Evening star., 1936-03-24
CH|LDREN'S HOMES
HELD DEFICIENT.
Three D. c. Institutions
Lack Facilities for Work,
Bureau Reveals.

Because OF denclenCleS III Tie IaCill-
ties and training program at the Ma
itonal Training School for Girls, only
two delinquent girls have been COM
mitted to that institution since July.
1885, the Children's Bureau of the
Labor Department declared today.
The bureau also reported serious in
adequacies in the physical plants and
the programs of two other District
institutions for problem and delin-
ouent children. Investigators urged
immediate enlargement of personnel
and improvement of equipment for the
National Training School for Girls,
the Industrial Home for White Chill
dren and the Industrial Home School
for Colored Children.
None of the three institutions has
a physical plant adequate or suitable
for a program of training and care
kuficient to meet the needs of the
children committed" it was stated in
a report released by the Department
Of Labor.
SURROUNDINGS Drab."
"The Industrial Home School for
Colored Children is built and operated
on the cottage plan, with residence
units small enough to meet generally
accepted standards" the report con-
tinued. but in the other two insti-
tutions most of the children are housed
in large groups, and at all three insti-
tutions the physical surroundings on
the whole are drab and unattractive
with furnishings insufficient for COM
fort"
The survey by the Childrens Bu-
feau is being made at request of the
District Board of Public Welfare. The
National Training School for Boys and
certain unconstitutional services for
children given by the Welfare Board
are also under investigation, but con-
ditions there will not be revealed un-
til completion Of the study.
At the National Training School fol
Girls the investigators found l8 girls
10 of whom had babies, living in one
small building without nursery. The
kitchen, laundry and dining room were
combined in one room. A single Goa
range provides heat for cooking anc
for heating bath water for the staff
the girls and their babies Along one
side Of the room is row of station
ary tubs, and opening out of the
kitchen are the bath rooms for the
entire building.
Lack of Hot Water.
Throughout the institution it is re-
ported there is lack of hot water fol
bathing purposes, and in one cottage
q wing of IL rooms is without heat OF
artificial light except for a four-coi
radiator and lights in the corridor.
Funds for renovating and repair
ing the buildings, installing modern
plumbing, laundry, kitchen and dining
facilities. and thoroughly cleaning and
fumigating for vermin and rats, are
urgently needed. the Children's Bu-
reau reported. But even more impor-
tant, the report stated. is the need
for more adequate health, teaching,
office and parole service.
Staff members with other duties
conducted the school, which was held
during the Winter months for only
two hours in the afternoon, although
most of the girls are desperately in
need of special educational opportuni-
ties, the investigators reported. No
reports were kept of school progress,
the work was not graded and no re-
port cards were issued. Instruction
in sewing and cooking and some in
struction. with inadequate equipment,
constitute the vocational training.
There is no stenographer available
for maintaining records.
Parole Officer Burdened.
The one parole officer on the staff
has a number Of duties in the insti-
tuition not related to parole work. de-
spite the fact he is responsible for
supervision of about 100 girls on pa
role. more than twice the number re-
earded as the maximum case load for
effective work.
Records on June /, 1885. show there
were $50 children from the District
at the three institutions under the
Board of Public Welfare
Since July, 1885" the bureaus re-
port disclosed, "only two commitments
have been made to the National Train
ing School for Girls because of the
recognized deficiencies in the plant
and training given. With the ap-
pointment of DR.. Carrie Weaver Smith
as superintendent. active steps are
being taken by the Board OF Public
Welfare to bring the institution up
to the standards outlined by the
Childrens Bureau in its preliminary
report to the board"
Outlining the characteristics of an
adequate institutional program, the
bureau recommended personnel
which under vigorous and imaginative
leadership will be qualified to organ
lie and develop the program; pro-
vision for living arrangements on a
cottage plan for all children; physical
equipment necessary for the adequate
development of the educational, voca-
tional and social program; an educa-
tional program along progressive lines;
vocational training program and
general improvement in service and
facilities for health, recreation, mental
hygiene and adjustment work by pa
role officers