New-York tribune., 1902-07-10
PLACING CHILDREN OUT.
GREATER CARE SHOULD BE EXERCISED BY
THOSE IN CHARGE OF THIS WORK,
SAYS FATHER KINKEAD.

sweeping charge against superintendents Of
the poor. county sUperintendents and township
overseers OF the poor brought by the Rev.
Father Kinkead. Of Peekskil yesterday, at the
Summer School OF Philanthropy in the Charities
Building. Children are often given by
such officers, he said. TO any customer who ap-
plies for a child and without reference to the kind
Of homes which children be sent. Such
a method. of course, relieves townships of a large
amount Of expense. Once in the families and out
of the immediate care of the officers. little pains
taken keep track Of the children. Mr..
Kinkead had known girls thus placed 10 be beaten
with horsewhips and made TO do the work of
animals.
Father Kinkead believed that there should be
State officers in every county investigate fam
lilies in which homeless children placed. and
TO keep strict supervision Of the condition Of such
wards
As advantages in favor Of the institution Father
Kinkead mentioned habits Of cleanliness military
drills, which inculcate promptness. obedience and
physical activity; partial training in various
trades. which tends fit the child to battle with
the world. and simplicity and plainness OF
roundngs which subject the child much self
denial and prepare him to be contented with fut-
ure meagre surroundings.
Charitable institutions for children he said.
ARE a product of Christianity. and their purpose
is TO develop law abiding, God fearing citizens.
Without love of God there be no moral activ-
ity IT is impossible to divorce religion from edu-
cation. Religion is always educat tion but edu-
!
but when that power is perverted it is better to
be without It."
r. L. Neill. agent for the Children's Aid So
ciety, claimed for the placing system every
advantage OF the institution, except, perhaps the
military drill. Mr. Neill recalled the fact that the
Children's Aid Society the first organization
for homeless children 10 do its work without big
asylums and homes. Since 1859 boys and girls have
been placed in private houses throughout the coun
try. In the large majority OF instances the
method has proved its worth in the happiness of
not only the waits themselves, but of the families
who have taken the children into their folds
Close watch is kept Of such children by the
ciety, and if there is continued dissatisfaction on
the part of either the children their benefactors
the children are removed and placed elsewhere
Almost without exception. young children admit
ians father and mother"
Between $500 and p Qo0 children have been placed
in families a result Of the sOcietys work. In
Guiding the large boys and girls who have been
expected to earn their living in families the num-
ber is about eighty thousand.
Mr.. Nein referred 10 the Brace Farm School at
Kensico. and the Elizabeth Home and Annex for
Girls in East Twolfth-st.. both branches of work
Of the Children's Aid Society as proof that It be-
Heves that the institution has a place. Those In
stitutlons, however, are used only until a child is
fitted to become a member of a private family
and until a suitable home for it presents itself