_Young Delinquents._--Mary G. Barnett, London 1913, Methuen and Co.
Ltd., pp. 222.
Miss Barnett’s book is a very clear exposition of the British system
of Industrial and Reformatory Schools for taking care of children
fallen, or in the danger of falling, into criminal ways. As such an
exposition it very properly gives, after a few introductory statements
as to the chief causes of juvenile delinquency, the legal basis of
the system at present in vogue which is found in the Children’s Act
of 1908, by which the existing schools and their accessories take
their proper places in the scheme provided or sanctioned. Thus far
the book is merely the description of the fundamental determinants,
in a legal way, for a particular place--Great Britain. With the
description of the schools themselves, their physical conditions,
financing, management, difficulties of personnel, discipline, methods
of elementary, industrial and religious education, of social training,
of employment, inadequate facilities of proper aftercare, the methods
of administration of single institutions and of the whole system
of institutions, their inspection, and a horde of other things, we
get into territory that is as pertinent to our own problems in this
field as it is across the sea. The book shows that the author has
had an extended and intimate acquaintance with her subject, and has
made good use of her gift of observation. As one would expect, there
are numerous weaknesses in the system for which remedies should be
found. Such suggested remedies are included in the last chapter
of the book, in a resume of the findings and conclusions of the
Departmental Committee appointed in 1911 to look into the matter of
these schools. To give a complete list of all the recommendations of
that committee would be out of place here. But its most important
features should be, if only briefly, mentioned. First appears the need
for a special central authority, expert and responsible, to set a
standard and maintain it; there should be woman members on the boards
of managers; employees should be properly pensioned. The chief cause
of unsatisfactory conditions is found to be inadequate finances. In
reference to the children themselves, the principal demands are for
more intensive classification, particularly by age, more education,
especially physical training, less drudgery, less punishment, more
individual attention. Definite methods for rendering reports, for
extending after-care, for utilising voluntary aid are suggested, and
the uselessness is shown of some of the petty yet harmful restrictions,
as for example silence at meals.
Miss Barnett discusses conditions in a different land, but the greater
part of her discussion can be applied directly to our own conditions.
The book should be in the hands of every member of the board of
managers of a reform school.