In this passage, Jacob Riis highlights the dire circumstances faced by young boys in New York's city slums, emphasizing the pervasive cycle of poverty and its impact on their development. He portrays these boys as vulnerable to societal institutions that may inadvertently exacerbate their negative traits rather than rehabilitate them. The threat of being sent to a reformatory looms large, suggesting that instead of offering protection and support, such facilities can lead to further moral degradation. Ultimately, Riis suggests that the environment and lack of opportunities foster a "rough young savage," indicating that these boys are products of their harsh surroundings rather than inherently flawed individuals.
use the paragraph from Jacob Riis's book How the other half lives to answer the question.
"caught in the street by the truant officer, or by the agents of the children's societies, peddling, perhaps, or begging, to help out the family resources, he runs the risk of being sent to a reformatory, where contact with vicious boys older than himself soon develop the latent possibilities for evil that lie hidden in him.... the risk of the reformatory is too great. what is done in the end is to let him take chances- with the chances all against him. the result is thr rough young savage, familiar from the street." -Jacob riis.
In 3-5 sentences, analyze what riis is saying about the lives of young boys in new york's city slums.
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