Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-20
CHILDREN AND THE WAR- Delinquency Abroadeden H

w yASHINGTON, u. c. August 1O.-Second in
w malign influence only to the increased rate
w of infant mortality, is the rapid spread OF
crime and disorder among the young, which almost
inevitably follows extensive In all of the
European countries, which have been in the war
since 1914, the Increase of Juvenile delinquency
has been alarming to have called forth ex-
tensve Investigations the parts of the govern
ments concerned. AS yet the spread of Juvenile
delinquency has not been palpable in the United
States, but reports from several large cities indi
cate that violations of law and discipline by boys
and girls under sixteen daily growing more
common
Conscious that unless immediate measures of
prevention are taken, the growth of the juvenile
delinqnecy may, the war goes one parallel the
proportions it has attained in Great Britain,
France Russia and the Central Empires, the chill
dren's bureau of the department of labor is max
ing an intelligent study of conditions in these
countries. report of this investigation has just
ben submitted to Secretary Wilson.
Revealed in the report is the fact that during
the first year of in England the number of
children under sixteen arrested for larceny was
increased by more than so per cent. Similar IN
creases were shown in charges of assault, gam
bling, wanton destruction of property, and Of
lenses against the eGH@ation act Where s--'h
records available, "a sarge incrsaGa ia stoSz in
the number Of children committed tn reforma-
tories and similar institutions. and in the number
OF children DIaced under the supervision of court
officers.
1t is true that in normal times the rate of juve-
nile delinquency often rises inexplicably; but sell
dom or never is the rice great. Its relation to
the war, direct Ur indirect, must be taken
accepted fact and with the discovery of the rela-
ton opens probing for The assigned
causes for child crime in England many and
varied, yet tangby connected. First there is the
departure of ever many fathers to the 'front.'
and of even more mothers to the munitions factor
les thus reducing the of parental discipline
Then schools have been overcrowded and school
hours curtaied, the result of the governments
ton in taking over more than 400 school build
ings for hospitals. Instructors have been drawn
into the army from Sunday school and clubs
and parks and Fairgrounds have been clos
ed as part of the program of economy. Also che
prospect of high wages has brought many children
into employment and the extraordinary demand
for labor has in great measure intensified the
sense or freedom always possessed by the wage
earning child.
The report of the British committee on juve-
nile education in relation to employment after the
mentions laXity of behavior and of morals
among young persons the result of excessive
war work Unrest says the report, sis evident
in almost every home, and depredations in the
darknened streets committed frequently and
with inpunity by children" Child welfare agen-
cies in Great Britain carrying on their work
under increased difficulties This is due partly to
lack of funds and partly to lack of workers, many
of whom have been carried into the war. Reform
schools have been seriously handicapped. Manual
training classes have virtually disappeared from
these schools because of the lack of instructors
There is tendency the part of the English
courts to administer punishment to child offend
ers by fogging-an expedient often proved to
have harmful results.
Though facts have been somewhat harder to