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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 81

Principles of Work

Principles of Work.

The Republic is now an all-the-year-round home for children founded on the belief—

First—That a boy or girl may break a law, or commit offense, and still not be, necessarily, what is known as "bad" or "criminal".

Second—That as a rule a boy or girl who commits an offense against social or civic laws, is possesed of many of the qualities, courage, leadership, self-reliance, will, which if rightly directed will make the strongest character and the best citizens. And that to direct and page 4 develop these qualities and to instil the sense of responsibility, honor, self respect and the respect of the rights of others or in a word to make a citizen, requires more than arbitrary authority.

Third—That to separate a child who has broken the law, or who is criminally inclined, or an unmanageable child from the normal environments of educational, commercial, social, civic, religious and home conditions, and commit him at an impressional age for a definite period to an institution where he is thrown in constant contact with the hardened criminal, where he is restrained by rigid discipline from acting upon his own initiative, and where his individuality is lost id numbers—will never prepare him for the problems and responsibilities of life and citizenship which will confront him upon his release from that institution.

Fourth—But that to develop a sense of responsibility the child must have responsibility placed upon it; to overcome pauperism the child must learn self-support; and to respect law and order, the child [unclear: most] practice self-government.