The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-06-09
THE STATE AND THE CalLD-ITsS
PARENT PROBLEM FAMOUS
JUDGE SHOWS WHERE REspON.
SIBlLlTY LIES.
By JUDGE BEN B. L1NpsEY.


There Is no child problem that I.
not q parent problem and there is nc
parent problem that IL not an eco.
nomic and Industrial problem. There.
fore. the state cannot escape it's re.
sponsibility fer the child any more
than can the parent. This respon-
sibtlity I have sometimes called the
'super-parenthood Of the state We
hnd 1T exercised by the state in the
education Of the child. but it must
De remembered that 1t is a RESPONSE.
oAfty at firt grudgingly undertaken by
the state and one finally accepted at
ter bitter opposition,
Free schools were once ragged
schools and our magnificent public
scnooI system was originally looked
upon with more or less scorn as he.
ing only Ter the poverty stricken poor.
The state also assumes a very great
responsibility for the morality of the
child through, its children's courts.
here 1t no longer treats the child as
criminal. but as one of its own
children tc be "aiied, helped, educat-
ed and redeemed"
me next great step which the state
Is going to take in it's RESPONSIBLE II y
Tor the child is in seeing that no child
snail suffer just because Of the pow.
erty' Ignorance or certain other faults
OF the natural parents-at least where
1t can be reasonably prevented. It is
a matter of self-preservaticn to the
state itself to prevent the tragedies of
childhood that come from such causes
But consistent with this idea ia the
one have always equally advocated,
namely, that as part Of this very
duty and function of the state, ia also
ITS responstbility-by adequate legis.
iatlon-to see to it that in the first
instance the parent should be made
10 perform, or, in proper cases, should
be assisted to perform these functions.
Yet. II for any reason this is not pos
sible. then the state must do it. And
1t must be done where possible in the
natural home OF the child-however
humble that home is.
From survey CT one school in a
typical American city. it was discov-
cred that 80 per cent of the children
In that school had only one parent
generally the mother. This was due
TO such causes. often unavoidable, as
death. insanity. separation. desertion.
etc. In that same school, half of the
children were under ed and sadly neg
lected as to health, largely because of
such conditions as poverty and un-
empl oyment, even where both parents
We're living. Thus, in spite Of hold.
ing the parent to every possible re-
sponsibility, 1t was impossible tc. Sc
cure for one-half of the children in
that school the Justice I believe them
entitled to.
Here Is where the child's super-par-
ent-the state-must step in. 1t must
do what the natural parent could not
do. or that the state failed tc. make
them do. The state must provide. in
such cases. the services Of doctors,
food and health experts-including the
food-and other wherewithals for
health. 1t must be just as free as
is free. Ootherwise, of what
use is education?
1t is well for us to remember that
when the very life Of the state is
imperilled by war, 1t has the right to
go into the homes and take the child
of Is with or without the consent
OF the parent and send him to- the
battle fronts of the world. to lay down
his life, II need be. for the state, and
surely the child Is taught that 1t IL
a part of Its duty, in such an emer.
gency. to give up his life. If there be
need. for the state. Why should this
teaching not be reciprocal. &C, that
when the child IL imperiled it shall
be clearly the duty Of the state to
come to the rescue Of the child?