RESCUE WORK FOR YOUNG CHILDREN . [To the Editor of
the SPECTATOR.] • SIR,—One,may take it for granted that most eduCated people acknowledge the need of what is.usually called rescue work, and are . aware that it is._being carried out at an enormous cost of time, energy, and money by the League of Nations, societies, Church, and individuals. But comparatively few people know or wish to know about this subject. It is revolting to polite ears, and involves the use of words refined people prefer not to use. England aims at educating all her children over the age of five years. In school hours they are safe. Can this be said of the parks and open spaces where they play; the alleys, yards, and cul de sacs, not too well lighted, frequented by a certain type of evilly disposed man ? Sometimes children are as,saulted, at borne when the mother is away and there is no one to, protect the-child, and no witness to bring the culprit to justice. Brothers, and alas ! the father, come in late, having taken " a drop too much," and share the room, and often the bed, where a little girl sleeps.
Overcrowding certainly is one source of this danger. Better houses would eliminate the evil so far as it exists in the home, but the young children of a working-class mother are often sent out on errands, and older ones nearing their teens take the babies in the " pram into the park or on to the common : such children afford an easy prey to a vicious or slightly abnormal man or lad. The result to the child—sometimes a mere baby of four or five—cannot be described here. Very few men are 'convicted. A young child can rarely describe or recognize her assailant. There is often no evidence but the child's, and the man remains at large to ruin other girls and corrupt boys.
. Police-women, however, do fine preyentive work in a few parks and gardens : where they-patrol, little girls. are safe. Should not a- little girl's evidence be always taken by a police- woman ? It is certainly undesirable for a little girl to give her evidence in Court. The child has to repeat her evidence several times, and this is in itself an evil.
Children brought up in these surroundings often, respond in a wonderful way to a change of environment, a transfer to another school, a few months of wholesome country life, an introduction to a Club play,centre, to the interest of becoming a " brownie " or a " cub." Where a child is known to have been assaulted it may be wise to send her away for a long period, possibly until she is of age to. earn her own. living. There are some splendid homes where such children can forget the ugly past and have a fresh start in fine,influences.
School-teachers are often conscious that a pupil is in moral danger, but they are not always in a position to help the child. Can this work be carried through by just anyone or everyone—policewomen, magistrates, visitors from church, chapel, or town-hall, school-teachers and clergy ? It Semis to demand training, a knowledge:of the law and of psychology, tact, leisure, funds, a study of human nature and of child
nature. Only a specially trained worker can deal efficiently with this problem. 'In some towns and in some parts of England it has been ignored. London has its system for dealing with these children so far as they are known—but how many are never known ! With the Diocese of Southwark rests the honour of starting this form of rescue work.. Its association maintains five highly trained workers, their salaries provided by those to whom• childhood is sacred. In one year over four hundred children needed their help.
.• Needless to say the work is crippled for lack of fund& It is a costly affair to send a child away for months or years. This preventive work cries out for help, and there are still many places where no one is alive to this evil and little effort is made to guard the children.—I am, Sir, &c., .
4 •
L. C. STREATFEILD.• 33 Craven Terrace, W. 2.
[While we are glad to publish this letter by a, life-long social worker, we regret. we cannot open our dOlumns to discussion on this subject.-7-En. Spectator.]
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