SCHOOL FOR MELBOURNE MOTHERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 615, 18 September 1909, Page 11

SCHOOL FOR MELBOURNE MOTHERS.

. The. first. school of.mothers" was opened in Crpmorno: Street; Kichmond, on September w. and. judging from the experiences related at tno Inst meeting of the National Cdrincil of Women ;by visitors of different benevolent .societies establishments in. the metropolitan o T t°t i t- ls *H*i\ of nccd fw this now form of instruction; ■ It happens that so many rirls leavmg school straightway take up factory S(e, and that so- many of them marry before they are 18, and are, when the first baby come/, totally; without the knowledge required by the exigencies of the situation. Nor even when the .number is increased :do they seem to defaculty for gathering experience. One. Richmond resident related how she found a mother endeavouring to bath hor child in a jam-tinj.and oven then she was doing bett»t than, others,:.who failed to seo the necessity for bathing at all. Stories of injudicious feeding.;are simply, appalling. One woman saw no harm ,in nourishing-her fortnightold' infant on nco biscuits. In another case pickled pork and.plnm pudding had formed the chief mwlg of. a Bix-month-old boy. In most cases, however, it was found that the mothers, especially it w f . for , th s lr ,>abies, .particularly when !&»?' 1 " ,1 "? 11 ,. th at. such care was simplicity So-now the school for mothers will enWpT is to ti? 0 ' * hat - Wod ■it can.:.: ( Wh a t is wanted.by the organisins committee, which-is, rn^fact,-fho^Women's , Christian ;]gnion, ■■■■, help^;of. capable" lecturers on to prepare for aby,. t how,to feed baby,;baby's clothes,-tabys srst month; why-:babies' die, ventilation,. how to;cook' noOTisnwg, wholesome food,' with' ro- . craes ■. ~ avoiding tho frying-pan) j aonte.for:.mothers,-how to manage on h per week, and;othpr..such simple topics.-A list of-appropriate lectures has-been prepared, and Mrs;. Kirk,,generarsecretary of the W.C.T.tJ will'forward copy, to any. address. Moreover',' she gladly : receive offers of assistance.