The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-15
SOLVING THE BOY PROBLEM.
The Work Done by the Junior Re
pubIics Discussed.

The Boy Problem as Solved by the
Junior Republic was the subject dis
cussed at the meeting of the Federation
of Young Peoples Societies of the Liberal
Churches. at the Friends Meeting House.
last night The Federation takes an ac-
tive interest in the affairs of the National
Junior Republic. at Annapolis Junction.
Md. and contributes largely to its sup
port The meeting last night was well at
tended. and the programme provided for
an extended discussion of the boy prob
lem.
The first speaker was Miss II. Ida Cur
ny. of the Church OF Our Father. Miss
Curry has been an earnest worker in the
interests of the Junior Republic. and was
the promoter OF the recent odds folks
entertainment at that church, which net
ted a considerable sum for the mainte-
nance Of the Republic. She did not, how
ever. speak of the National Junior Re
public at Annapolis Junction, but of the
first Junior Republic ever founded-the
George Junior Republic at Freeville, n. Y.
This little commonwealth. which is SINH
lar in its makeup to the one at An
napolis Junction. was founded in 1894 by
William r. George, of New York City. Mr..
George had previously engaged in ex-
tended philanthropic work among the
waits of New York. and each summer
gave a few of them an outing on his
farm at Freeville. He saw that many OF
them got into mischief during their spare
time, however. and he conceived the idea
Of making them work for their clothes
in order TO keep them busy. Gradually
the principles of the present republic were
evolved, and the success of the enterprise
speaks volumes in its favor
The Junior Republic at Annapolis juno
ton was formed in 1899, on the same lines,
for the same class Of boys that were bene-
flied by the Freevile institution. The
principles underlying the National Junior
Republic were the subject OF the address
Of Mr.. r. l.. Stone, OF the Unitarian
Church. lie explained the laws by which
the boys are governed. and described a
visit made TO Annapolis Junction. Hetde-
clared that the fundamental principle in
boy education was the principle of self
government, and that this principle was
followed closely at Annapolis Junction,
with the result that the boys became indie
pendent and self-reliant.
He further asserted that the true edu-
cation consisted Of learning by doing, an
other principle which was adhered to at
Annapolis Junction. Mr. Stone said the
assertion had been made that government
Of boys by boys was often cruel, and that
the punishments often melted out We're
unnecessarily harsh. This state of affairs
does not exist in the National Junior Re-
public. The rules are firm and strict, but
tempered with mercy.
". Steward. Of the Peoples Church,
spoke of the buildings and of the daily
work Of the Republic His talk was
illustrated with number of stereoptcon
views Of the buildings and OF the juvenile
citizens at work in the shops and in the
fields
All the discussion that had gone before
was summed zap by j. Russell Smith Mr.
Smith picked out all the strong points in
favor of the Republic which had been
presented by the preceding speakers He
added a number Of arguments 10 these,
and dwelt upon the progress of the Re
public as the best proof OF the wisdom of
the principles upon which it was founded.