New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-11-26

ness of this legislation. it is averred
Is the best evidence of the previou
unsatisfactory viewpoint of the law
How far the states have gone in mod
eTnizing their attitude toward the de
linquent and the neglected child /
shown by a report just made public b!
the children's bureau.
Juvenile court legislation every
where deals with a complicated grouI
of problems: that of the child ac
cused of breaking the law the adul
offending against the child the neg
leeted and degraded parent; the In
competent and unfaithful guardian
and the family that is simply poor. I'm
der the old law the delinquent child
was dealt with in the same manner
with certain restrictions of age, as the
adult offender. He was tried before q
criminal court with all the Formally
and notOriety of a jury, sworn testi-
mony and confronting Witnesses II
found guilty" the child suffered the
penalty. If mot guilty" he went free
In no ease did the law extend any con-
structlve help.
chiId's Rights Now Recognized.
OF recent years, however, the law
has recognized the right of the child
to n reasonable minimum Of care, of
decency and of well-being. Considera-
ton has been given to the natural I'M
pulses of youth and TO the adverse
conditions under which the child may
have been brought up. Because of the
differences In the structure of their
judicial systems. the states have had
to meet the problems by various meth
DDS of legislative attack. In every
state, however. the attempt has been
made through legislation to solve the
difficult problems involving the un-
favorable eonditions-domestic social
and economic-under which children
ARE living and developing today.
The report recommends that every
juvenile court. not only In the cities
but also in the rural districts, which
has TO deal with any considerable mum
Der of offenders should have a chill
dren's probation officer. His duty
would be not only TO supervise cases
himself but to secure the cooperation
OF teachers, scout masters, officers OF
boys and girls clubs, and other so
cial organizations SO that every child
In his charge should be introduced to
one or more Of these agencies.
1t seems altogether likely that the
next congress will take up the ques-
ton of additional federal child labor
legislation. The subject was discussed
I'm the campaign In many congressional
districts and Il large number OF rep
resentatives are pledged to help along
this line. The legislation which Is now
In effect is not satisfactory TO those
persons who are interested In this ac-
tlvity. There are many persons who
believe that the whole subject should
be left 10 the states, but this Is not
the thought of those persons who have
given most time and study 10 the prob
lem.
Teacher Supply Short and Poor.
According TO the federal bureau
VI 'hu'hli'hl ''ihiAioiS III nv pun
lie schools of the country with
respect To the supply of teachers and
the rate OF pay have not improved TO
any appreciable extent during the last
two years. Reports to the bureau show
that more than 1900 schools, or
about 3 per cent of the total In the
States, were at the beginning
OF this school year without teachers
Of any kind, and that more than 49,
100, or about Z per cent Of the total,
were supplied with teachers whose
qualifications "rere below the minimum
of the states In which they
The shortage of teachers APP
plies TO elementary schools and high
alike. According TO the reports.
Il is especially difficult to find COM
teachers for the sciences and
technical subjects.
Studies made by the bureau just
we entered tine World wal In
Heated hat In the country at large
{ per cent Of the rural teachers had
ess than eight years of elementary
school - per ent had no hlgh-schooI
50 per cent had less than
years of ~high-school education.
Dnly ~ per cent were higl-school
graduates and only 10 per cent gradu-
ties Of normal schools or colleges. In
me of the richest states OF the North
vest only So per cen of the rural
md village teachers were graduates Of
formal schools and colleges; SIG per
ent had less than higi-sehOol educa-
lon. In one of the Western states -
cent of the teachers had high
chool education ~ per cent had no
Iigher education, and only : per cent
Iad as much as four years beyond
Ugh schools. In many states, II is
sserted, conditions are still worse.
on the average, the teachers teach
ass than IS months before quitting :
chool for other occupations. In some !
tates the average life of the teacher u
less than half this. The average :
of the country teacher is less than :
twenty-five years. In one state the ,
verage Of country and village leach y
rs was, before the war, twenty-three .
ears. and the average time which u
ley had been teaching was only two :
ears. :
The bureau says that more than INC "
alf of all the teachers of the United !.
have had less preparation than :
70 years beyond the high school, and a
ore than oDe4half did not teach long :.
rough to acquire the skill which !"
from experience. =,
Accounted For. l.,
why did the mistress call to the a,