The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-10-26
MANY REQUESTS TURNED down
Organization Seeks to Aid the Board
of Education in Seeking Out the
People Really in Need of Aid in
Schooling the Children

The board of education, realizing
that in the past it has in some instances
been imposed upon by granting the re-
quests for free text books has this year
turned to the Associated Charities for
investigation of all applications for
free books. Many of the families that
applied for the books were already
known to the Associated Charities. In
these cases it was simple matter for
the Associated Charities worker to
glance at the record on which appears
names and ages of all members Of the
family and the total income, and
give a reply based on facts. In all
cases referred which were unknown be-
fore, visits were made in the homes.
Following is a brief outline of the
financial situation found in a dozen
families from which applications were
received:
l. Man at work earning $1,000 per
week. Wife and four children Two
of the children at work. Not approved.
2. Man, laborer, i'll at hospital.
Wife and seven children. Two of the
children at work. Approved.
8. Man, laborer earning $1,000
per week. Wife and three children.
Arranged for credit man TO pay bill for
books in weekly installments.
- A. Man at work, tradesman. Wife
4 IL IL = L
children at work. Not approved.
5. Man at work at $500 per week.
Wife and eight children. One child at
work. Not approved.
8. Widow and seven children. Own
home and receive rent from one fiat.
Three of the children at work, one a
man of 80 years. Not approved.
Z. Widow and four children. Wom-
an does kitchen work to support family.
Total income 800 per week. APP
proved.
s. Man at work at SOC per hour.
Wife and five children. Wife told in
vestigator man was out Of work, inves-
tigator learned and interviewed man S
employer who stated income and added
that man had been in his employ con
tinuously for four, months. Not ap-
proved.
9. Widow and two children. Wom-
an supports family by laundry work.
Approved.
10. Man, a laborer at work at $40
per week. Sick wife and four child
rem. Approved.
II. Man serving penitentiary sent
ence. Wife and six children all below
working age. Approved
II. Man deserted family four months
ago. Wife i'll and unable to work.
Three young children. Approved.
In some of the families to which the
the attention of the Associated Chair
ties was for the first time directed
by the appeal for free books much was
found that is of more vital Importance
to the welfare of the children than
the mere grant of free books. In one
family it was learned that seven people
were sleeping in one room. One of the
seven is already ill and another is a
typical mouth breather. Arrangements
have been made with q physician to
examine the mouth breather and treat
the case as seems best to him. Efforts
is being directed to bring the mother
to a realization of the danger to which
she is constantly exposing herself and
her children in living in filthy, over
crowded rooms. Sufficient help is al
hand so that over crowding is entirely
unnecessary. Every available influence
is being brought to bear against it.
One of the children who was truant has
been returned, to school and is attend
ing regularly. The family will be
watched, and uustinted effort put
forth to change the home conditions.
The beneficiary of the investigation
is not alone the public which bv it is
protected from imposture, but the poor
themselves reap the greatest benefit IF
actual need exists, it is met adequately
and in way that the mere granting
of free books to the school children
could never accomplish.