Salt Lake Herald-Republican | 1913-01-19 | Page 29 | Reforming Parents through Their Children

f M 41 j I I V f i ril i I a i t 7 1 j J I l y 51 j rn L i I i I t r i r iw f 1 i. i h J I r Jt I I I I f t I j j 1 1 fJ l f 1 A 1 t t 4 f r r rY A I I L- L F c s 2 J I Ir T o J f I r I e ec 0 I ct ll J e G l 5 fo pj f l J ft J p fl- fl i A cZ z f I. I s sF F S i- i iV V V- V sr s I V rr n How th the Reclamation RecI on ont t Work of the New Yorke York juvenile Courts o Is s e learned On as as Told by Judge John JohnB B. B Mayo Maya Their Presiding g Justice HE greatest realest hom home builders of the ers country country country coun- coun THE try are the childrens children's s courts of New NewYork 4 York In fact they altogether dwarf any y similar institutions For in instance instance in- in in- in stance Judge Lindsay's court in Colo- Colo rado has about 1 1000 cases cases a year They r i t have more than that in a month Of late attention has been directed to the methods by which these New 1 Y York J orl courts reform parents through ry their children r TIle The manner in in which delinquent adults adults' h I s are enabled to establish suitable homes 0 for their offspring is to say say 1 the least I I j i i unique L At the head e of oft the lu childrens children's courts committee come committee com- com is Justice John oh n B. B Mayo layo who i is also presiding 1 j judge b e in in the childrens children's court of f i New York county the largest children childrens childr n ns s s. s court in the world and he is virtually virtual also at the head of numerous other othel organizations which aid in juvenile mation In the following interview ets h he f explains how t the tit work worl of making home 4 i. i is conducted 1 h ht t. t N i PRACTICALLY L C I Y 1 every crr serious case Ff 1 I the childs child's s presence in in court means lH T 3 that tha t there is something b wrong b bt with nth r. r t t that 1 homo home come Often it zt is merely a II lath lack of attention given to the tIle childs child's 5 development dc nt a n. taking for grm granted ted that tha t school und and Sun nr- nr attendance n i ce arc are effecting all that is nee nee- essary ea sary in tho the matter of character a This I a great greM mistake School ool an and r Sunday Sundar school ire arc valuable aids to goo good home homo training hut but can cnn never never ne replace tho the latter atter most important social and land political factor History shows Allows that tho the existence o. o of the tho 4 home and mcl the necessity for i its l s defense led to the tho lU- lU formation of the township to on which h all aU our civic chic is based base and m my observation of t modern ethical con conditions both from a material tl and a n religious viewpoint has convinced me 1110 that tc f. f sound conditions iii ill the home homo must be bo tho basis of or our future futuro prowess progress unless miless we wc are arc to lo a adopt opt r tile the theories of socialism li m. m 51 13 t The going easy t typo type l e of parent above c re re- re frred to is aride arule as 03 11 e readily influenced tho the k of or hi lib his childs child's arraignment in court ourt and the tho hf ensuing revelations clation an and judicial comment meat are arc usually sufficient to insure futuro future vigilance r Parents morally wc weal weak whose dlO C neglect and m y 1 shiftless ss or dissolute d soli e habits have 0 been the cause canso their theil childrens children's appearance in court are arc asa n ns as a i general thing sincerely attached to their offspring off off- L 1 spring prin ring and mako make earnest efforts to improve their jk Monies homes as tl they realize that hat such improve- improve is imper imperative the I. I 11 JIl I o v ir f I r o J. J J fl I c 4 1 J. y j jt t h haiM aiM Lt I y rP P H J r N. N A 1 S f 4 r 1 4 a y rJ t n d s sk c Jilt rf f II lM C Cor These two t-o kin kinds hinds s of parents furnish almost all the tIle material for court cases Of course there thero are nrc rare cases of wanton cruelty just as ns there arc atc examples of S precocious n criminality and inS in- in individuals in in- h who whir n arc are mentally defective but their proportion of of the tot total is ir so small as to be negligible neg neg- li in a brief li f general al survey y As individual cases case CS s wi t al are of U roine of the