The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-28
City n eWs
CHILD LABOR EVIL
WILL BE ATTACKED
TEACHERS COMMITTEE MAKES
SIX SUGGESTIONS.
Minnesota Educational Association Will
Endeavor to Secure Legislation for
More Effective Regulation Of En-
ployment Of Children, and Better
Compulsory Educational Law-Words
Of Cheer. ....

When r. W. Denfeld Of Duluth pre-.
sented at the general session of the
Minnesota Educational association held
late yesterday in Plymouth church, the
six suggestions which the committee on
child labor. and compulsory education
will make in its report, several voices
were heard from the gallery urging i'm.
mediate action upon them. Much en-.
thusiasm was evoked by the report on
business session. There is little doubt
that the association will take these sug.
gestlons as definite aims in it's work
and endeavor to secure legislation to
effect the Improvements. The report
is substantially as follows: -. ....
First-There should be some means
OF ascertaining the school population Of
the state. The committee suggests a
school census, taken periodically, prefer
ably every two years.
Second-That the juvenile court pro-
visions be extended to include all the
counties of the state and that, outside
county seats, jurisdiction should be
given to municipal Judges and Justices
of the peace, and that the probation Of
fieer with deputies should act as truant
officer. -..,,". =. =
Third-that the age limit in the com
pulsory education law should be
changed from Ste. IS. as at present, to
F f 1H' 90 superintendent or
principals be required to send to the
bureau Of labor names of those chill
dren having labor certificates and that
all employers Of such children be re-
quired to have the labor certificate re-
corded by the commissioner of labor or
the factory inspector; that the certif
cate be returned to the child who offers
the same to his employer when the en-
ployment ceases, also that notice of ces-
satlon of such employment be given to
the bureau of labor.
Fifth-That provision be incorpor-
ated in the law similar to the Colorado
provision, which stipulates that the per-
son responsible for the child's acts, OF
any one encouraging or causing the de-
inquency of the child, shall be, fined
not moro than $1,000, or imprisonment
not more than a year, this punishment
to be suspended, however, while the per-
son complies with conditions imposed
by the court. ~ - 81 - =
sixth-That a parental or" home
school, similar to that in Chicago, be
established in every county. .,~'s,'
Compulsory Education. ,>~,.
Compulsory education, Mr.. Denfeld
said, has special value only for that
class Of parents who shift their parental
responsibility. These parents, accord
ing to the speaker, are responsible for
80 per cent Of the truancy of the
schools, in that: they permit the en-
vironment to be Of a degrading char
acter. This environment, brought
about by divorce; drunkenness, cheap
theaters and other agencies, force the
state to bring about compulsory edu-
= c. R. Frazier Of Winona, In speak
ing of child labor reform, referred to
England's experience with child labor,
and how that country has now an al
most new race of degenerates resulting
from it. The problem is growing in
America, Mr.. Frazier believes, and he
stated that there has been an increase
Of AZ per cent in child labor during
the last thirty years, in, spite Of the
child labor laws which have. been en-
acted in all states except Georgia. 1t
met with national legislation, in Mr..
Frazier's opinion. Business men, he
affirms, are in favor of it with the ex-
cept1on of those running a messenger
service. In this work youths receive
their best lessons in vice and immor-
ality. -
Best Reformatory..=: ..:...
"The home is the best reformatory
yet produced," said F. A. Whittier,
superintendent of the state training
school at Red Wing, in his interesting
paper on Reformation of DELINQUENT
Children" "but the greatest enemy
Of society comes from the home poorly
equipped to perform it's function of
giving that atmosphere of nobility,
purity and love. The suppression Of
yellow journals, suggestive advertise.
ments;, the greater regard for the
of the divorce evil as well as better
homes, will improve the condition. The
delinquent child is raised by those
mingling with them and any action
lacking the personal tone is poor.''
=. The speaker then dwelt upon the
changes in the discipline replacing the
punitive with the kindly, surrounding
them with beautiful things as far az
possible, relieving the discipline Of al
irksomeness, and endeavoring solely
to keep the children busy. MI
Whittier explained the splendid
discipline in the school by the
fact that the teachers, who are il
every case women, remain with their
pupils all of the time. and also bv the
institution of the credit system.
The session was opened by number