THE FUTURE MOTHER: PRESENT APPALLING IGNORANCE

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1294, 6 April 1918, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE FUTURE MOTHER: PRESENT APPALLING IGNORANCE

that is continually being repeated by the grandmothers to the younger gener\?jvft||n7 ation is that knowledge of motherhood vyjijjrWf will come when the baby arrives. That lyrWTwJ saying is an absurd fallacy, which in the MSsßbUmi interests of every person in the community should be speedily exploded, comments a critic in an exchange. The number of babies who die under 12 months of age is appalling. And the staggering ignorance of mothers—the* greatest cause of infantile mortality—is seen in all walks of life, from the richest to the poorest. In days when education has been raised to the highest degree, still there is little provision made for training in mothercraft, the most vital subject in a girl's curriculum. The most glaring instances of ignorance upon even the rudiments of infantile knowledge are to be found perhaps among women who have to earn their . own living and support the child as well. The. youngster may be cared for properly during the day, and instructions given to the mother for the correct treatment at home. But in spite of persistent efforts it is difficult to make the mother understand that a baby cannot take as food what is pleasing to an adult. One woman, whose baby was practically at death's door, with gastroenteritis, fed the child on green peas, corned beef, carrots, tea, and other articles. Realising that further lectures were useless, the matron in charge of the nursery where the child was left during the day explained to the mother the anatomy of the baby. "Gracious me, I thought he was all 'oiler"inside!" was the astounding reply. "Tea From Mother's Cup." When a baby looks a bit "off colour" it is given a spoonful of tea from mother's cup, and bits of tempting things from the plates on the tables. Sausage, cheese, sardines, pickles, vinegar, soda water, bananas, and ice cream are all among the foods which have been given to tiny babies. In face of these mixtures it is interesting

to recall the good health of practically the poorest Jewish children as a triumph of wholesome food against, unwholesome surroundings. Realising the national importance of the child, the Education Department is now giving instruction in the care of infants to all senior girls in public schools and metropolitan high schools. Lectures are given in the high schools four times a year. It is recognised that the senior girls shopld have a .knowledge of how to take care of and feed babies, and look after the home. Instruction is given in these subjects, as well as in such conditions as the cause and prevention of consumption, and lessons are so arranged that every girl in the metropolitan public schools will receive a course of instruction before leaving school. The lessons are illustrated by the use of life-sized washable dolls, and each course is followed by an examination. In order to make the instruction of more lasting benefit to the girls, and at the same time to educate their mothers, popular health pamphlets are given Jo each girl to take home. ■ That is the. first step. But the time that elapses between leaving school and motherhood is generally.a long enough period for all the information gained to have been forgotten. And at best the number of girls who really assimilate the knowledge is doubtful. England's Example. The next step should be the establishment of schools for mothers with the time to suit the mothers. England has realised the value of the child, and to-day a gigantic effort is being made to conserve the babies. England has also realised the fact that the ignorance of mothers is killing babies, so she has established schools for mothercraft. And it must be understood that it is not only improper feeding that is the cause of trouble. The children suffer from insufficiency of water, insufficiency of air—because the value of ventilation is not recognised —and insufficiency of sleep and clothing are all contributing causes. Gross carelessness often gives rise to

burns and other injuries, which may often result in death. By the establishment of schools for mothers,, light could be let in on what is for many women a very vague subject. The question may he raised whether women will attend the schools, and if they do attend how much will be learnt. The only thing is to make the teaching attractive, and, after examination, give every woman a huge certificate, so gorgeous that she will want to frame it. Every woman likes to see some evidence of her knowledge hanging before her all the time, something which she can exhibit with pride to any visitor and every relative. As has been pointed out in the medical report of the Education Department, it would be possible to establish these schools at small cost, as the existing organisation could be utilised for the purpose. As a beginning, at any rate, they should be established in all the big centres of the State. At the school, women would be instructed in such subjects as the following:—The manner of teaching sex hygiene to boys and girls; personal and home hygiene, including the care of the teeth; care of the mother, before and after childbirth; the care and feeding of babies and young children, etc. These subjects would be supplemented by the use of pamphlets, specially written for the purpose. We have public schools and universities where we may learn all about Greek verbs and the antics of the Hottentot, where we are crammed with every species of 'ology and 'ism, but we do not have schools for the greatest subject of all —parenthood. We learn everything about everything else but the one thing necessary for our very existence.. It has remained for England and America to learn v the tragic lesson that ignorance kills more than anything else. And having learnt tfce lesson thoroughly, they have set about training mothers correctly and competently, Childi en are no less valuable to Australasia than to England. Are we to wait any longer before training our mothers and helping them to save the babies?