Looking back

A questionnaire about a nursery for children of CERN parents was distributed in 1959, and the results were published in the Staff Association Journal № 30 (Autumn 1959). Below you can read the article as published.

Nursery school questionnaire

The Staff Association questionnaire on the Nursery School has been answered by 30 staff members. The results are as follows:

  1. The school would be attended by some 30 children. Only 4 persons are interested in a "garderie"; under these circumstances it seems rather difficult to satisfy the latter, unless an increased number of candidates would justify the simultaneous running of a nursery school and a "garderie''.
  2. There would be a fair balance between the different mother tongues: 8 English, 7 French, 6 German, 3 Dutch, 3 Italian, and 3 other languages.
  3. If the school was established near CERN, and the hours suitably adjusted, transport of the children would be no problem in most cases.
  4. Parents as a rule seem to favour the proposed hours 8.30 to 12.30 on working days.
  5. The cost mentioned (Fr. 750) (50% of this to be taken over by the Administration), does not seem to offer great difficulties.

Basing ourselves on these replies we have worked out the cost of the initial investment (furniture, special material, play-things, etc.), for a school of maximum 30 children, to be about Fr.4,000. We hope that this sum, at least part of it, will be taken from the funds allocated by the Director General to the various clubs, for the year 1960. The difference between the sum needed and the sum allocated could, if necessary, be reduced by the contribution from parents to the installation of the school.

CERN seems not to be able to put a room at the disposal of the school for some time to come. But we think that there the village of Meyrin will be able to help. This would have many advantages: it would prevent a certain isolation of the children (if the school could be open as well to children of Meyrin). Moreover, we would then have to abide by the more important cantonal regulations, and this could prevent us from making initial mistakes.As soon as this project reaches a more advanced stage, we shall form a committee, which will take the more important decisions (choice of Head Mistress, etc.)

by Staff Association