Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-15
CURE
FOR CRIMINAL
TENDENCIES
Expert Tells Prison Association
Care for Morals Of Young Is
Very important.

BALTIMORE MD, Nov. 15.--In an
address before the American Prison
association here DR.. Daniel PheIan, OF
Kingston, Canada, president of the
American Association Of Prison Sur
geons, affirmed that most OF the crimes
committed were directly due to a lack
Of education. The lack Of care and
| proper training OF the young, he de-
cIared. wac the chief cause of crimi-
mails.
/ DR.. Phelan said:
Generally, people think of education
as d certain filing of the mind with
knowledge, a loading Of the brain with
requirements, consisting Of reading,
writing. calculation, history, geography,
literature, languages philosophy and
all manner of sciences to a lesser or
greater degree The more Of this
| knowledge the mind contains the bet
ter educated Is the person-such is the
prevailing idea. But all this is only a
small part Of the real education. 1t is
merely supplying the implements re-
quired in the great work of general ed
ucation.
IAN education consists In something
far more and of far greater Importance
! than the mere adjoining the mind with
the delights of knowledge. 1t means
! the training of the physical powers, the
| cultivation Of the mental qualities, the
molding Of the moral sense the shap
| ing of the will. and the incubation of
| lofty principles, such as make for good
| citizenship. 1t is this kind of education
to which refer when l ask your atten-
| ton to its influence in the humanita-
| rian and civilizing work of improving
conditions.
Educate Young Imperative.
! 1--WE all know that the impressions
| made on the young mind are the most
lasting and WELD the greatest influence
in the shaping Of the future life Of the
| individual 1t is generally conceded that
the only way the state can deter per-
manently the malefactor from the COM
mission Of his evil deeds Is by educat-
ing him, for the weakness Of the will
power Of the youth who is afflicted with
evil tendencies can be strengthened by
! training and suitable education, the
main purpose of which is not TO en-
tighten the mind by means Of a prof.
cheney in certain studies; rather is it to
prepare the individual to live in socie-
) ty to awaken in him favorable ten
denotes to action, intellectual ncen-
! tives to goodness and the highest SEN
/ timents OF moral obligation.
The germs of moral insanity and
also Of crime are no doubt developed
! early in life. as the youth passes
! through a nervous and irritable state
| incident to his growth and develop
ment, and is consequently more emo
! tional, impulsive and willful during that
/ critical period. Early education should.
| therefore, be directed toward correcting
the inherited and anti-social impulses
"A very large number of the offenses
that are most severely punished by the
state are to be traced to the lack of
| proper education, to conditions of
! slualid want. to temptations arising
| from privations and exposure, in all of
!
! terested.
The state has it in its power to
greatly improve conditions: to establish
means by which proper instruction may
! be given on certain lines and suitable
! training given to the mind, the will and
/ the moral senses.
1T Is true that the youth will turn
! to evil by natural tendency, if untu-
/ tored and uncultivated for it is easy for
him to do wrong. But bend the sapllng
! in the direction of rectitude and noble
! inspiration and it win be very difficult.
! when it becomes tree, to turn it in
any other direction.
Seek For Causes.
1T must be admitted that the moral
! health of the people requires az much
care and attention as their physical all
ments, II is absolutely necessary,
| therefore, that in both cases the ends
which lead to these favorable condi-
/ tons must be sought. as are the germs
of a specified disease if any permanent
! results are to DE obtained Early train
/ ing of the young and making Of them
good and worthy subjects ought to be
/ the aim of those who seek the greater
good"
| That prison life does not produce in
| sanity, but only serves 10 bring to the
surface the insanity which is already
latent in the criminal. was the state
ment made by DR. Paul i. Bowers, ply
| stefan in charge Of the Indiana state
| prison, in an address.