The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-05-16
BAD BOYS.
Address by Supt. Wentworth on Juvenile
Delinquents.

One of the most interesting sessions
in the history of the Woman's council
of Portland was held Wednesday MORN
ing, May Sth, in the Columbia. The
subject under consideration was "Juve-
nile Delinquency and a paper on that
subject was read by Superintendent E.
p Wentworth of the State School for
Boys. General discussion followed the
reading of the paper, which was one of
the most interesting and most carefully
prepared ever heard by the members of
the council. Mr.. Wentworth in discus
sing his subject said, in part:
The time for questioning the useful
ness of institutions for delinquent
children has passed by forever. Their
value to the State is now acknowledged
by all who are qualified to speak on the
subject. The duty now incumbent upon
society is that of increasing the eff
cheney of these institutions to the high
est possible degree. so that they may
accomplish all the good of which they
are capable. In considering the useful
ness of such institutions it may be we'll
to remember that juvenile reforma-
tories are but single links in the chain
of preventive and correctional agencies.
The reform school was originally eStab-
lished to side-track the juvenile delin-
quent before he reached the State
Prison. Within recent years new
institution has arisen whose purpose it
is to side-track the juvenile delinquent
before he reaches the reform school.
This is the Juvenile court with its &C
companying probationary system. [
believe that the Juvenile court has
great future before it. Under the man.
agement of such men as Judge Ben
Lindsey of Denver, Colorado, Judge
Julian w. Mack of Chicago, and others,
it has accomplished wonders in its
special field of labor. Our own munich
pal court of Portland, under the wise
and considerable Judge Hill, with the
assistance of probation officer George
w. Grover and police matron, Mrs.
Marv S. Burnham, both of whom are
peculiarly well-qualifed for their diff
cult and delicate work, is doing excel
lent service in our own city of Port
land and | do not doubt that in time
every important city in the State will
have it's juvenile court and its proba-
ton officer.
But the juvenile court, like the jul
venile reformatory, is but another link
in the chain of preventive and correc-
tional agencies, and some of the judges
of these courts are already looking to
the public schools for assistance, i'll the
belief that the public school should
side-track juvenile delinquents before
they reach the juvenile court.
| understand that in our own city of
Portland the superintendent of public
schools, Mr. BroWnson, aided by the
city marshal the truant officer, the
probation officer and the police matron
has accomplished great deal during
the past year in reducing the amount OF
truancy in the city and, consequently,
reducing the amount of juvenile de-
linquency, and in this work l am sure
every good citizen of Portland will re-
joice.
But if we make the public school an
other link in the chain of preventive
and correctional agencies, will not the
teachers point to the homes from
which the children come and ask that
parents be required to give their chill
dren proper home protection and home
training? Surely they will!