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When Shamyra Gunn enrolled her daughter Kaori Saunders, now 6, in Franklin Day Nursery four years ago, she had no idea she would get an education as well. Gunn, whose 2-year-old son DeJuan Saunders is currently enrolled in the school, has taken something away from every parent-teacher conference, where guest speakers discuss winterizing homes, applying for a first-time mortgage and teaching safety to children. Year-round, Gunn said, she gets useful information from the center at 719 Jackson St.
"There’s so many things I’ve learned with each and every teacher, director and social worker," the 24-year-old from the 2700 block of Pierce Street said. "I don’t know where I would be without them."
According to nursery Director Eileen Phillips-Puma, praises like these, partnered with strong dedication from the staff, are what’s kept Franklin a community staple since 1907. As it celebrates its centennial, she is confident these qualities will help it continue to thrive.
"I think it shows people in the daycare field that it is possible to acquire very high standards and keep them," Phillips-Puma, who taught for seven years before returning in ’94 as director, said.
With a centennial under its belt, Franklin is the oldest agency-sponsored program of its kind in the country. The nonprofit United Way Organization’s Associated Day Care Service (ADCS) runs Franklin and several other daycare services throughout the city,
"We’ve stayed here because of the commitment to the community," she said. "We’ve always had a great relationship with South Philly, and we’ve become part of the scenery here to generations of families. We’ve been shaped by their support; without them we would not be in existence."
Added Nancy Quaglia, assistant executive director of ADCS, "I just feel what we are doing is one of the most important things that we can do for children and families by providing the best quality care during the youngest and most formidable time of life."
It seemed only fitting then Quaglia and Phillips-Puma joined with members of the community, children — both past and present — and their families to celebrate the 100th year of Franklin Saturday afternoon, complete with cake. About 30 people were in attendance, the children were entertained by a magician, comedian and juggler and a proclamation from Gov. Ed Rendell commending Franklin on reaching its centennial was read.
Franklin Day Nursery dates back to when such facilities were looked upon to provide a warm, dry place to sleep and three nourishing meals a day for children — ranging in age from infants to 10-years-old — of working parents. Funding was scarce at the turn of the 20th century and Franklin thrived in the face of limited facilities and dependence on donations. In its early years, a resident matron assisted by a nurse looked after 60 children 12 hours a day six days a week. According to information compiled by Franklin’s board in ’55, from ’05 to ’15, no capital funds were available and the yearly budget was about $2,500, including $450 contributed by parents.
In ’19, Franklin rented a nearby house to increase the numbers it could serve and, in ’23, the building was purchased, creating the two-rowhome space still used today for the 47 children enrolled — 58 being the maximum. Some years later, Franklin acquired a third rowhome, which was eventually torn down, to make way for a playground adjacent to the facility.
Phillips-Puma said things look very similar now to how they did in Franklin’s early days, the only additions being new technology like computers and modern toys.
Enrollment spiked when World War II sent women to work, but it also was in this decade Franklin merged with Hope Day Nursery, which still stands in North Philadelphia, to form ADCS.
From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Franklin runs a full-year program for ages 2 to 5, mostly for children of local working parents — some of whom are low-income with 61 percent receiving government funding to attend the nursery. Franklin also works with the Philadelphia School District to provide Head Start for age 3 and 4, which promotes school readiness through social and cognitive development, as well as pre-kindergarten classes that went into effect in July.
Each floor of the three-story facility houses a different age group with each using art, music and pretend play to develop social skills, language, math and science in a method Quaglia describes as "learning through play." Quaglia, who has worked for ADCS for 28 years, makes frequent visits to Franklin, where she credits the staff for its longevity.
"One of the biggest things is the staff has been consistent," she said, citing teachers who stayed at Franklin for upwards of 40 years.
Although most of the six current instructors — about two for each classroom — aren’t as seasoned, they share the same commitment to learning that has been a defining factor at Franklin since its founding. Phillips-Puma hires staff, who, although not certified as teachers by the state, are certified in terms of childcare, with many going back to school to become certified to teach.
"We are serving the needs of the community that needs to go work in order to survive," Quaglia said, adding by inviting speakers in they are able to give back to the parents. "That’s why we have the best quality; we adhere to strict standards. Not all nurseries are alike, we pride ourselves on the fact that we do stick to them."
Gunn couldn’t agree more.
"[The teachers] have a close bond with our children and our children have a close bond with each other," she said. "My son cries every time he has to leave. He never wants to leave Franklin. He loves the teachers so much. When a teacher isn’t there that day, the kids feel it. It’s like a piece of them is gone."
Phillips-Puma said the strong, well-established relationship with the neighborhood that makes up most of the enrolled children has attributed to Franklin’s success as well.
"A lot has to do with us having a really good reputation with neighbors," she said. "Generations of children and families have come here; the stability is really important also."
Equally important is creating a safe environment.
"The parents come in and say to me, ‘I think you guys are great, I feel I can leave my child there, go to work and know that everything will be OK,’ and that’s just so very important," Phillips-Puma said. "We are committed to the community here. Just by being in South Philly for so long and being so consistent, we’re a major force here. Everybody knows who we are, they’ve had their children here. That’s so important for an area — that things don’t change."
