Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-03-25

the immoral and the petty Offenders
worst of all. they bring other feeble
minded into the world, and the story OF
degencracy and pauperism and crime IL
repeated.
when Vermont has taken under nor
care and supervision these feeble-mindcd.
our effort Is preventive insofar as u
guards the community against the nr-
predictions of It's detectives and forcstahs
their propagation of children. OF whom
we are told that 50 percent are certain
to be feeble minded" Insofar as We ta''
to follow this hill folk into their native
novels, and stop the faint of feeble-mind-
c]ness from propagating, we fail in our
charity. Nay, more, by our sympathetic
relief, we foster the devil. And when tho
state children, living IN the midst OF
gross immortality and intemperance 10
grow. the social sore is ever widening
like the waves from splash in a pool
that uhanty there under the hill, or Gown
there by the river. or at the cross roads.
Or wherever else among the numerous
spots in this fair State where such may
TO sound-then Vermont commits gr"cs
,ffensc against It's own life.
I appreciate the fact that statistics are
always dry and should be avoided when
ever possible: but 2. this time and In
this kind Of gathering I am sure that
you will Nc glad to know Just what is
being accomplished by your state agency
Since the establishment of the Board
two and one hal; years ago. 2N Of these
little people have beon committed % our
custody and care 10y the courts. Is OF
whom have bcen committed during this
month.
Probation. Parole, puorhouse inspection
and gonotal offc, EXPENSE cost about
81 ON month In addition to this we arc
spending little more than $4,000 a month
in our child car, work
Vernon: is caring for her dependent ard
neglected children in carefully selected
AMI inspected free And boarding homes
We aim to employ only the most intelli-
gen. and conscientious field workers each
t:aincd carefully fer the particular work
assigned. Tho children are frequonIy
visited and every detail Of their needs
habitg. care and education is carefully
noted
! The placing OF shilIre.. in family nc net
is highly specialized work ans nIs
not be permitted by any agency rot cqui,.
ped tc kar':ie all tho problems OF chic
hfe this. may arise during minority Ev
evy ella must be carefully examined tc
determine. noe only it's phi ysica; coalition
but It's 'nental wof;ii t. the end that i
may be properly c'aIsif. III and given TIA
k:od OF super nsl,.l and ca;e best calcu
iated Zoe rs highest development.
Hones must De hroSen up only "a I
last reaort for the weiyaro Of both tn,
community and CHILD, r.,i IN every posi-
bic Case restoration to me paro.,ts shoul,
at the earliest moment cons.bten; with
Its welfare. take place. Some OF oul
most promioing chi.tran come fsUm HON ,,
when o:ie or boul OF the parents havs hat
police and prison records. and m such
cases they should not only be removed
hut should be so placed as to make 4
quite impossible for the parents to inter
fere with the peaceful and normal devel
opment Of the child under State super
vision.
More than one hundred and fifty Of tn,
physically unfit needing surgical and hos
p;tal treatment have been given sucl
treatment during the past Is months anc
will be able to meet the problems of If,
on a reasonably equal footing with tn,
more fortunate boys and girls of ou
State.
| I am glad to say to you that this fea
ture of our work has met with publ,
commentator and approval to such al
extent that We are prepared to give tn
best surgical and hospital care to ever.
physically defective dependent child with
in our borders. with financial considera
ton.
appeal to you to rally and truly fgh
for the dependent, neglected and defec
tive child; arouse the COMMUNICATIVE
do not permit the ragged. the dirty, AM
the vermin-covered unfortunate child t
be sent home from school; he must hav
his chance or sink to pauperism and crime
Insist that he have a square deal. TIL
compulsory educational law is not who'll
for the fortunate. Make 1t mean the ris
ing of the star of hope to the unfortunate