lack of recognition of the child's deficiencies. This blindness may be the result of a mixture of ignorance, hope, and love. Occasionally it appears to be a direct refusal to acknowledge what the specialist considers a very evident weakness. To illustrate my point: All my life I have been told that a favorite sister of mine has a slight deficiency in her enunciation—a sort of a lisp. But I have never been able to discover it. Parents frequently find themselves in the same position in regard to the mental, moral, and even physical defects of their children. But the teacher, with keen and impartial eyes, should readily detect those traits and conditions which indicate social malady. If perchance the school is manned by teachers who have a nice mixture of wisdom and love added to their discerning powers, the school at once becomes a powerful factor in the process of prevention and probation.

A lack of understanding should be recognized by both educational and social forces as a serious handicap. History itself has proved their interdependence. Yet we seem far from a proper conception of the value of the one to the other. Frequently the educational people feel that the social worker is an intruder (if they are kind enough to refrain from using the word "busybody"), and the social worker in turn is all but overcome by what she terms the stupidity of the teacher; or her indictment may include the whole process of education. Doubtless there is something of truth in both criticisms; but I believe that every social worker recognizes the school as the greatest public institution for the making of citizens, and that we should consecrate ourselves to the task of serving as a complementary agency so that the system may in time be able to meet individual, rather than mass, needs.

If at times we become discouraged (I, myself, plead guilty) because the school will not understand us, because they will not employ teachers who have a practical idea of the whole scope of education, let us stimulate ourselves with the hope that through our constant and occasionally successful efforts we may help to bring about a better understanding and application of those methods which will actually achieve the real purpose of all education, i.e., to produce citizens who have the knowledge and ability to solve, with skill and courage, their own particular problems of human existence in such a way that the pattern of the whole will at once be made stronger and more beautiful.

A satisfactory relationship between the church and the juvenile court, or any form of social work, is more difficult to bring about than that of the school. The school has been forced, as it were, to reckon with ever changing social and economic conditions. It was inevitable that the pinched-faced little boy with the tight, threadbare jacket, as he sat day after day shivering and hungry and failing in his studies, should in time plead his own case. Only a cruel heart or blinded eyes could have resisted his appeal, or that of the mentally deficient child who, try hard as he might, could not be interested in the three R's, but could create more disturbance than all the rest of the children put together. Some effort in behalf of these children had to be made in order that the ma

complicated an already difficult problem. Occasionally on amazed to find the existence of a sort of competween the juvenile court and other social agenv what is considered a usurpation of rights.

hich should not exist. A calm conference estion should result in an intelligent undertion and leading to permanent cooperation. .t I close this paper by a reference to my own ally requested to do so; besides, I feel that it is y-six chief probation officers, with their nine ning of their efforts as well as my own.

of state organization and supervision has raised our juvenile court workers from five to twenty-nine, and venile court purposes is six times as large as it was in eral counties, through the preliminary state educational able to obtain appropriations which have guaranteed the obation officers-with transportation and adequate office was accomplished before the worker began her duties, and in ...ported officer, before she was even on the ground.

ride and not a tinge of regret-that I tell you that in a few ve been able to secure better salaries for the local officers than I ve, and I state with even more pride that they are earning every

ir salaries. Full time service, with transportation, office equipment, les commensurate with the work done, is ever my plea to county quorum courts, and county juvenile court boards. The advantage of over institutions for all our children, and the wisdom of the administraof mothers' aid rather than paupers' pensions is constantly stressed. We ize that we have not even approached the standards that are set up for ..cient juvenile court work; but we feel that by our constant efforts to cooperate, to increase our skill, and render real service, we are moving in the right direction.

You will readily recognize that my own share in this "moving forward" for the sake of Arkansas' unfortunate children has been very small, since we have seventy-five counties and the state department has ever been crippled by a lack of funds as well as of personnel. The most I can hope to do, barring the securing of appropriations, is to help create and maintain that "intangible equipment" of which we have already spoken.

The probation officers themselves, who have battled against great odds, are largely responsible for the ground that we have gained. For almost four years I have watched them with eager and impartial eyes. I have considered the conditions under which they have labored, the progress they have made, the service they have rendered, and the place they have won. Naturally, I have arrived at certain conclusions as to the requisite qualifications of a good pro

chinery of the school might move. True, the effort nor scientific nor even systematic, but a general of physical and moral fitness in connection wi gaining ground, even in rural districts.