utmost gravit T per Ninety per cent of all delinquent childr children tt brought llo i info our courts aro are subject to to some somo so sori t f of of religious OUS influence further said Justi t vj G-vj t Mayo 3 0 recently may no doubt doe does oe J Jound pound Found like life iJ o a s sweeping ing 0 assertion III In fact fact ft il man l to 1 1 C made the statement tom lt by br letter Jetter not long Iong ago ill in answers answer to l' l to a rC request request for for information mation as t 16 to J I our methods wrote hack back to Ito meto me mo meto to 10 find cut ut whether r 1 L really a meant what I said 11 lie s scented c mc to ta think the tho percentage should be lc cra reversed revered 1 i. i s I r was obliged to lo reply that HUlt I was not in error that error that inc out of ovel every ten ch children J not lacked Inched moral training To my mind however that Je merely eb goes to show that th there rc must be lc something J deeper t Cl than inere mere teaching teaching teaching teach teach- ing or ur preaching if wean wo e to reclaim those who ht hive have o gone Olt astray bee because tuse of their environments Of Clot what rood isit to u tell a h child that he bo lias wrong wh when lie is battered about b by y ll parents treat and tJ d flies hies to the ilia streets for fOl relief eliel i I do 10 not hot moan mean however to convey tho the idea is IS tho the only causo which deprives 1 children of pro proper pC home influences es Poverty is is often as much to o blame and mId the tho ne neg lect of parents cn engrossed g ros a in JIl in other pursuits We Ve cart expect too much of parents who iho t must toil toil tuil f from early morning ng g till 1 late ate at nt night o for a mere mere ext existence 11 When hen they come home in the tho evening O t they I w. w arc are so sa worn out that it is is' little wonder onder t if their l' l children Ih aro are neglected Besides Beside's that the tho whole family JUn way may be Le housed in ill a n few little rooms and suffer from lack Jack of or fresh fr sh Dir air and riDd nourishing food J ln lu 11 all any such case caso it Jt would woul be Le of no avail to punish li l the child or 01 the parents or both I rimy ant n ny right here hore that t ou our cO courts are engaged in hI a wor work of reclamation first of all till and ua that wo pyo consider punishment nt only as a last resort Likewise the really vicious children are arc largely in ilk the minority ost j of tho those c with whom wo 10 deal eal are purely delinquents and and respond easily 3 end and nol Ally to the tho proper roper influences itt Tt follows therefore that the gr ma groat-ma jor- jor ity it of or child children cn arc returned to to their natural guardians i r. r l rius after 3 hric detention lustin lasting mn maybe bo v r i sr r r t y v N IJ 10 L i J r 1 to A. A 4 i ii C J t I I. I i t tl r 1 1 a 1 y b w L G t f r 1 if r 1 I ft r 1 1 y t t s 0 0 1 I I 1 Q I Y It L rT I I S iii 1 i t e fL CJ a a Yi l jr j 0 t. t v 4 c- c 4 L Q I Ir I G V t r rc c I I a few hours maJ maybe Iii i k or 01 so Tho ho home c if it is Oll only self usta sustaining self 1 and Ud fairly suitable arid and decent is usually tho t. t place for ur even evett a u son son- delinquent chil child If Ji the surroundings are arc in ill ill some resI unsuitable le it iL is is right here hero that our homo building begins s. s Wo Vo do not attempt to give a child back to his tp-his his parents wit without out proper is buum supervision on until tho they arc are able able to care cure care for him 1 properly l' l but the tho probation 0 C and the tho volunteer volunteer volun volun- t teer el worker H sec to it that the child and amI his parents are afforded c tho fullest L Om opportunity of meeting g tho CO courts court's lt s requirements and tt are e oaten furnished with material assistance where their wood good intentions are aro apparent However er there thero ore aro ro ninny many times when for forthe forthe forthe the reasons I l have o given iv n. n we we- cannot parole a a youngster o tm into the custody o y of of his us parents Bee Dr- Dr Before Be Be- fore tore e they coul could coun reclaim lung him they would have hati e to be able to oi offer cr Iii in ta a relatively ly happy com coat fOlt table home are mc unable to do y w r r 1 c c r 6 j yr 1 s r. r 1 J li h t t- t t. t H 1 1 I I I