The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-28
TO AID CHILDREN
Creation of Permanent State
Department Is Urged.
Children's Code Commission
Asks Help for Riddles.


The creation Of a permanent de-
Ipartment Of the state government to
be known as a child resource bu-
reau," is asked for in the report of
the governors children's code commits
sion.
The state OF Kansas IS spending
practically no money or effort in hui
man husbandry." says the report, in
making the recommendation for the
establishment of the child resource
bureau The rich returns brought by
its expenditures in animal husbandry
should make further argument IN
necessary as to the fundamental i'm
portance of child research
n Group of Specialists.
The object of the bureau would be
to place at the service of the people of
the state an authoritative group of
specialists who shall devote their euer-
gIes toward a solution of the problems
OF the child life of the state. The
scope of the work shall be as wide as
the needs of the children of the state.
Its prime endeayor,9 the recon-
nendat1on says, shall be to co-ordi-
nate, direct and supplement the asso-
|cIated activities of the various research
groups OF the state and cause them to
follow consecutive and organic lines,
to the end that both normal and alb
normal children shall be better under
stood and more tntelIigent1y, eco
|lomicaIIy, and effectively educated,
trained and nurtured-'
The head of the proposed bureau is
Ito be director chosen by the state
board of administration. on the recon-
mendation of the chancellor of the
state university. The director, it is
recommended, should be chosen on
basis of his knowledge of some phase
of child research and his peculiar fit
ness to direct the diversified research
of the bureau.
The bureau, it is suggested. should
be supplied with such personnel.
equipment, and buildings as may from
time to time be determined to be
necessary.
To Use Institutions.
The recommendation of the commits
sion is to the effect that the bureau
should be entitled to use as it pleases,
the facilities which may be offered by
hospitals, schools. universities, and
other institutions, in addition to its
own. This should extend to labora-
tories, data, and staffs.
The investigations of the bureau
should be along the line of a survey
OF all the dependent, delinquent, and
defective children of the state, with a
view to determining the causes for
their condition, its treatment, and
means of preventing the nisfortunes
which have come to them, from over
taking other children.
The investigations of the bureau
should not be limited to the unfor-
tunate children mentioned, however.
They should also study the conditions
surrounding normal child life; main
tain an extension service for the trans
mission of information about children
and their care, to the people of the
state-mothers, fathers and teachers.
The bureau Is charged with coop
Grafton with all the other welfare
agencies of the state, whenever pos
sible. and in this connection is men
toned the esta b1ishment of county de-
partments of public welfare, with a
county superintendent at the head OF
each, whose activities would cover a
wide range of welfare work