The Washington times., 1922-06-19
MOTHERS FIGHT
: PLAN To CLOSE
JUVENILE HOME
Meeting Called for Tomorrow
Night in Support OF In
dustriaI School.

Continued operation of the Wis
consin Avenue Industrial Home
School, which the Board Of Grill
dren's Guardian is seeking to close
by July /, will be urged upon Con-
gress. the District Commissioners
and the Board of Education by
Washington mothers during the
next few days.
The Congress Of Mothers and Pa.
rent.Teacher Association will hold
a special open meeting tomorrow
night in the New Ebbitt to complete
plans for the direct campaign to
keep the school open as a receiving
home for District wards, until suit
able private homes can be found for
them.
To Discuss Status In Courts.
The mothers will discuss the
status of children In the courts.
For several years the Congress Of
Mothers has endeavored to have So
called delinquent children removed
from the Jurisdiction of the courts,
where they are prosecuted as GRIM
inals. Conditions arising from the
guardians boards efforts to have
the Wisconsin avenue institution
mothers an opportunity to register
effective protest against the treat
ment Of minors in the District
courts.
The mothers will vote on petitions
already drawn up, to be presented 10
representatives of the Federal and
District governments, asking for the
retention Of the school.
Mrs. Edmund J. Brennan, chair
man of the committee investigating
private homes in which children
have been placed by the guardians
board, will report on conditions in
these establishments. Her findings,
1t is expected, will show the District
taxpayers money Is being used for
the> upkeep of undesirable Child
farms" listed as private homes.
Plan Comprehensive Campaign.
The mothers organization does
not intend to limit its efforts 20 ITo-
test against present conditions relat-
ing to children, IL this is not effec-
tive. II Is planned, through Con-
gress, to give the District Commits
sioners real authority over the ad-
ministration Of municipal charities,
which are being directed at present
by practically fndependent, self-re-
sponsible boards. Another plan is to
place the school board In charge of
the home school, relieving the Ju-
venile Court from Jurisdiction over
several problems Of child welfare.
The Board Of Charities, following
an extensive investigation, Is sched.
uled to report to the Commissioners
today in favor Of continuing the In
dustrial Home School. Under exist
ing laws. however, the Commission
crs cannot compel the Board of
Children's Guardians to act, accord.
ing to the District heads ruling.
The Board Of Charities is meeting
in the District Building this after.
noon to complete the draft of its
final report to the District Commits
sioners on its investigation of the
work of the Board of Children's
Guardians and the Industrial Home
School.
Continuation of the operation OF
the home school and a limitation Of
the number Of children sent to
family homes is expected to form
the gist of the report of the board.
More than three months have
been spent by the board in its in.
vestigation. At least one-half of
the homes in which wards Of the
Board Of Children's Guardians are
being cared for have been investi
gated by the Charities Board.
The District Commissioners prob
ably will receive the boards re.
port tomorrow morning and take
action at their regular meeting to.
morrow