The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1919-11-04

responsibility. lHlS plulleTcnte W
duty and to the rights Of children
will prevail until the people are
obliged to comply with higher stan
dard of local taxation. Rural elemen-
tary schools @re held in ardhaic
buildings, poorly equipped, with
poorly paid teachers, using poor
methods Owing to the lack Of good
roads there has been but little con-
solidation. The cities have better
schools hut because Of the low sal
aries there is difficulty In getting
and holding the teachers. Compul-
sorry attendance is spasmodic in
the smaller cities and weak in both
law and enforcement in rural dis
tricts. Boys and girls are absent
from school principally because of
work, illness and indifference. OPP
portunity to attend high school is
frequently denied to country chill
Gren. More than $500 children over
10 years of age are illiterate.
"The juvenile court law is gener.
ally disregarded in rural districts.
In some places police courts SEN
tence children. At times children are
kept in jail, some awaiting trial,
others serving sentences. Some coun-
ty judges do not distinguish between
children and adults in their methods
of trial. Circuit courts have been
found trying children whose cases
are not of record in any juvenile
court. Means of detention suitable
for unfortunate boys and girls is a
great need nearly everywhere, as is
likewise probation service-the back
bone of the juvenile court. TIL man
fold duties of county judges inter-
fere with their giving due atten-
ton to juvenile court. matters.
"Apprenticing and binding out
children under obsolete conditions
are still practiced to some extent
and the laws permitting such proce-
dure should be repealed. The child
labor law is one of the best in the
country, but it is enforced in only a
few places, because there is no real
department of labor and only half
dozen inspectors to cover all the in
dustries and one of these is engaged
in private business.
"Girls of II years of age and boys
of IA years of age are permitted to
marry with the consent of their par
ents, and applicants for marriage Ii
censes are not obliged to appear be-
fore the official who issues them.
The desertion Of children by their
parents is now merely a misdemeanor
under the law. Save for the granting
of an appropriation to a private So
ciety devoted to their care, the
State neglects dependent children;
while those whose condition of de-
tendency is aggravated by disease,
deformity, or illegif macy are Of
ficially ignored.
"Unregulated amusements largely
dominate the great field of recrea-
ion; that provided by public gu
and by private civic and |
societies fall far short .
If meeting the needs, while much of
hat afforded by commercial agen-
lies is inferior in quality ana unfor-
innate in effect.
"This is not pleasing picture. II
would be wholly depressing if there
1ere no spirit of protest alive to en-
ourage the hope for better things.
fortunately there is such a spirit,
nd it is gradually becoming strong
r and stronger. Indeed, there are
lot wanting examples of what can
e accomplished through pricking
ne conscience and stimulating the
fort of a community, as in Mason
ounty; the troubles that the ener-