The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-02-11
TRUANCY AND DELINQUENCY

ing more and more urban every year Great
l. OF people being brought to-
geher in close proximity to each other
live and TO work This also makes it necessary for
large numbers be brought together the purpose
of educating them and for preparing them for life
and their life work Hence there has developed in the
cities of this country great school systems which are
extremely complex in their organization and which
bring forth great many varied and complex prob
lens. Not the least of these problems is that of
truancy and delinquency. However, it is but fair
to state that truancy in its broadest is
fined to school children. This country has large
population of adult truants-men who leg from their
dnty; women who shirk and have but the fantest
ception Of and training for, fe's most sacred
duties
Truancy in children is delinquency, and delinquency
is ncipient crime This question ruancy therefore
is of more vital importance to the American people
than the tariff or the trust any of the socalled
great political questions of time.
The question naturally arises, then, what are the
of truancy in children? Where the work has
bten sysematized there is general agreement as to
the leading chronic truancy and to the
general conditions which make the problem Most
Investigators and educators lay heaviest stress OF
the blame unfavorable conditions the home
There four chief causes that have been assigned
by those who have given the subject the creates:
study and thought First subnormal physical condi
tons, including malnutron; defective vision, hear
ing and mentality; organic weaknesses, throat and
nose trouble cigarette habit and sexual depravity.
Second cause is inefficient parenthood in which
class should be enrolled the negligent Indifferent
and incompetent and Incorporate and the discouraged
mother or father, both; the deserted wife the
wage-earning mother; the unsympathec often
brutal, stepmother stepfather
The third of delinquency or trlancy is de-
graded parenthood, including only parents who
are offenders against the law, but also parents Sc.
crey in league with the delinquent child in order to
share in the profits his evil occupation or even his
criminal
The fourth reason is vicious associates, particularly
the influence of the young loafer beyond the school
There is being effort put forth in all of our lead
ing school systems overcome many of the contrib.
utory forth under first head by phys
ca examination of school children proper regard for
heating and lighting and yenating school build
ngs; the establishment of public clinics and Inv giving
special atetion to the physical welfare of the child in
many other ways.
Inefficient parenthood is one of the heaviest curses
resting upon country Children coming from
homes presided by truant adults cannot be ex-
pected to be without truant tendencies The burden
in this case rests upon the school MANAGEMENT and
other agencies TO correct such tendencies with
the best means that have been or may be devised
The question that schools should ask themselves to-
day is Are the schools today training the children
of the inefficient parent in such way that they will
be less inefficient"
Parents and teachers should learn that many chill
dren acquire uan tendencies before they ever enter
school In many cases they learn the street habit
vtry early. School has often been held up before the
child place OF terror entering school the
work under teachers is not sufficiently attract
i've TO appeal TO the child finds greater attraction
the street.
Hut the question that specially interests us is how
are TO overcome the faults Of the home in the