The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-24
INSTITUTIONAL AND FAMILY LIFE.

Among the many progressive and reform
atory agencies of modern times there is one
of an opposite character This is the tell
dency toward the extension and prolonga-
ton of institutional life. Admitting all that
can he said in favor of public charities,
reform schools, orphan asylums and
eleemosynary institutions of all kinds, the
fact remains that the best institutional
life carries with it dwarfing and demon
is to escape from it into family life. Pub
lie institutions are a public necessity, and
il must needs be that many of the semi
criminal or dependent classes will be SUBJ
jects of institutional life for a longer or
shorter period, but there should be cor
slant effort to reduce the period to a mir
iinum by substituting family life for insti-
tutional life. This is especially true of
the young, TO whom, indeed, the remark
mainly applies
There is reason to believe that this view Is
generally accepted by the local managers of
orphan asyiums i'm Indiana, and that with
their cooperation the state agent Of the
work in the way of removing orphan chill.
dren from the various institutions and plac-
ing them in good family homes. This is
being done under the law of 1897, the wis
Com and beneficence of which have already
Teen fully justified by experience. That law
makes it unlawful for any child between
the ages of three and seventeen years 20
remain In any county poor asylum for :.
longer period than ten days 1t is COM
l'ulsory County Commissioners to make
otner provision for them. Those placed N
orphan asylums are subject to removal by
the state agent, to be placed in family
homes. where they are subject to his super
vision as TO conduct, care and treatment.
Under this law State Agent Street has dur
ing the last four years placed about five
hundred orphan children in good Indiana
hcmcs./ Under the law no association out
side of the State is permitted to place
orphan children in Indiana homes without
giving a bond that they will not become
charges on the State. and Indiana
orphan is sent outside of the State. There
at present about 1900 children in tic
various orphan asylums throughout the
State. of whom about four hundred are
crippled or diseased. leaving about loo
eligible 10 be placed in homes. Applications
for children of both sexes are so numerous
to keep the agent very busy i'm re-
sronding and making arrangements to fill
them. Great care is used TO comply with
the wishes of applicants and to accomplish
thesbest possible results for the children.
y record is kept of each case, ard the
state agent is required to keep in touch
with the children so placed. keeping himself
informed as to their treatment, education
etc, Until they arrive at the age of eight
cen years. All legislation regarding juvenile
delinquents and dependents should aim pri-
marily, as this law does. toward curtailing
and minimizing the evils of institutional
life by substituting family life as soon as
possible. Not to speak of the expense to
the State and to various communities. in
Justice and harm are done to the young
by retaining them in institutional life
cay longer than is necessary.