Letters, Sep. 19, 1960

(3 of 3)

Mrs. Joralemon has been operating a day nursery for three-and four-year-old children for two years without a license, although a license is required by law. For the past eight months, we have been trying to help Mrs. Joralemon meet minimum standards for such an operation. We certainly have no objection to teaching ABCs or music in a day nursery. However, children of this age need facilities for play and rest periods to break the 2^2 hours they are at the school. We have suggested simple play equipment which should be available for the children, as well as facilities for adequate rest. Mudpies and water tables are not required.

Our standards have been developed after a good deal of hard work by experts in the education field, tempered by the practical experience of day-nursery operators. We are quite willing to issue a license to Mrs. JoraleMon if she shows reasonable compliance with our rather simple standards.

J. M. WEDEMEYER Director State of California Department of Social

Welfare Sacramento, Calif.

¶I The California State Department of Social Welfare included "dirt for mud pies" and "tubs for water play" in the "Lists of Minimum Equipment and Materials" it presented to Mrs. Joralemon.—ED.

Sir:

Children want and need to learn. If they are exposed to the best, they will learn the best. Exposed to mud they will throw it.

BETTY M. HAYES Tonawanda, N.Y.

Sir:

Given a choice for my children, I would take the alphabet over soft cuddly dolls, and even Beethoven over mud pies. Given a choice, I would take acne over the inept California Welfare Department. I shall be waiting impatiently for the news that U.C.L.A. is now offering a B.A. in Sandbox.

JERRY L. MILLER North St. Paul, Minn.

Tell Harold . ..

Sir:

Your magazine has hurled a couple of stones at a record called Tell Laura I Love Her. I'm not saying I like this song; I know lots of kids who don't, but even we are offended because we take it as a direct criticism against us all, not just the record.

Please remember that we are the people who are going to be obligated to put you unfortunates into old-age homes sometime.

HAROLD METZ III (14)

Greenwich, Conn.