J Hero y you rOlL eti eue encounter another phase of of our home h me g. g Does Docs tho appear r. r to to be capa capable le of improvement Can Cun tho the cause Iea leading lead Hl ing to fo the c court urt ch charge h bo be removed d 2 1 JI Has s the tim child previously been 1001 in ill cou court t so that it appears that attempts to aid hint him aU and his family Mire met have met with doubt doubtful f ul or only temporary success If the answers to these those questions are un un- fai the favorable the court COUlt will in cu cud its dil with the honk in order n to make room f for l' l nii nn i illi indirect in ill- direct i ct Q 4 often r more potent Wo To parole him hirn into into tho tho custo custody y of some l or 01 commit commit him hint to an au ins institution tit Ut where he will bowell bewell be bo well housed house Whenever h J cr c the they ar aro aro able his able his l parents are arc required red to pa for his or 01 rut rat least a a small nn amount out t per week weck say 1 2 2 fo GO You Ton would bo ho surprised t td to O observe C how the nb of uI parents are arc aroused When the they find it soitry to to create a real 1 or order cl t to se- se f cWIll chilil orcq e the they are lo not ot 6 a r i tf t Q 1 ij r. r 1 If j 31 I. I 1 i Oi i. r k 1 I Ill I fl t ty y ry i ti ti l 1 11 1 a i 1 III tJI 4 rS 1 r e n o dL f 4 ot rl r c e s mp men i ec umP h hj j tt always equal to the task themselves Either from rom ill J Juck ill health dissipation or n other causes they ma may maybe bo e too po poor r weak too or too or-too w ak to improve their conditions Still thy they nee never lack assistance Whatever se sex race creed or color wc we must deal with in inn the courts there thero is an organization to l look ok after it For example there are arc the Big Brothers and nud tho Big Sisters rs the various I Hebrew and Catholic societies tho the Society forthe for forthe the Pre Prevention of Cruelty to Children n and 8 several several sev sev- Veral V- V eral institutions institutions- for the tho care caro of colored chil- chil dzen is evident that a home hom m must s be rebuilt one ono of these organizations assumes a a a of the tho species guardianship over parents Ordinarily peo people Jc aro are rca ready enough to tp re rehabilitate re- re habilitate themselves if t they e p get got a arid and the the- various the various S charities find a fruitful field the for for the exercise of their means and their energies 0 At this juncture it may be well Sven to note noto tl alto e personality t of of the ilia ll e l to man um tit around whom cell center 01 these great organizations for h making homo and citizen Of all 11 the tho country's it itis itis itis is probable that directly and l indirectly h lie has has' the had had the careers of more children inn in his in-his his hands other othe American I than any As to to- appearance c he is large strong im iun- impressive I Hardly more than in his prime hiS lair hair n and d mustache hc are l' l 0 of then the valor color bespeaks be e- e sI speaks s' s ex experience 1 His lis clear er eyes s r ild coin 1 and broad shoulders aro arc expressive i. i oT of regular living lining 1 l' l lie he is is is' is at ontie onee firm and nd kindly Ho Iro bo lo said to un a g gentleman 1 l il ilof of tHe old v. or t h o thu braces braces' grac s' s of tint the one and the of-the other Ey c chilt child t ing ms ins bc o tile m i is is iio l tt e ein in heir N C Mork lork- lork oll and m ud l 1 New e eor York r or was ns tl the fi rH y to undertake it H on ai so extensive c a n Jt ho ho ha has been beell atthe l tho the childrens children's nt lt court ho lie j justice of the court of oI i s l ses sessions s 's sion t he was is a magistrate un and ir s' s hi ills ia- Jl- Jl born ya 1 s the they young the hung nail anil hi his natural his for fol dealing with the tho s of y that led leil to his his' for the tho Ii v. it n occupies I. I 1 present At tTe rc wt the there th re nrc are in ill nt the nei od odor c cof I of or l t cs n I L before the ther l the City ity of Ne New Xo v York anti amI the thew U e counties s of If f New l Cw ty York l' l w olk h. h Rings Kings Queens and lud Q f. f these all lint a 3 small hige are aro f im I way W rd or 01 yi career CO I a O I ON i Paci 1 PAGE PAGE- GI 1 t f i j q Jt 1 L o. J. f Y 10 tv Y 1 I 0 1 r rio t rf io f