AMERICAN VIEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 102, 27 October 1931, Page 15

AMERICAN VIEWS

PAN-PACIFIC AFFAIRS

A number of interesting matters are referred to in the monthly report of the Pan-Pacific Women's Association, which is working in all the countries in preparation for the next conference. The report of Mrs. Edgerton Parsons, chairman of the United States delegation, who is immensely approving of the preparations made, contains several comments which are worth while giving consideration to, specially in regard to education. A matter that emerged that appeared to her specially useful is that the importance of "preschool education" is being recognised and met, rather specially in the Orient. "Its relation to the integrity and continuity of tho family circle is made clear. In especial the needs of the rural mother and housewife were marked as pressing and important." In regard to education it is stated that there are "diminishing returns," and there is a failure to fit the child for tho life to be led later on. It is stated that there are very notable results and inspirations of mass education in China and adult education everywhere, but the education of the youug ones seems lacking in force and right direction. Another matter of interest in this report is the fact that the opinion of women, as shown very decidedly, is that illegitimacy should cease to be a legal disability, in fact that the word should be abolished. Also that the j.ationality of a woman should not be changed by reason of marriage, or by a change during marriage of the nationality of her husband. The American women are evidently studying and considering many matters which are likely to come up at the next conference.