But the group represented by these childre into the house of worship. Or if it has (as the creased attendance or membership), the sharp has been too great, and the following Sunday remained at home. Meantime the church b custom of glorifying God in its cushioned p in the last decade I think an elevating of c1 about. We are coming to believe that the as the reflection of the light of his simple li than an indication of a mystical birth or organizations are becoming more and mo right appeal is made they frequently ar it is evident that they do not respond to

I have dwelt at some length upon rural communities these two are the We are rapidly coming to the place, more men's civic clubs. These men ar County federations of women's vides the remote rural woman from a needless one, and with the arrival home-economics workers, it bids f at last, to know that every wom her obligation as a citizen she children.

It is difficult to win and ho since the educational program regular work of the court rece worth while, and we should re institutions and general pub' clearer conception of what we the requisite equipment for confused as to our needs. 1 the minds of men, must al ment.

I have not spoken of lished law-enforcing ager here. Neither does it se specialized agencies of 1 rural probation officer's

wl

these,

hope

give to

REN
NORMAL

F

ining School

o announce in clerical rs of Youth in Conflict by very human Miriam by anyone whose humility i have been superintendent , but never have I so clearly 'it not to have done, and left as I did when I read Dr. Van aily I fell to singing that wonder, Oh Lord, standin' in the need of ore you, attempting to answer the ..n institution to fulfil its divine misLas in any sense arrived, but who, in have enough faith in the possibilities of

se of what may seem the "vain repetition the question that has been put to me, by a

for normal, social relationships? Not if it ships characterize the great world outside : the statement of a cynic. The foundation of Bed "correctional institution" is laid when an eve that between her and the normal a great

1

be brought to the training school because her far out of line that the normal community would ows that, in the immortal words of David Harum, re in some folks as there is in others, if not more."

zations. This greatly complicated an already difficult problem. Occasionally in my own state I have been amazed to find the existence of a sort of competition that amounted to envy between the juvenile court and other social agencies. Usually this is brought about by what is considered a usurpation of rights. Whatever its cause, it is a condition which should not exist. A calm conference as to what is best for the client in question should result in an intelligent understanding ending the temporary friction and leading to permanent cooperation.

It is with some hesitancy that I close this paper by a reference to my own work. But I have been specifically requested to do so; besides, I feel that it is only just to Arkansas' twenty-six chief probation officers, with their nine assistants, to tell you something of their efforts as well as my own.

Three and a half years of state organization and supervision has raised our number of full time, paid juvenile court workers from five to twenty-nine, and our annual budget for juvenile court purposes is six times as large as it was in October, 1921. In several counties, through the preliminary state educational work, we have been able to obtain appropriations which have guaranteed the service of skilled probation officers-with transportation and adequate office equipment. This was accomplished before the worker began her duties, and in the event of an imported officer, before she was even on the ground.

It is with pride—and not a tinge of regret-that I tell you that in a few counties I have been able to secure better salaries for the local officers than I myself receive, and I state with even more pride that they are earning every dollar of their salaries. Full time service, with transportation, office equipment, and salaries commensurate with the work done, is ever my plea to county judges, quorum courts, and county juvenile court boards. The advantage of homes over institutions for all our children, and the wisdom of the administration of mothers' aid rather than paupers' pensions is constantly stressed. We realize that we have not even approached the standards that are set up for efficient juvenile court work; but we feel that by our constant efforts to cooperate, to increase our skill, and render real service, we are moving in the right direction.

You will readily recognize that my own share in this "moving forward" for the sake of Arkansas' unfortunate children has been very small, since we have seventy-five counties and the state department has ever been crippled by a lack of funds as well as of personnel. The most I can hope to do, barring the securing of appropriations, is to help create and maintain that "intangible equipment" of which we have already spoken.

The probation officers themselves, who have battled against great odds, are largely responsible for the ground that we have gained. For almost four years I have watched them with eager and impartial eyes. I have considered the conditions under which they have labored, the progress they have made, the service they have rendered, and the place they have won. Naturally, I have arrived at certain conclusions as to the requisite qualifications of a good pro