The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-20


last three months of the year, the space
of time during which l have acted as
juvenile court officer, l wish to say that
In all cases offenders have been eager
and willing to meet the requirements put
upon them by your honor and they have
endeavored to overcome the temptations
that were placed around them, and that
tended to lead them to commit offences
for which they were brought before tho
court
Have Had Very Little Trouble.
OF the number fined, or sent to the
higher court, l will say that we have had
very little trouble. Each offender has
seemed to try to take advantage of the
first lesson and they seem to make an
effort to overcome the wrong tendencies
which were leading them.
1t cannot be impressed too strongly
upon the public generally that to a very
great extent, in fact most of the entire
ty of the blame for offences committed
cannot be laid at the door of the offender.
1t Is my opinion that 81 per cent of the
youths who have been brought to your
court would not have committed or at
tempted to commit any offence viola-
ted the law had their parents, custodians,
or guardians exercised the proper care
and supervision over them. | find that
many paaents seem to consider their
children as troublesome necessities rather
than as great opportunities and RESPONSE
bilities. Many boy could have been
led in a very different path had his faith
er been more of a friend and chum to
him, taking the boy into his confidence
and gained the boys trust rather than
treating him as a being without thought
or Individuality
Many mothers have failed to draw
their children to them with bonds of love
and sympathy, rather than with fear of
punishment and other methods OF control
used. In addition to these misunder-
standings between parents and children,
| find that there are many other reasons
that have been the means of drawing
children away from their parents.
Cigarette Smoking.
Most of the youths are addicted to thu
| habit of smoking cigarettes, which IL
| especially harmful as we'll as degeneras-
| ing, though same of them seem to think
| the habit Is necessary to give them the
| appearance of manhood. This is one
| of the ways the boys mind is poisoned,
| but there are other means in this city
which are leading the boys astray, and
the most damning of these that is warp
! ing the character and poisoning the
minds and that is the cheap theatres and
demoralizing pictures, of advertisements
and otherwise, sometimes exhibited.
| In nearly every case of theft among
| frequenters of places of amusement where
such as the above mentioned influences
| exist.
| l do not. however, take the pessimlstie
view of the juvenile situation of the city
but feel very much encouraged because
| of the powers that are at work for the
uplifting of ideals and the upbulding of
! sturdy manhood and strong character.
Establish Model Institution.
| The Birmingham Boys club. of which
| am the superintendent Is now preparing
| to establish the model institution of Its
| kind in the southern states 1t is located
In the very heart of the city with the
| newspapers offices, the large office build
| ings, and the large stores all located
| within one to four blocks around it, max
ing it convenient for the large number of
| boys employed by these places of business
| to use the privileges of the club With
| the reading room, containing many, In
fact most of the best magazines and
| papers on file the game room for recre-
| alton and furnishing amusement for the
! Willing away of the idle hours; the night
| school room where free instruction for
| working boys and otherwise Is given; the
dormtories for the homeless boys, togeth-
| er with the shower baths and dressing
rooms, will be completely equipped in a
very thorough manner by the board of
control of the organization. We also have
arrangements whereby members get re-
duced lunch rates. Have an organization
of drum and fife corps. Use of swimming
| pool; instructive trips to the country adj
jaeent to the city, and many other helpful
things will be offered from time to time In
| the work of this club.
| At a recent meeting a colored Juvenile
Probation association was established to
work among the youthful offenders of
the colored race with a body of the lead
ing women of the colored church to as
sist. The colored probation officer has a
great deal to do and he is a thoroughly
| capable man and will be able to do a
| great deal of good in this city and in the
juvenile court work of this city.
Well Worth While.
All of these allied interests can be said
to be more than worth while If 1t does
not do for more than one boy what Bishop
| Gambler of the Southern Methodist church
once said after hearing a report on juve-
nile court work in the city of Atlanta. He
is quoted as saying: That if all of the
thousands of dollars, all of the labor, all
| of the thought and energy of superinten-
| dent, and all of the time given to the IN
stitution had been spent for only one boy,
and that boy his boy, it was more than
| worth while"
| 1t is my opinion, after an experience
| reaching over seven years In working
| with boys of all classes and conditions,
| that they are ready and willing to measure
| UP the duties and responsibilities OF life
| nrape,.lv ,tndersrood and / can