CITIZEN-MAKING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 138, 10 December 1908, Page 8

CITIZEN-MAKING.

AMERICA'S ENTERPRISE. One of the most admirable of the modern movements in the United States is the desire of various Legislatures and energetic leagues of citizens to do the best in their power for children of tender years. The Americans, .for a year or two past, have had an almost feverish desire to make good citizens out of the most unpromising material. From time to time The Post has given reports of American plans for the sane education of children, and is now able to give from an excellent magazine, Charities and the Commons (stocked at the Wellington Public Library), one of the latest attempts to make erring young humanity go straight. The experiment is in progress in the public schools of Montclair, New Jersey, and are described by Frank F. Gray, supervisor of the Department of Attendance. "The correction of the so-called incorrigible children," he says, "the care of juvenile delinquents, and the enforcement of the compulsory education law, together with other work related to and naturally classified with the foregoing, are undertaken as part of the educational system of Montclair, New Jersey, under the head of the Department of Attendance. Some of the allied work is : Assistance in securing proper employment for children of sufficiently advanced age who desire to work outside of regular school hours ; providing or directing to relief, 1 particularly in cases where the rigid enforcement of the compulsory law would otherwise work hardship ; and the prevention of cruelty to children. In this kind of educational work Montclair stands alone, at present, so far as we know. "When, despite his teacher's best efforts, it is evident that a pupil is habitually becoming a detriment' to his associates, he is placed under 'observation.' Papers are made out in triplicate — one for himself, one for his parents, and one for his teocher — stating the cause of the issue of the paper, and giving warning of the consequences <)f continuance of unsatisfactory conduct. Thereafter the pupil must be reported to the supervisor of the department, under whose disciplinary care he remains till he has proven his ability to behave himself habitually as he should. He must also make a personal call on the supervisor at stated times. In the event of continued delinquency he is placed in a special class conducted by the supervisor. Here old scores are erased, so far as the boy can notice. The boy begins again with a clear record, which he may maintain so long as he is in the class, if he tries. The boys_ are never called 'bad.' They are received as gentlemen, and by every suggestion are made to feel that no one expects them to bo anything else at any time. The influence of this treatment alone is sufficient in many cases — though by no means in all. "In this class every pupil ia studied as an individual. Note is made of his daily record, also of nis previous teachers, his history, habits, tastes, disposition, environment, etc. Notes, similar in many respects, are made with reference to his parents. The pupil's photograph is taken purely for purposes of character study : there is nothing even savouring of the 'rogues' gallery.' Pupils take an interest in the pictures, copies of which are given to them." Tho supervisor has full police powers, granted by the Town Council primarily "t tho imggeation of tha cV : «i of Dolioe,