Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-12-27
FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
How the Un!Ortunates are Saved from
q Life of Crime.

During the 81 months ending June 80 last
there were received mt tho state public
school for dependent children, at Coldwater,
247 boys and l21 girls, Il total of 314. Since
the organization of the school in 1874 there
have been 2,5l2 children received. OF the
374 admitted during the Biennial period, 81
were adopted, eight married, lOj declared
self-supporting, So were returned to the
counties whence they came, II became OF
age and IL died. But three, however, died
at the institution, nine dying at houses
where they had been placed. The average
daily number belonging to the school pres
ent and on trial. was 3ll while the aver
age daily population at the school was about
$50 The average age of the children is
Al years, and the average time of their
detention is II months. During the period
33i children were indentured to various
persons throughout the state, and at the
close of the period 100 children were out on
trial
The cost of maintenance is less than 500
per capita per year. AS compared with the
cost of similar work in other states the
Michigan system is fully one-half more
economical, and the board rightly believes
that the prevention of crime and pauper-
ism, By the proper treatment ofthe neglect
ed YOUTH is a work worthy of the best
thought and labOIs Of the law makers. The
Michigan systems greater economy is in
its humanity. Neglected children become
the progenitors of dependent criminal
race. Degrading influences on childhood
are indelibe and destructive. The Michigan
system is humane, and humanity and econ.
omy have no conflict Prevention is safe
and economical, and in this work Michigan
is the pioneer.
The children assist IN the care of the
cottages, each of which is presided over by
a lady. They work on the farm and in the
garden as their age will permit. They at
tend good primary schools, and are trained
in good manners and taught religious
truths Finally, they sre placed in good
homes which must first De approved 10y the
county agents, appointed Dy the governor.
BY county agents, the travelling agent OF
the school, and reports from guardians, a
careful watch is kept over the children dur
ing their minority and, If thought advisable,
they are REMOVED from the family at any
time.
There are nearly thousand homes
throughout the state in which there are
children under the supervision of the
school. During the past two years, ~
Agent Streeter says, could we have filled
all applications, over eight hundred child
rem would have been placed in homes in
stead of but few more than half that num-
ber"
In his visits to county houses the agent
occasionally found children eligible to the
school. He believes the placing of child
rem direct from county houses to be a per-
nicious ha2it
The serious attention of the legislature
is directed TO the necessity Of some enact
ment whereby ill-trcate mot dependent
children may be taken from their parents
or guardians and placed under the protec-
ton Of public authority.
For current expenses of 1889 and 1890 the
board ask So, coo for each year. This is a
decrease of s., 900 from each of the last two
years. In addit on TO this they ask for 81,
u 90 for repairs on buildings, new boilers,
furniture aud cement walks.
Believing that more knowledge of the
school is desired the board urges personal
inspection of it by the public and invites
their especial attention to the following
facts: There are here always little boys
and girls. , years Of age and upward, for
whom good homes are desired. These
children will average well, mentally. NOR
ally and physically, with those in the coun.
try schools. They are not delinquents.
They are only dependent This is not
an institution for offenders. 1t is part of
the educational system of the state. Appli-
cants VINO are approved by the county
agents are always welcome, and especial
pains will be taken to select children suited
IN their homes