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Editorial
March 8, 1959
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
Editorial by William Fowlkes critiques state negligence in two child tragedies: a overcrowded school bus crash in South Georgia drowning nine children, and a fire at an Arkansas reform school killing 21 boys due to locked doors and no guard. Questions care for children in custody, links to segregation and discrimination in the South, urging better protection.
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SEEING and SAYING
By
WILLIAM FOWLKES
World's Managing
Editor
"What Do They Do With Our Children?"
LAST WEEK an unusual number of major tragedies bore
down upon us!
In South Georgia, an obviously overcrowded school bus
skidded off a dirt road, down an embankment and overturned
into a pond. Nine children were drowned and many others
hospitalized and treated for shock and minor injuries.
In Arkansas, 21 boys at a reform school were burned to
death in a locked dormitory. Nobody was on hand to rouse
them and unlock doors in order that they could
escape fiery death.
STATE AUTHORITIES involved with both
tragedies admitted negligence in kind for
what occurred. The Georgia school bus
should not have been overcrowded, al-
lowing for loss of control of the vehicle
which struck ruts in the road. The Arkan-
sas industrial school dormitory should not
have been without a guard or attendant,
ab'e to act when disaster struck.
ACCIDENTS will happen. They do so somewhere on earth
every hour in the day, virtually every minute in the hour, some-
where on earth.
NEVERTHELESS, there were questions propounded to me
following the drowning and fire incidents that may be worthy
of passing on to the general public:
"What do they do with our children? Do our state auth-
orities make sincere efforts to adequately care for them
when our children are in their care and/or custody? Are
they herded and treated as animals less than human be-
ings?
THESE are rough questions about "rough" situations which
still plague the South. For, the underlying factors of our day-
to-day living point to segregation and discrimination, the twin
faults that make for area inadequacies and unhappiness for
the South's children.
To treat them less than the South's greatest potential is
to play with the future of a great civilization, accidents
notwithstanding! The South needs all its children and their
capabilities. Their loss, either by accident or design, is a
high crime that must be guarded against in schools, homes,
churches, industry and the state itself.
It Is Up to every interested citizen to fully know what is
being done with our children
By
WILLIAM FOWLKES
World's Managing
Editor
"What Do They Do With Our Children?"
LAST WEEK an unusual number of major tragedies bore
down upon us!
In South Georgia, an obviously overcrowded school bus
skidded off a dirt road, down an embankment and overturned
into a pond. Nine children were drowned and many others
hospitalized and treated for shock and minor injuries.
In Arkansas, 21 boys at a reform school were burned to
death in a locked dormitory. Nobody was on hand to rouse
them and unlock doors in order that they could
escape fiery death.
STATE AUTHORITIES involved with both
tragedies admitted negligence in kind for
what occurred. The Georgia school bus
should not have been overcrowded, al-
lowing for loss of control of the vehicle
which struck ruts in the road. The Arkan-
sas industrial school dormitory should not
have been without a guard or attendant,
ab'e to act when disaster struck.
ACCIDENTS will happen. They do so somewhere on earth
every hour in the day, virtually every minute in the hour, some-
where on earth.
NEVERTHELESS, there were questions propounded to me
following the drowning and fire incidents that may be worthy
of passing on to the general public:
"What do they do with our children? Do our state auth-
orities make sincere efforts to adequately care for them
when our children are in their care and/or custody? Are
they herded and treated as animals less than human be-
ings?
THESE are rough questions about "rough" situations which
still plague the South. For, the underlying factors of our day-
to-day living point to segregation and discrimination, the twin
faults that make for area inadequacies and unhappiness for
the South's children.
To treat them less than the South's greatest potential is
to play with the future of a great civilization, accidents
notwithstanding! The South needs all its children and their
capabilities. Their loss, either by accident or design, is a
high crime that must be guarded against in schools, homes,
churches, industry and the state itself.
It Is Up to every interested citizen to fully know what is
being done with our children
What sub-type of article is it?
Social Reform
Education
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Child Welfare
School Bus Accident
Reform School Fire
State Negligence
Segregation
Discrimination
South Children
What entities or persons were involved?
William Fowlkes
State Authorities
South Georgia School Bus
Arkansas Reform School
South's Children
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Negligent Treatment Of Children In State Care And Impact Of Segregation In The South
Stance / Tone
Critical Of State Authorities And Segregation, Moral Exhortation For Better Child Protection
Key Figures
William Fowlkes
State Authorities
South Georgia School Bus
Arkansas Reform School
South's Children
Key Arguments
Overcrowded School Bus In South Georgia Led To Crash And Drowning Of Nine Children Due To Negligence
Locked Dormitory At Arkansas Reform School Caused 21 Boys' Deaths In Fire With No Guard Present
State Authorities Admitted Negligence In Both Incidents
Accidents Happen, But Questions Arise About Sincere Care For Children In Custody
Children Treated As Less Than Human, Herded Like Animals
Segregation And Discrimination Underlie Inadequacies And Unhappiness For South's Children
Treating Children Poorly Jeopardizes The South's Future Civilization
Loss Of Children Is A High Crime To Guard Against In All Institutions
Citizens Must Know And Ensure Proper Care For Children