Commercialized Prostitution in New York CityKneeland, George J. (George Jackson)
History
Commercialized Prostitution in New York City
Kneeland, George J. (George Jackson)
Prostitution -- New York (State) -- New York
The New York State Training School receives girls under sixteen years of
age from the entire state. Those from New York City come through the
Children's Court. The equipment of the school is very good, the chief need
being for more room. The cottage system used accommodates 385 girls, in
separate sleeping rooms. It is, however, necessary to use other buildings
and parts of buildings for housing purposes. The households are
practically independent of each other, thereby offering, as far as is
possible, the conditions and spirit of a real home.
The methods of work and the life in the school are most commendable. A
personal and individual interest in each girl is manifest from the time of
commitment through the school life and for years after the school is left.
By careful study each one is placed in the cottage and environment where
she will receive the most help and the best training. Changes to insure
development are made, as necessary. A girl's grading depends on her
conduct and proficiency. Discipline is varied, with the principle always
in mind that the individual and not the offense is to be treated.
Humiliation and loss of self-respect are avoided, if possible. The living
conditions and training seem excellent. The girls do the cottage work,
changes being so arranged as to give all a thorough experience in
housework. School sessions of fifteen hours weekly in the morning and
eight weekly in the afternoon prevail. The morning session is the book
school, the afternoon the industrial school. Cooking, plain sewing,
dressmaking, physical culture, gardening, and vocal music are carefully
taught. Religious instruction is given by representatives of various
churches under direction of the state. Amusements are afforded at proper
times, are well arranged and heartily indulged in. That there is a spirit
of pride and enthusiasm in work and a feeling of happiness in the life is
quite believable when one realizes that so many old girls wish to visit
the school that they cannot be accommodated. The records show that the
delinquent girl of normal mind can be and is cured. Girls of sub-normal
mind are still to some extent cared for in this school; but they should be
in a special institution.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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