Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1919-06-20
CHILD WELFARE WORK
EXPLAINED In REPORT
Resume of St. Paul Meeting by Mrs.
Mahaf6e Shows How State Cares
for Children

At the meeting of the Stevens
County Welfare Board last week.
Mrs. Mahaf1e gave the following IN
teresting and complete report or the
recent st. Paul meeting. we give
suace to the report because it gives
so thoro an insight into the work
and the field of work Of the Chud
Welfare Board The local board has
already Investigated fifteen cases in
this county, and justified its crea-
ton by the wise action taken. The
report follows
The first convention of Child Welfare
Boards was held in the legislative room
of the State Capitol, ST. Paul, on May
9th. and 10th 1919. Miss Nellie Moran
u TT. I.awler and Mrs. Mahaftie, to-
getI1er with Judge Stenger represented
Stevens County at this convention;
which proved to be a very interesting
instructive and we'll attended meeting
Nearly every county in the state was
represented by from one to four dele
oates Every phase of every depart
Tnent of work under the State Board OF
Control was presented explained ana
elaborated upon by efficient workers.
deeply interested and we'll informed
Every subject in hand was so conducted
q
were cOurteOuSly' answered.
The Friday morning session opened al
nine o'clock presided over by Charles H.
Vasely, chairman, Board of Control VINO
spoke on Child Welfare and the rune
tiOns of the State Board. He considered
child welfare work the greatest "oTh
of the state and rejoiced to know that
the majesty and power of the state was
behind every unfortunate child in the
state He emphasized the need OF
trained workers, who had patience, tact
and skill. In all work, with all chill
dren respect of creed is necessary, ne
said, but prejudice should never nave
place" He urged frequent meetings OF
the Child Welfare Board at least once
each month and that quarterly IT not
monthly reports be sent in to the bOard
of control.
Supt. Merrill of the State School at
OwatOnna was the first to speak on
State Institutions. He informed us that
"a years ago the state had made APP
propriation for the school and that two
years later it was opened. Six thOus-
and and sixty-three pupils have entered
the school (6063) and that 1929 are now
in the home. He said that desert1On
was the main cause why so many chill
dren were left to the care Of the state
while 40 per cent was from the separa~
ton of parents. This home or school
is built on the community plan OF many
family groups and the ideals Of the real
home life are always in view.
The average time a pupil remains in
the home is 81A months and TX years
is the average time they remain IN
homes where they are placed.
His arguments against sending chill
dren under normal mind to this school,
were very marked and emphatic. He
said that SO had been transferred and
that such circumstances with the I'M
fOrtunatG child, worked not only an in
Jury to the child but to both institu-
tions Observation-Disclosures a child is
placed in the school, does the parent
give w all right to the Child?' Answer
Eyes" 1880 at Faribault now. Cues
tiOn (twO), Can mixed or full blood
Indians be admitted to state institu-
tiOns?" Yes, but the federal govern
ment must pay if said applicants are
receiving pay"
Mrs, Fannie French Morse, Supt, of
the Home School for Girls, Sank Centre
was next upon the program and she be-
gan by making the statement that this
institution was not penal; but cOrrec-
tive. Girls from to IS years were ad-
mitted either from actual delinquency Oh
in danger of the same. The average stay
in this home is one and half years
Number admitted 80. Number sent out
27O This school was founded in 1905
and opened 1910. It is educational anC
instructive. Built upon the cottage
plan, to accommodate 20 as a family
unit Each girl must earn and care fol
her own needs. Fines for misdeeds arr
deducted from her weekly earnings anC
she receives at the end of the week
the remainder or in full as the case
may be. Many fine things followed
which made this a most excellent paper
J. T. Fulton Supt of Red Wing Train
ing School closed his symposium of State
Institutions, by giving some interesting
facts about this. school, which was
founded in 1867 and opened in 1868
Nine to twenty years was the limit OF
admittance. OF 585 examined for mental
condition, 20 per cent were found tt
average. 20 per cent were dull, 80 pei