Teaching motherhood as a Science using practice babies

[kenny]

. . . horrific as it sounds to our modern sensibilities, this was going on as recently as 1969 - and at Cornell University no less.
Cornell borrowed babies from orphanages for what was considered scientific curriculum.

http://blogs.plos.org/wonderland/2011/01/04/real-live-practice-babies/

From Cornell: http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/homeEc/cases/apartments.html

 

[ForteKitty]

I only skimmed thru it, but it seems the babies were very well taken care of, by multiple women? and it says they're more likely to be adopted if they have had more "hours"? It seems better than living in an orphanage where they would get no attention, doesn't it? I can't imagine they would get more love in an orphanage.

eta: i'd love to know if they followed up w/ the babies and see if they are well adjusted adults.

 

[dragonfly411]

I actually think this might be quite wise, BUT I"d like to see it reversed so that the "mothers" go to where the children are. Then the children wouldn't have to adjust to new surroundings AND multiple women.

Actually, I think it'd be VERY good as a teen class too, to teach what it is like to ACTUALLY have a child. I know several "young" mothers (not necessarily teens now but they were 17-20 when having kids) and they really didn't know what they were in for.

 

[kenny]

But imagine the controversy of teaching proper mothering today - as illuminated in the "Chinese Mother" thread.

 

[ForteKitty]

ahh.. i see. i thought you were horrified by the babies being used as teaching material.

i think both men and women should be required to take this course, that way they know exactly what they're getting into.

 

[elrohwen]

I find it interesting that Cornell never followed the babies after adoption to see how they fared. I guess they were so sure of the science behind parenting that they didn't think it was necessary? Strange. The whole thing is strange, but I just don't understand why there wouldn't be follow up to see how the children actually did - they could've learned a lot about parenting.

I have to agree with some of the articles that being mothered by 10 different people at a time would be overwhelming and probably not the best thing for the baby. However, I imagine it would be better than being in an orphanage with very little attention or care.

I went to Cornell and never heard anything about this until now. Now I'm intrigued! I'll have to do more research.