Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-22
JUDGE LAT|MER'S PLEA
FOR JUVENILE COURT
Asks Mothers Congress to Aid
in Bettering Conditions
in Washington.

Urging them to aid in correcting the
evils that daily confront the Juvenile
Court Judge Latimer yesterday after
noon addressed the Mothers Congress at
meeting at the Raleigh Hotel. He
told the mothers that he did not ex-
pect them to raise funds for the court
but that he sought their aid In the cor
rection Of evils. The conditions under
which the Juvenile Court work in the
District is done were declared by the
judge to be depIorable. He said there
is great need of representative men
and women Of the city interesting them
selves in the courts problems and aid
ing in reforming present conditions.
Should Not Have to Lobby.
The Judge of the Juvenile Court
should not have to be a Lobbyist" said
Judge Latimer "A committee like the
Juvenile Court committee Of Pittsburgh
would relieve him Of being one.
"a committee like this could look after
the boys and girls after they have been
released from correctional institutions ana
from probation" he added.
Nov, the child is released from cor
regional institution, where it costs the
District large sum of money to Keep
and to train him, and lis left without
supervision, to go back to the old en-
vironment and to begin the commission OF
petty crimes. There should be an organi-
cation to help these small offenders and to
keep them from backsliding."
Judge Latimer spoke Of the work Of the
probation officers Of his court He de-
clared it impossible for the three officers
to look after all the $50 boys and girls In
their charge. He said five officers for this
work should be provided. The need of
probation officers of different denomlna-
tons was also referred to by Judge Lati-
mer. He said, If he could he would have
two Protestants, two Jews, two Catholics
and two colored officers.
s. E. Kramer Talks of Schools.
s. E. Kramer, supervising principal of
the third division Of the public schools Of
the District Of Columbia, spoke on the
school conditions in the District.
mo school can take the place of
home" he said. THE home that does
not encourage school work becomes a
place of deceit. 1t is in the home that
children should learn great ideals. Par
ents should make the child responsible. :"
Mr.. Kramer also said. "A child should
never be deceived, and that parents
| should not even n1islead the child, even
in trivial matters.
'What are the needs OF child in the
toy line?" he asked. Very soon We will
see the stores Of Washington piled high
| with TOYS 1Or the CnFlStIHdS uUIludys nc
toys are not for the children, but are for
grown persons.
"Give a child street car. which his
mother or father cut from a pasteboard
box and put wheels on it, and the child
will like it more than any OF the me-
! chanical street cars which can be pur-
chased in the stores. The needs OF the
child in this line should be worked out
systematically
The schools Of today are not meeting
the needs of the children, Mr.. Kramer
said. He said that in the different classes
children are held back by some who can
not get along. These conditions ought
to be remedied, he declared.
Progress Of Pupil Factor.
1.-THE average person will work their
fingers to the bone to keep their child
in school. II he is getting along. but If
the child is backward in school the
parent allows the child to leave school"
said the speaker. IT never knew Of a
case where a child who was leading the
class In his studies to leave school with
his parents permission"
The halliday afternoon school for chill
dren four or FIVE years old In the kinder
the speaker. '"The little ones play about
all morning. eat big dinner and are
sent of to school In the afternoon for
about three or four hours-this. instead
of requiring the child to take nap In
the afternoon"
He declared there ought to be enough
schools to allow the children In the lower
grades, even il they only attend half
q day. to go to school in the morning.