The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-11-27
TREATMENT OF WEAK.
MINDED CHILDREN
ChlldLab6r Legislation as
Viewed By the Oklahoma
Superintendent

The question of juvenile court
law is being earnestly considered. a
number OF bills are being talked of
and some are already in preparation,
and perhaps some one ready to offer
in tho legislature.
Being in actual relation TO child
saving work for years, and giving the
subject attention. and seeing and
hearing suggestions from good and
earnest people as to what ought to be
embodied IN a Juvenile court law, |
am certain that too many phases Of
the child nature are contemplated in
the proposed juvenile court law.
We now have on our statute books
good law, enacted by the last Okla
homa territorial legislature in 1904.05.
in behalf OF neglected and dependent
children orphans and others, sound
in mid ad body. under Is years Of
age. and not incorrigible. That bill
was prepared by the Oklahoma Chill
dren's Home society, and passed al
most unanimcIly, and has been doing
good service gbl ,he class Of children
| it was mead<o benefit
Bgt there are FIVE other phases Of
I AAtAf AAAlAM NlAaotiQu Aiitti| INV AtAft htAT
der state government be handled, and
enacted into law, and Il is hoped that
such my be done by the first state
legislature TO convene soon.
Juvenile Court Law.
The first Of these needed laws Is n
clear definite juvenile court law. deal
ing with in,orrlgible boys and girls,
who are starting in the way of evli,
and will not ia corrected by parent
OF guardian We do not want them
tried. convicted and placed with older
and hardened oriminals such is
wholly error aud wrong
Crippled Children.
The next feature of child life should
be law enacted to provide for the
care and education of crippled chill
dren, sound in mind. but such as peo-
pie will not take into their family
homes as members of their families,
Some of the older ststos are providing
for this deserving class of children.
Oklahoma houid not be behind ia
this humane privilege and duty.
imbecile or Weak Minded Children
A third feature of child life TO be
considered by the state is to provide
by law definite clear aud ample for
the care OF imbecile or wake minded
children They need special care and
comfort whic hthe law should make
and secure 10 them, apart from other
children with whom they can not
compete or be equal In advancement.
Compulsory School Law.
The next, on fourth, law for children
should be a compulsory educational
law. with proper restrictions. This
la wis needed for that class of chill
dren who viii not willingly go TO
school II they can in sny way avoid it.
Child Labor Law.
And the fifth law should definitely
desl with child labor, prohibiting the
abuse of children by Overwork IN
lminso and factories or elsewhere
Each Of these phases OF child
nature shoald be dealt with In sepa-
rate billvnot long md techpical-but
pointed and clear, so that it shall be
easy OF comprehension and readily
applied
The foregoing are suggestions for
consideration by friends Of all these
classes OF children. and il is hoped
that the best law possible on each of
these phase OF child life shall be en-
acted at an early stage of the proceed
ings OF the coming legislature.
NOAH b WICKHAM,
Superintendent Oklahoma Children's
Home Society