Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-24
-FOUR CITIES ARE
!, AFTER CONVENTION
f(continued From Page -

men movement DeBdu, duOut IhS
time the Y. M. C. A. was organized,
which looked toward the Improvement
!of conditions among those classes
which are below normal in their
standard of living. The idea was more
for taking care of the wretched and
the establishment of custodial institu-
|tions.
Recently has come the era of pre-
vention. The social workers direct
their attention toward the causes OF
poverty and crime. It is now period
of bridging the chasm. making smooth
the rough places and the beginning OF
study.
Efforts are being made now to have
the child born right and reared right:
for the sake OF the child and the sake
Of the state
Duty to Mend Tears.
Joel D. Hunter, chief probation Of
fcer in Chacago and specialist who.
goes to the source OF things, declared
that 1t is the duty of the social com.
munity to mend the tears and cure
he ills of the social body: to decide
where the responsibility lies for the
beginning and the cure of the trouble.
The child welfare problem is in
existence in the great urban center
and the rural hamlet alike. But, who
are the children? Who are the chill
dren out of position? They are the
truants, the detectives, the dependents
and the delinquents. They form the
types that get in their own and other
peoples way. II the parents can not
do anything then it is the states duty
tn vln vyhn hA1
In showing what part of the body
polite should attempt to solve the
problems Mr.. Hunter took the ques-
tions up first under the heading Of tru-
ants. He said the responsibility for en-
forcing the compulsory attendance
laws lies with the educational authori-
ties. Some get beyond that control,
are hailed into juvenile court and there
committed to disciplinary institution.
No one should have the power to do
this but Judge who has heard all
sides of the case.
In effective the mind lacks the
power of control which the normal
possesses. A defective needs constant
and careful protection and care every
minute Of his life; especially is this
so with girls of II and IS, who have
minds equal to those of or 9 year old
children. The state should provide
permanent care and-treat the cases
as diseased mentally.
state is Parent.
In the care Of the dependent Mr..
Hunter feels that the law gives the
state many things which belong else
where. When there ID lack Of par
entail care then it is the duty of the
state to come in as parent. The ques-
ton of why the child does not get the
care does not concern the court He
can not take the initiative in anything.
1t must first be brought to his atten-
tior by some person interested in the
case. The school teacher is the one
who can first see signs of neglect in
the child.
A corps of visiting teachers. to get
in touch with the parents, would nip
dependency, delinquency and truancy
In the bud and be an economic saw
ing. The court must uphold the arms
and hands Of the public and private
organizations that more naturally
come in touch with these people.
Longs for Efficiency.
Mr. Hunter longs for the time when
the American home, schools and
churches will be so efficient that there
will be no delinQuents.
1t is with these little offenders
against the law that the juvenile court
most naturally comes in contact. 1t
requires thorough understanding of
the individual child and he must be
treated as a friend.
The Chicago man thinks that no one
in the world is too good Ito be pro.
baton officer.
I'VE get those whom the schools,
the churches and the homes have Civ.
en- up he said. I'VE have the jobs
no one else wants
Girls Do Reform.
That girls do reform and make good
as result of their stay in state cor.
rectional institutions. was clearly
, shown in an interesting talk made Sun.
day afternoon by Mrs. Lucy M. Sickles
Superintendent Of the Iowa Industrial
School for Girls at Mitchellville.
She told what the state is doing
there for the delinquent girl and she
gave many concrete examples to dis.
pIOVG lAC ROP0i0A LASOly tudN q
alton is an exception rather than
rule
According to Mrs. Sickles environ
ment plays large part in the steps
which result in the girl being sent to
the school. A delinquent isone who
fails to perform duty. But who fails?
1t is more often some one behind the
child rather than the child itself. The
home or the parents. There may be
dissolute mother. drunken father
or home where divorce, like an ogre
has entered and swept down the most
precious Of all things-home ties. It
hay be home of naggers forcing the
,, girl to the dance hall, the park, the
Joy ride and her ruin.
Each q Problem.
Each girl is problem in herself
While many are alike. because OF the
similarity Of environment and causes
for their fall. yet the training which
should be given to one would fail ut
terly with another. 1t is necessary for