Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-17

cure in this department Of our work
the cooperation of parents who accept
with gratitude this new helpful feature
or our work. In connection with this
we have been confronted with a large
number OF boys who are truants, habit
ual runaways, street loafers, who, hav-
ing been to school for periods of from
three TO seven years. are no farther
advanced than the third grade In the
development OF the clinic the need ot
some institution where physical and
educational work could be combined
has become apparent. The clinic Is in
possession OF figures secured by Or.
Beatty, showing that in the state there
are 200 mentally and physically def
ciant youths. In the Salt Lake City
public schools there are a number who
need this special attention. In one
school in this city there are 10 cases as
follows:
Age 10, first A, four years. not men,
tally right; age 10, first A, four years,
not mentally right; age IL, second b,
five years, foolish: age H. secoI d A, six
years, dull, slow, no mental pc yer; age
Is, third A, seven years, dull slow, no
mental power. age 10, third A. seven
years, dull, slow no mental power; age
mental power; age i3, fourth b, seven
years, dull, slow, no mental power, age
IL, fourth A, six years, truant; age a..
fifth b. eight years, foolish.
Years indicate length of time pupil
has been IN school.
Some Of these boys have already been
before the court and 1t Is only ques-
ton OF time when the state, through Its
courts will be compelled to care for
these weak children, who because of
their bad handicap, grow into Ignorant,
Indifferent and bad citizens. From re-
ports received II is safe TO estimate
! that there are 100 cases of backward
youth in the schools OF this city, and
already one-half of them are wards
OF the juvenile court, who need doc
tor far more than they need a Judge.
COST
The thinking taxpayer and especially
II that taxpayer be parent, believes
that money used for the help and pro-
lection OF the children Is not wasted.
Prevention of crime Is cheaper than
punishment The years expense OF the
juvenile court, probation department
and detention home approximates $1,000
for the IL months. Four hundred and
eighty dollars have been collected In
fines from adults for contributing 70 de-
linquency df children and 1909 has
been contributed by parents to the
Morris school. The salaries paid pro-
baton officers, who give their whole
time, working often into the night and
Sunday as well, is ridiculously low, the
chief probation officer being paid but
SAL per month and the two others $50
per month each. The superintendent
of the Morris school receives a larger
remuneration than the judge of the
court and the cook Is better paid than
the chief probation officer, and yet no
juveoile court has better body Of OH
GERS. These are In positions because
they are students OF this problem and
love the work.
There were 50 men sent 10 the peni-
tertiary In the past year. The expenses
Of caring for COS children In the Juvenile
court cost no more ulJn the punlsh-
ment of six of these 30 men, The net
cost of the criminal division of the city
court including the police court. was
s27,923.si. this after subtracting all
fines.
The children and the future of our
city and state are considered worth tho
expenditure of hundreds OF thousands
Of dollars for our public schools. Jul
venile courts come under this same
classification and It Is only those who
are ignorant OF this newer method OF
saving children, building citizenship
and preventing crime, who talk OF ex-
pense, and not those who have the
children and are the real home builders
OF our state.