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 788 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

by the court to the state public school. All rights of the parents over the child are thereby severed, all their duties toward it absolved. The child, upon commitment, becomes a ward of the board of control of the institution.

This board of control is composed of three persons appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, for six years. It is a continuous body, as one member is appointed each two years. It has full charge of the institution and of the education and placing out of the children.

In the school the children are taught the common branches, and receive physical and moral training. Here they remain until prepared for family life and suitable homes can be found for them. If any are not adapted to family life, or if homes cannot be found for them, they are returned at the age of sixteen to the superintendents of the poor, to be cared for as other dependents.

The institution is intended to be only a school and a tem- porary home. The board of control is to use due diligence in placing its wards with suitable families. It is to employ a state agent to find such homes and to visit children when placed in them. This agent is assisted in the work by the county agents of the state board of corrections and charities.

The salary of the state agent, the expenses and salaries of the board of control, and all expenses incident to the school are borne by the state. 1

Michigan's law establishing a state institution has been copied, with some variations, by the other states mentioned above. The Rhode Island state home and school for children receives those between four and fourteen years of age who are declared to be "vagrant, neglected, and dependent upon the public for sup- port." The superintendents of the poor and the societies for the prevention of cruelty to children are to report all abandoned and neglected children and all in the almshouse to the probate court, whereupon they are committed to the state home and

f 1962-1983, as amended in 1885, 1887, and 1889. For a fuller statement of the law and an account of the system, see Mr. Randall's article referred to above.