Evening star., 1909-02-15

family income in case of sickness. acci-
dent death or invalidism of the bread
winner; to promote child-labor reforms.
and. generally, to improve the conditions
surrounding child life.
To secure these ends we urge efficient
co-opera ton with all other agencies Tor
social betterment
Home Finding.
g. AS to the children who for suffi-
cient reasons must be removed from
their own homes. or who have no homes.
it is desirable that, if normal In mind
and body and not requiring special
training, they should be cared for in
families whenever practicable. The care
fully selected foster home is Tor the
normal child the best substitute for the
natural home
Such homes should be selected by
most careful process of inveStigat tion,
carried on by skilled agents. through
personal investigation, and with due re-
gard to the religious faith OF the chlid
After children are placed in homes. dde-
uuate visitation. with careful consldera-
ton of the physical, mental moral and
spiritual training and development or
each child. on the part of the responsible
home finding agency. is essential
1t is recognized that for many children
foster homes without payment for board
are not practicable Immediately after the
children become dependent, and that Tor
children requiring temporary care only
the free home is not available For the
temporary, or more or less permanent.
care of such children different methods
are in use, notably the plan of placing
them in families, paying for their board,
and the plan Of institutional care. Con-
tact with family life is preferable for
these children, as we'll as for other nor
NAL children 1t is necessary, however,
that large number of carefully selected
boarding homes be found II these chll-
dren are to be cared for in families.
The extent to which such families can
be found should be ascertained by care
full inquiry and experiment in each local
ity. Unless and until such homes are
found, the use of institutions is neceS-
sary.
Cottage System.
4. So far it may be found neces-
sary temporarily or permanently to care
for certain classes of children in insti-
tutions, these institutions should be con-
Quoted on the cottage plan, in order that
routine and impersonal care may not un-
duly suppress individuality and initiative.
The cottage unit should not be larger
than will permit effective personal rela-
tions between the adult caretaker or care
takers of each cottage and each child
therein. Twenty-Five is suggested as
desirable cottage unit. subject 10 revision
In the light Of further experience in the
management of cottage institutions
The cottage plan is probably somewhat
more expensive, both in construction and
in maintenance, than the cOngregate sys-
tenn. 1t is so, however, only because 1t
secures for the children a larger degree
of association with adults, and nearer
approach to the conditions of family life,
which are required for the proper mold
ing of childhood. These results more
than justify the increased outlay and
are truly economical.
Chid-caring agencies, whether support
ed by public or private funds. should by
all legitimate means press for adequate
financial support. Inferior methods
should never be accepted by reason OF
lack of funds without continuing protest.
Cheap care of children is ultimately
enormously expensive, and is unworthy
of strong community.
Existing congregate institutions should
so classify their inmates and segregats
them into groups to secure as many
OF the benefits of the cottage system as
possible, and should look forward to the
adoption of the cottage type when new
buildings are constructed
The sending of children of any age or
class to almshouses is an unqualified
evil, and should be forbidden everywhere
by law, with suitable penalty for its yIo-
lation.
Incorporation.
D. To engage in the work of caring for
needy children Is to assume a most So
rious responsibility, and should. there
fore, be permitted only to those who are
definitely organized for the purpose. who
are of suitable character. and possess. or
have reasonable assurance of securing,
the funds needed for their support.
The only practicable plan of securing
this end is to require the approval, by
state board Of charities or other body ex-
ercisng similar powers, of the incorpora-
ton of all child caring agencies, including
the approval of any amendments of the
charter of a benevolent corporation. if it
is to include child-caring work; and by
forbidding other than duly Incorporated
agencies to engage in the care of needy
children.
State Inspection.
6. The proper training of destitute chill
dren being essential to the well being Of
the state. 1t is sound public policy that
the state. through its duly authorized rep
resentative, should inspect the work Of
all agencies which care for dependent
children. whether by institutional or by
home-finding methods, and whether sup
ported by public or private funds.
Such inspection should be made by
trained agents. should be thorough and
the results thereof should be reported to
the responsible authorities of the institu-
ton or agency concerned. The informa-
ton SO secured should be confidential, not
to be disclosed except by competent au-
thority.
Inspection of Educational Work.
Z. Destitute children at best labor
under many disadvantages. and are de-
prived in greater or less degree of the
sistance and guidance which parents af-
ford their own children. 1t is important.
CONTINUED on Twelfth Page,l
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