Letter from Alexander B. Geary to the Honorable George W. Wickersham Suggesting that Compulsory School Laws Contribute to Boys Becoming Criminals

ALEXANDER B. GEARY LAW BUILDING TELEPHONES JAMES L. RANKIN 12-14 E. 5TH STREET 2646-2647-2648 NOTARY PUBLIC MATTHEW RANKIN LAW OFFICES J OF GEARY & RANKIN CHESTER, PA. June 6, 1929. Hon. George W. Wickersham, Law Enforcement Commission, Washington, D. C. San Dear Mr. Wickersham: To begin with, I am convinced that you told the truth in your address yesterday. For some time, I have been inclined to believe that our compulsory education laws, as they exist, contribute some- what to the criminal class. In this State, a youth, until six- teen years of age, is prohibited from working and compelled to attend school. There are a large number of boys not bent toward a school education, and in addition to avoiding study, we find them loitering around street corners, pool rooms, etc.) with the result that when they arrive at sixteen years of age, they have not been trained to work, and it is practically impossible to per- suade them to work. From that class, come many of our hold-up men, gunmen, etc. You have probably noted that the greater part of the criminal class is made up of young men. Very truly, ABG: ALH A. E. Geary