New-York tribune., 1901-07-09
INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING,
ITS MANY DEFECTS DISCUSSED BY THE
PHILANTHROPIC CLASs-MR.
FOLKS'S VIEWS

about child in every $50 of the entire popu-
lation. child OF every $50 children under six
teen of is cared for IN charitable insti-
! tutons," was statement made yesterday at the
! Summer School OF Philanthropy by Homer Folks
secretary of the State Charities Aid Association
based statistics that show there are about
5000 destitute and neglected children in instu-
tIons In the United States, and ehcut 1900 wayward
children in reformstorieS.
Mr.. Folks gave the principal address Of the
morning. on institutional and plac,ss out methods
in the care OF children. which are to be studied
this week by the class
THE of, children has been sharply differ
entiated as between the institution plan and tho
family plan. There has been a good deal of dis
cusson--some of 1t very hepful-and oftentimes
rather bitter feeling between the advocates of
these two plans" he said; and then he discussed
the disadvantages of each plan in regard to the
physical welfare of the children. their educational
economic. moral and religious training. Institu-
tions he considered to be especially detrimental
very young children, the mortality In founding
pitfalls being always large and much in excess Of
that among the corresponding class OF children
when placed in families. For children between TWO
sixteen years old the conditions institutional
life be made reasonably satisfactory. SO far
physical welfare is concerned. by eternal vigi-
lance and marked executive ability. While all in
sttutions have tendency to be subject diseases
of eyes and skin, these be held in check by
proper management AS to the kind of education
given IN the ordinary public schools. there was
little choice between that and institutions
TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
Mr. Folks said that the institutions present
have the advantage in regard to Industrial train
ing. but predicted that IN the near future such
training will be a part of the school work and
available for all children. 1T ought not to be
necessary that children should live institutions
in order to receive technical education" ne
marked. LAS economic. training or preparation
for sefsupport, the institutions labor under great
disadvantages, it being extremely difficult to give
the children any sense Of the value of money, the
necessity of labor and the necessity Of initiative.
It is also difficult to give them knowledge OF the
ordinary affairs OF life which will enable them TO
hold their in the struggle for existence. AS
moral training, the institutions at great
disadvantage in the inability TO develop the affcc-
tions and the power of self-control under circun-
stances offering wide varieties of temptation. They
have certain advantages in enforcing obedience.
teaching good manners. and. of course, are neces-
sary for the of incorrgible and defective chill
d1en.
THE system of placing in free homes is m
adequate at many points 70 the Of all the
children who must be removed from their families.
and must be largely supple-rented either by the
Ran tions q boarding children IN FAMILIES or 0y S'u
Brooklyn Children's AID society spoke strongly in
favor Of placing children with private families to
is extremely strict. he said beginning with triple
by the department committing the child. and
one by the general secretary himself A report on
the condition and conduct of the child must be
sent every month by the family. a monthly visit
TO the little Doarder is MADE at no stated Time Oy
agent of the society, and the child's mother or
other relative must be admitted TO see 1. at any
time. The sum paid for board is 81 . or g a
week, and the family receiving the child pledges
itself allow adequate time for play and to send
the child 10 school regularly
This method Mr. White regards as far more bene- .
fetal than institution life.
LACK OF INDIVIDUALISM
The third speaker was Rudolph r Reeder. super
intendent o the New-Yorl1 Orphan Asylum. who .
declared that the great defect institutional
the child Is its lack Of individualism. When he
took charge of the asylum, he said, he found the +
usual monotonous routine OF the institution Every
boGy did everything at the same time and In the !
way-said the Psalm at devotional exercises d
together. and Exactly the same kind Of
Clothes.
believing that education is bringing ones !
own strength" said Mr.. Reeder 81 grappled with !
the problem by trying to introduce lndividualism (
in every possible direction. told the girls, If you
will sew this lace your dress you may have It, !
or. If you make this ribbon into a tie you may
wear it, and In such slight ways encouraged them |
the unison recitation of the opening Psalm. sub
stituting Individual recitation, but found that
one could alone, repeat single Psalm have
their memories, and now can call any
The superintendent has encouraged them
the spending money that they receive in various
ways for some definite purpose. in order to teach
them forecast events and to provide for the
future. Thus, If dozen save 10 cents they
cents they may go to Staten Island for outing.
further, to teach self-rellance and indus
try by assigning definite duties and giving salary
of 10 cents a month, perhaps which is withheld as
a fine If the work is not faithfully done. BY these
means Mr. Reeder hopes in some measure to over
come 'the defect in the institutional plan" which
rnle teach him anything of the of
money, leaving him. when thrown the world
later easy victim to the more experienced"
20 n 4 N l. ID