Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/19

 SCHOOLS FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN 5

Since its organization in 1877 the Illinois Industrial School for Girls has received 1,791 girls, and discharged 1,428. These girls have been cared for at a total cost of $359,91 1.54, of which the counties paid $193,680.71. The per-capita cost has been $24 1. It is claimed by the school authorities that 80 per cent, of the girls discharged remain either with their relatives or with the friends to whose care they have been committed. According to this estimate, the school has saved from dependency, and pos- sibly from crime, about 1,100 of the 1,428 girls discharged ; but even if this estimate is somewhat exaggerated, we must consider the work of the school a success, however much its organization and methods might be improved.

II. THE CHICAGO INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.

This school grew out of the desire of Roman Catholics for an institution to which dependent children of Catholic parents might be committed. It was incorporated on November I, 1885, under the act of 1872 concerning corporations, and about the same time availed itself of the provisions of the law of 1879 regulating industrial schools. The children were at first taken care of at the House of the Good Shepherd and St. Josephs' Orphan Asylum in Chicago, but the supreme court decided that this was not a compliance with the Industrial Schools Act, and that the school must be housed in separate buildings, and organ- ized for the exclusive purpose of carrying out the provisions of the law. Accordingly a fine building on Forty-ninth street and Prairie avenue was secured, and the Sisters of the Good Shep- herd were placed in charge of the school. The children are well taken care of, but it is obvious that the objection made by the state board of charities to the location of the Illinois Industrial School for Girls is applicable to the Chicago school. Owing to its location in the heart of the city on a small lot, there is no opportunity for gardening, poultry-raising, or dairy work, instruc- tion in which would be very desirable, especially if these girls are to be placed in country homes. At first the girls placed out were sent to the pastor of the parish in which they were to live, and he secured homes for them, but this arrangement proving