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Stated shortly, I am of opinion that in a town like Croydon it
is only exceptionally that children under five years of age world
not be better off in their own homes, and I should like to have seen
the admission of children under five years of age generally discouraged
and only permitted under certain conditions. It must be
acknowledged that the question is one of great difficulty, but
these conclusions are based on the following grounds :—Firstly, only
n per cent, of mothers of the artizan class are employed from home
in Croydon, in some parts of the town the proportion is less, thus,
of 54 children aged 3-5 attending Oval Road School it was found
that only in four instances was the mother employed from home.
Of the 50 mothers not employed
2 had 3 younger children not attending school.
14 had 2 younger children not attending school.
17 had 1 younger child not attending school.
17 had no younger children.
Thus of the 50 mothers at least 34 could reasonably be expected
to give the necessary care to their children.
At Princess Road School, on the other hand, 20 out of 40
mothers were employed, and of the 20 not employed
8 had 2 younger children not attending school.
9 had 1 younger child not attending school.
3 had no younger children.
Thus even in this district there were a considerable number of
mothers who were perfectly capable of looking after their children.
With regard to the children of mothers who are employed from
home, it is doubtless better for the children to attend school rather