Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-10
HENRY ]. GIDEON
On How Schools Flight Poverty

TVHE schools of the City Of Philadelphia
L are making hard fight to keep those
of their pupils who are in unfortunate cir.
cumstances sufficiently clothed In order that
their school attendance may be unimpaircd,
according to Henry J. Gideon, director of
the Bureau Of Compulsory Attendance OF
the Board of Education.
80 far as the pupils of the public schools
are concerned" said Mr.. Gideon. 1--WE have
had more trouble this winter in the matter
Of obtaining sufficient clothing for our poorer
pupils than any winter since that Of 1914.
Then We had trouble, especially in the
matter of shoes, but this year 1t is both shoes
and clothing that are needed.
"Of course, this work Is entirely gratui.
tous on the part Of the Board Of Education,
as there is no appropriation for it, and we
are therefore dependent upon the gifts of
charitably inclined persons to furnish US
with the garments that we need to keep the
children sufficiently clad to attend school.
The Response Generous
THE requirements among the children Of
school age have been SO great this winter
that the charitable organizations have not
been able to meet it fully. But In response
to the need the people of Philadelphia have
erosity, and, while we have not had all the
clothing and the shoes which we could use,
the reply has been very gratifying.
"Since the first of the year we have pro.
vided outfits for about 800 children. We try
to give each child two suits of underwear,
that he may attend school and not have to
remain at home while one set Is being
washed, as has been the case in many in
stances: We have large room on the third
floor Of our building ,(at Seventeenth and
sent to US Is stored until applicants come
for It. It has been filled and emptied at
least dozen times since the first of the
year. and still we i've not enough.
'OP course, many Of the children and the
families they come from are in need of food.
but it is not possible for us to do anything
In this matter except to report the cases to
the charitable organizations. Nearly ali the
clothing we get IL used clothing, although
many persons have sent US new children's q
shoes. But used clothing served our Dur.
poses admirably.
Duplication Of Work Avoided
EVERY possible measure is taken to avoid
duplication Of effort In these cases. Most Of
them originate with the superintendent OF
the school which the children attend. They
are reported to the attendance officers. who
visit the homes Of the children and learn the
exact condition of affairs, and their reports.
in case aid is needed, are made to our office.
we LueH TcIcE tuc CuSe 10 lne Bureln Of
Social Service, where an accurate record ia
kept of all cases which have been referred
to any Of the charitable organizations. and
this record is given to us. We then com.
municatc with the organization which has
had the case formerly and find out whether
or not it Is handling 1t. II it is, we know
that the children will be provided for md
do nothing, unless that organization reouests
us to furnish clothing. which we do when
possible. '"
II suppose that. as in all charitable wort
there are some unworthy cases slip thronph'
and occasionally children will receive cIoth1
Ing when the family might, with soma Nv
ertion, provide It for them, but we use evcrr
effort to prevent this and to give ont ~,
supplies only where they are imperatiyeiy
needed.
Few Americans Apply
'"There is a surprisingly small number ~
American families which have been nnahIa
to provide clothing for their children ~
far the largest number are foreign ma.
are practically no Jewish families Will,
come to us for aid as their own relief ~"
ganizations seem to be fully able to taLo
care of their own. This year mnch 'ahe the
largest number have been Italian or Po,,sh .he
''The reason seems to be tho lack 10 a,n
ployment by those members of tbe 60 iii nin-
! upon whom the burden of meeting tho has
mands of the others rests. Most ~ thns. "s.
people have saved little and are constamtS amtSc
living only few weeks ahead Of poverty
In case q misfortune. Their marris n -
aasrew that IN the syeat ef the icss oe =