NEGLECTED CHILDREN

Evening Star, Issue 7259, 9 July 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

NEGLECTED CHILDREN

TO THE EDITOR. Sn,—A great deal of discussion is going on just now as to the age at which children should attend school, and also as to the requisite standard to be passed; but Ido not find that any notice is taken of tha number of children who do not attend any school, but are allowed to grow up in ignorance and help to swell the list of criminals, and consequently to add to our already heavy taxation. In your paper of the sth was the following notue:—" Two more boys were brought up at the City Police Court this morning on charges of coal-stealing, the coal this time having been taken from the Union Steam Ship Company's railway trucks in K&ttray street. The boys were Duncan Smith and Albert Beath, and, although the clearest evidence was given of their having stolen the coal, both strenuously denied having done so. The Bench said that it was a pity to send them to gaol; but they would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on; so that if ever they were again caught committing an offence of the. kind they would be severely punished. The Bench also expressed the opinion that the parents of such boys were most to blame, for if children took coal home they must know that it had been stolen. Messrs J. Ashcroft and A. Bartleman were the presiding Justices of the Peace." The Justices were quite right in saying that it was a pity to send the boys to gaol, also in censuring the parents, but nothing was said about the boys going to school. One day last week I counted over thirty boys and girls, all of school age, on and in the neighborhood of the wharf. Some of them were fishing, some playing about, and the rest on the prowl to see what could be picked up. This was at 11 a. m. In all probability numbers more, similarly occupied, were wandering about iu other parts of the town. It is disgraceful that this state of things should be allowed to exist, and that children who have indolent or vicious parents, and are therefore those who should bo most carefully looked after by the educational authorities are, entirely neglected. We have only lately had mo*t fearful instances of revolting brutality and vice committed by mtre children, in all probability brought about by their being totally neglected. Would it not be wise to see that all of proper ago attended school before we settle whether the Bible shall be road or not to those already provided with education ? _ ......! Our national education is so expensive that it is asserted that its cost can be materially lessened without impairing its efficiency. With all the cost arc there no inspectors to look up children; If there are how is it they neglect their duty .' We hear so much of people's rights. Have poor neglected children no rights ? In the scramble for place in the near future tho neglected children will have good causo to complain. Charles Dickens, a great advocate for education, said— Though house and lands he never (tot, Learning can givo what they cannot. —lam, etc., G. P. Clifford. Dunedin, July 6.