The herald., 1896-03-14
Official Declaration by Orphans
Home Managers
THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED
There Have Been Cases of Bad Judg.
ment and Bad Temper
But Offending Employees Have Been Promptly
DIsmissed-Corporai Punishment
Permitted Under Conditions

Orphans Home has concluded to make an
official declaration of the position of the
board of managers. 1t will be remem-
bered that William +. Dunn, who had two
children in the home, some days ago made
charges of cruelty on the part OF the at
tendants to the children, which charges
were printed in THE HERALD, and it was
stated that any reply of tine managers
would receive attention. 1t was further
stated that the charges were definite
and direct enough to warrant an investiga-
ton by the managers, to the end that
Justice might be done to all parties con-
cerned. The suggestion was also made
that this investigation should be public,
but nothing on these lines has been done.
Mr.. Dunn, who made the charges, has since
removed his children from the home. Fol-
lowing is the full text of the statement of
the board of managers:
THE MANAGERS STATEMENT
The Los Angeles Orphans Home was
organized nearly sixteen years ago to pro-
vide proper home and training for chill
dren deprived of one or both parents.
The board of managers has always con-
sisted of men and women who have given
freely of both time and money in order
that necessary care be given the little ones
uiiucT Charge. DcSlllltilS WlttlOut
money, they supported the few children
under their care for six months before be-
ing recognized as entitled to state aid.
Since that time the state has paid to the
home 2712 cents day for full orphans
and 20 cents a day for half orphans.
The fine property of the home, valued at
$4,000, has been contributed entirely by
the citizens of this community.
A half orphan, costing exactly as much
to maintain as full orphan. receives less
for maintenance from the state on the
supposition that the remaining parent will
contribute toward its support. 1t has been
the policy of the board to require of the re-
manning parent of half orphan a stated
amount for each months support and care,
as not to take away the wholesome and
necessary responsibility of the parent of
the child. This amount has been in every
case moderate and always consistent with
the condition of the parent, who, as long
as he has reasonable health, should not be
allowed to entirely pauperize either him
self or his children. In spite of this effort
of the board. many parents evade their re-
sponsibility entirely, and our benevolent
citizens are called upon to make up the de-
flcit.
The home for the last few years has num-
bered about $50 inmates. Families en-
ployiDg one or two persons in their house,
holds can form some estimate of the dill
Guilty in securing capable persons to over
see and perform the work in this great
family. Constant and unremitting atten-
Z tion has been given to the oversight of en-
ployes, but in sixteen years it is not re-
markable that cases of bad judgment and
bad temper in employees have had to be
dealt with. Whenever injustice or unkind-
ness has been discovered it has been
promptly checked, usually by the dismissal
of the offender.
Corporal punishment is used in this fam
ily of l so children and will continue to be
q IA fn hp an
very human as 10 require such discipline,
but it is now, as it always has been, the in
tention to punish only as may be necessary
for the best good of the children, who must
be controlled quite as much as though they
were in private homes.
The rule of the home in regard to corpo-
raj punishment is that each case must be
reported to the superintendent, and such
punishment as is decided upon must be
given in the presence of the superintend-
ent. No person is allowed to mark a child
by this punishment. Violations of this rule
reported to the management have been
punished by reprimand or dismissal.
The board is unable to allow parents to
lay down rules for the government of the
home, however wise and able such parents
may be.
No member of the board has ever re-
ceived one cent of compensation for work
in the home or has ever lad child cared
for by the home.
The only wish of the board is to do its
duty by the children under it's charge, and
the members feel that sixteen years of pa
tient work, performed without hope of re-
ward, entities them to at least the favora-
BILE consideration of the public and its con-
fidence in their integrity.
The home is open to inspection every
day of the week except Saturday and Sun.
day, and the public are cordially invited
to visit every department.
The regular board meetings are held on
the first Thursday of each month at 10 q.
M, in the parlors of the home. Any
charges properly prepared and signed by
the party or parties making them, will be
considered and diligently investigated, if
the charges are presented to the secretary
of the Orphans home. Rumors and hear
say evidence will not be considered, end
all charges to be considered must come to
the board.
AS the statement of the president of the
board in regard to the little girl who was
punished for taking candy has been mis-
understood by the newspapers, the board
deem it best to here give frank and full
history of the matter.
Soon after the Christmas holidays some
OF the girls in the home missed candy, and
watching for the person who took it, fin
ally discovered it to be a little girl l years
old. This was reported to tine slpern-
tendent. who, for punishment, led the
child into the boys playroom, saying: II
hdNo Iouiei thc luleIs anu II you MISS any,
thing you may be sure she has it," After
this modification the child, with some
other little girls, started to go up the stairs,
when one of the boys picked up a strap
and struck her across the ankles two or
three times. This was not at the order of
the superintendent, but in her presence
and where she might have prevented it.
The matter was reported and PROMPTLY
considered. The action and lack of action
on the part of the superintendent were
deemed such strong evidence of poor iudp-
ment as 10 render her dimissal desirable.
Before she went, however, she was request
ed by the president Mrs. Stephens) to
make full explanation of the matter to
the mother OF the child, and did SO. The
mother deeply regretted the occurrence,
but was SO fully convinced of the good in
tentons of the superintendent as to urge
that the decision for her dismissal be re-
considered. This. however, was not thought
prudent, and she was dismissed.
If the public desire the good of the Or
phan children, it must remember that it
cannot best attain that object by endeavor-
ing to undermine the influence of the home,
and by instilling revolution and discomfort
in the minds of the little ones who are
prone to all the weaknesses and discomfort
of other children.
All parents who can give better home
to their children are in duty bound to re-
move them forthwith. The children who
remain in the home must be under the dis
cipline OF the management, and their par
ents must submit to the necessary laws