SAVING CHILDREN. An Institution In Michigan Showing Remarkable Results.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 195, 19 March 1887, Page 8

SAVING CHILDREN. An Institution In Michigan Showing Remarkable Results.

The State Publio School for Dependent Children, located at this place, has just closed another year in the labour of childsaving. The institution is the creature of the State, has been in operation now twelve years, and the total value of the plant, including a farm of 109£ acres, is $219,413,057. The officers of the institution, who are now found in almost every county of the State, gather here dependent children wherever found, in the poorhouses, almshouse, and in neglected homes. Sometimes they are orphans, half living, but indigent and neglectful. To the State Public School they are brought, educated and trained, and homes for them found in this and other States, where the moat of them remain to grow into useful members of society. Since the institution was opened 2,138 dependent children have been cared for 1,112 of whom are now wards of the 1 State, and 795 ' are still subjects of visitation, the balance being in permanent homes which are satifactory to the State and the foster parent, During the entire exiatenco of the school but Beventy have died either in the schools or at homes out of the total number received, and at the end of the fiscal year 234 were present in tho school. The total number indentured is 551, of whom 155 have been indentured once, 343 twice, 103 three times, and one seven times. Of those in dentured, the youngest have been the most satisfactory and taken the most kindly to their adopted homes. The remainder of the total number received are reported as either having married, become of age, returned to the counties from which they came, or declared self-supporting, the State having censtant surveillance over them until their final disposition for one of the above causes. The school has a capacity of 300, but has never been taxed to its utmost. By an Act of the last Legislature children as young as two years are received, and a high estimate is placed upon the advantages of the kindergarten work. All grades of the school system are primary, and hereafter the children are to havea two months' vacation in summer. During the last two years the expooae of running the institution, making needed additions, repairs, and improvements, was nearly 50,000d015., but in a large degree it has be come self-supporting, and it is expected that the figures for the next two years will run but little over 40,000d01e. per jear. This is the pioneer institution of the kind in this country, and the -purpose of its establishment and come of the marked features of its managoment have made it known throughout the world and led neighbouring States to venture in the fame direction.