Young Children in European Countries in the Present Economic and Social Period. Bulletin, 1936, No. 2
Author: Davis, Mary Dabney
Date: 1936-00-00
Type: Historical Materials
Subjects: Child Welfare,School Activities,Kindergarten,Foreign Countries,Educational Change,Housing,Financial Support,Child Health,Nursery Schools,Observation,International Education,Organizations (Groups),Nutrition,Living Standards,Expenditures,Census Figures,Statistical Data,Emergency Programs

As plans for expansion of the emergency nursery school program were being considered in 1934, opportunity was offered for the author of this bulletin to visit some of the European countries and observe their programs. The Office of Education accepted this voluntary offer and the author, who had been loaned by the Office to the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) to develop the Emergency Nursery School Project, visited the countries herewith reported upon. The opportunity opened the way to gather new ideas and to see how they can be applied to current needs of this country. Observation of experiences of other countries in the light of our own problems gave a realism to the visit that enlisted interest and the fullest possible help from active workers abroad, and to those workers in the countries visited--England and Scotland, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Austria and Hungary, Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union, and Poland, in international education, health, and welfare organizations--the Office of Education extends the warmest appreciation for assistance and for the opportunity to share experiences that should benefit everyone. The report begins with descriptions of how the nations locate administrative responsibility for the programs for young children below compulsory school age and how financial support is provided. Brief accounts of some of the schools visited indicate what is obtained for the money expended. Accounts follow of the housing and equipping of some of the nursery schools and kindergartens, of new demands upon teachers and consequent innovations in the preparation of teachers, of some of the health and nutrition work, of housing for the families and of the continued supervisory programs for the health and recreation of youth and adults. No attempt has been made to show the destitution and deprivations of the people due to the world economic difficulties. Instead the emphasis is upon what is being done to raise the standards of health, welfare, and happiness under which young children and their families best grow and develop. Appended are: (1) Original authorization for the Emergency Nursery School Program of the United States; (2) The Declaration of Geneva; (3) The Children's Code (Uruguay): A summary; (4) Child Welfare Committee of the League of Nations: Excerpts for the report of the tenth session; (5) A summary of the history of kindergarten education in Hungary; (6) Statements of receipts and expenditures of two emergency open-air nurseries in England; (7) Statistics of preschool children for the Second 5-Year Plan of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; (8) Menus from Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, Italy, and Poland; (9) Some organizations concerned with young children; (10) Federal census statistics for children below the age of 6, and related information; and (11) The Children's Charter developed by the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection for 1930. A bibliography is included. (Contains 25 footnotes.) [Best copy available has been provided.]