SYLLABUS OF CIVIC PROBLEMS. 35 



CHAPTER VIII. 



PUBLIC CHARGES. 

 Section 1. Dependent Children 



1. Some causes of child dependency. 



a. Unemployment. 



b. Drink. 



c. Desertion. 



d. Accident during occupation. 



e. Death of parent. 



f. Delinquency of parent — imprisonment. 



g. Sexual indulgence, 

 h. Feeble mindodness. 



i. Laxness in punishment of wife desertion. 



2. Institutional care of dependent children. 



a. Extent of such care in the United States. 



b. High death rate due to prenatal abuse ; insufficient attention ; infection ; 



syphilis. 



c. Conditions for entering an orphanage. 



Careful investigation. 



Absolute control of child by institution. 



Medical examination and segregation of delinquent defectives. 



d. Personnel of superintendent — should be : 



A good business person. 

 A trained worker. 

 Irreproachable character. 



e. Standard for orphans' home. 



As nearly like a real home as possible. 

 Should give training for artistic appreciation. 

 Should train for occupation. 



f. The cottage plan. 



Not more than twelve children to a cottage. 



House-mother. 



Cottage in the country. 



Advantages. 



g. Objections to institutional care. 



Child no economic experience. 

 No parent love. 

 Uniform discipline. 



Child leaves institution at critical period of life. 

 High death rate. 

 Institutional sins. 

 Cost. 

 h. Objections of State aid to private institutions. 

 Run for profit by its management. 

 No adequate supervision. 

 State should superintend the spending of State money. 



3. Boarding out. 



a. Advantages — better food ; better sanitary surroundings. 



b. Surroundings natural. 



c. Child gets greater variety of experience. 



d. Disadvantage — inadequate investigation as to where the child is placed. 



4. Placing out. 



a. Object — to lead to adoption of child i»y foster-parents. 



b. Child placing societies, good and bad. 



c. Need of careful investigation before placing. 



d. Visits by a trained agent. 



e. Replacing. 



f. Value of placing out. 



