to initiate creation, but
also to perfect it.
WHATEVER THE varying
needs of the child may be,
according to his changing
age. there is always the con-
tinuing need for love. This is
the constant element in the
growth of a child. An infant
needs love, a fodder de-
mands it, the school child
thrives on it, an the Adde'S
cent seeks it elsewhere if he
doesn't get it at home,
To the traditional, obvious
duties of the parent-feeding,
clothing, nursing, and once
in a while spelling the child
modern society has added a
complexity of other require
ments, which have bred a
complexity of new quilts. A
child must not only be edu-
Gated, he must also be guar
anteed a college education. Ii
he doesn't get it, it is the
fault of parents according to
present culture.
A child S should grow
straight and strong and, at
the same time, be socially adj
;usted and popular. His lei
sure time should be organized
TO the nth degree, his recrea-
ton sponsored, his poise de-
veloped, his teeth straighten-
ed, and above all he should