In this passage, Jacob Riis highlights the fact that reformatories often push the kids sent to them down a worse path by exposing them to older and more corrupt influences. Instead of rehabilitating these young boys, the system frequently aggravates their circumstances, transforming them into "rough young savages." Riis argues that the risks associated with reformatories are so significant that it is ultimately safer for these boys to remain on the streets, despite the dangers involved. This stark reality reflects the neglect and systemic failures of society to protect and guide vulnerable children, resulting in a cycle of poverty and delinquency that perpetuates their suffering.
Use the passage from Jacob Riis's 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 the rough young savage, familiar from the street.” – Jacob Riis
In a paragraph of 3–5 sentences, analyze what Riis is saying about the lives of young boys in New York City’s slums.
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In this passage, Jacob Riis highlights the fact that reformatories often push the kids sent to them down a worse path by exposing them to older and more corrupt influences.
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