The Washington herald., 1922-06-30
GUARDIAN DEFENSE
POOR, SAY WORKERS
FOR HOME SCHOOL
Reprehensible Conditions
Utterly Ignored, Say
Critics of Board.
POINTS ARE CITED
Congressional Action to Make
Body Responsible to Dis
trict Urged.
POINTS ARE CITED


dren's Board of Guardians by un-
named members of the board yes
terday, workers in behalf of the
Industrial Home School. declared
last night that the guardians re-
buttal touched only the question
of retaining the Wisconsin avenue
and utterly ignored al
legged reprehensible conditions found
in a number of homes In which chm
dren are placed
The board members statement. ir
is asserted. neither confirms nor
denies such charges. On the con-
trary, II is said the statement d.
verts attention to the matter Of poll
icy, whether children shall be placed
in real homes or institutions. And
on this question. 1t Is declared. thcre
is practically no difference of opin-
ion: both the guardians and trus-
tees agreeing that care in a real,
home is more desirable.
Points set forth in defense Of the
boards policy ofab andoning the
Industrial Home School were: that
the school is not large enough to
care for more than $50 children;
friction between the guardians and
trustees of the Industrial Home
school not centrally located: that
the general practice all over the
country is to place children in
homes instead of institutions.
Suitable for Receiving Home.
However. IL is shown that the
Wisconsin avenue institution is
large enough to be used as a receiv-
ing home where children can be
placed until permanent homes can
be found.
Charges that the school is not
centrally located were answered
yesterday by workers. who pointed
out that many OF the receiving
homes now used by the guardians
are in the suburbs. while some OF
them are in Maryland and Virginia
Activities of the Board Of Guard
ians, It is pointed out, have aroused
such a storm of opposition with so
many accusations of ineficiency
and laxity that an impartial
analysis OF the situation has not
been made.
Facts Are Conceded.
However. amid the confusion Of
charges and denials. the following
facts are said to be generally con-
ceded:
1. That many of the homes used
by the Board of Children's Guard
ians are moderately well adapted
to caring for the wards.
2. That a large number OF homes
which are, and have been. used are
totally unfit. Investigations show.
IL is asserted. that children have
been placed in immoral surround
ings. ten to fifteen babies have
been placed In charge of one
woman. diseased children have
been placed with healthy wards,
physical cruelty and mental torture
has been inflicted upon wards
placed In the custody of unfit
keepers. This, IT is said. includes
punishment of children by biting
them, swearing at them and by
telling them CT shameful lives led
by their mothers and fathers.
8. That the policy of the guard
ians in abandoning the Wisconsin
Avenue Home School has aug
mented these conditions by caus-
ing children to be crowded into
temporary receiving homes. The
STAFF of twenty workers, including
office employees. of the Board of
Guardians. it is pointed out. is in
sufficient to make proper invest.-
cation of the homes in which more
than 1900 children are placed.
Many of the homes, il is said, are
visited only once a year. A num-
Der Of homes are located in BaIti-
more and. nearby towns in Mary
land and Virginia. BY abandoning
the Industrial Home School, il is
explained, children must be as
signed to whatever homes are
available. regardless of whether
there is sufficient staff to investi-
gate them.
Urge Congressional Action.
4. That a permanent solution of
the present controversy can come
only through Congressional action.
If the Industrial Home School is to
be used as a receiving home. It is
believed, it should be placed in con-
troll of the same agency having con-
troll OF the children. Moreover, Il
is declared the boards in charge of
administration must be
made responsible directly to the
District Commissioners. As now