The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-01
BAD BOY PROBLEM.
a Correspondent Makes Some PERTH
nent Suggestions.

To the Editor Topeka State Journal.
At a recent convention one of the
speakers read a story of a bad boy
who stole something and was commit
ted to Jail. After lying in jail a month
or two a good minister took him out
and secured employment for him as
barn boy at two dollars per week and
found He roOmed in the barn with
the gardener, from whom he stole so
dollars and fled. He was rearrested
and sent to the penitentiary. He was
in and out of the state prison a num-
Der of times, finally dying thereafter,
being converted to Christianity. This
we gather from a sketch of the story
printed in the State Journal. This bad
boy could not be a Kansas boy for we
have better things for such boys in this
state. The maker of the story ignored
altogether the provisions our state has
made for just such boys. No boy I'M
der 16 years of age can be so treated
unless the courts violate every provision
made for him. He can be retained in
jail only long enough to arrange for
his transmission to the Boys Industrial
school where he is put under a sySte-
matte course of training, moral, educa-
tiOnal, and Industrial, designed to cure
him of his criminal habits and fit him
for good citizenship. The minister OF
the story made two grieVOuS mistakes.
One was in imposing on the family of
the employer, a boy just out OF gan,
worse for his imprisonment ana Win
no efforts made for his betterment-
Putting him to room in the barn was
not the best way to develop a boy
better nature. Probably shat gardener
was not the best associate for a poy-
The other mistake was in putting the
boy in the way of temptation where he
was sure to get into trouble again
Probably that minister did not know
that the state has provided better
things for her unfortunate boys VINO
fall into temptation just like men,
There seems to be ministers VINO are
ignorant of what the state is doing Tor
her bad boys-not bad because they
want to be, but homeless, friendless,
weak and deSperate-driVen by power
tv divorce, and neglect to crime, caring
little for the results The state mas d
home and school for all sucn Where
men and women are employed to de-
yeIop in them all that is good, ana
eradicate the bad. Here they meet with
kindness, helpfulness, and every proVls-
ion necessary for their bettermenl-
When they are we'll tested they are
sent ont on parole to their own people
if they have any, or to new MONIES
found for them. If they fall again INTO
trouble they are returned ana iurlnel
trained and developed Wheh once cOill-
mitted to the care of the state the boy
is no longer friendliness. He nnuS
friends in the school, and when ne goes
ont they look after him from time 10
time until he is fairly esta bllshed III
morals. No boy should ever pc given d
Jail sentence in Kansas 1t IS against
the law and against the boy NO IN
sfitution is doing so much for the boy
hoe d an and future welfare of the state
as the Industrial school, formerly called
the Reform school. 1t could do more
if it had more facilities. II neeas Ill S'I
bindings and more land. There should
he be'i room n for every boy in Kansas who
may be overtaken in crime: No ind,
vidual.-no society can do for the bad
boy what the state can do. W ny noO
look into this matter, post up little
on what our state is doing, and keep
the boys out of Jail. -