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..
In this passage, Jacob Riis is expressing concern for the lives of young boys in New York City's slums. He highlights the various risks and challenges they face, such as being caught by truant officers or children's societies while engaging in activities like peddling or begging to support their families. Riis argues that sending these boys to reformatories, where they may come into contact with older and more delinquent boys, can potentially exacerbate their behavioral issues rather than offer them a solution. Instead, the boys are left to take their chances in the harsh environment of the street, leading to the development of a rough and uncivilized demeanor. Riis's analysis suggests that the circumstances of poverty and limited resources in the slums are detrimental to the upbringing of young boys, ultimately turning them into "young savages."
use simple terms
In this passage, Jacob Riis is worried about the lives of young boys in New York City's slums. He thinks that they face a lot of dangers, like getting caught by people who enforce rules or help children. These boys may have to do things like selling things or asking for money to help their families. Riis says that sending these boys to a special place meant to change their behavior, like a reformatory, can actually make them worse. Instead, the boys are left to face all the challenges of the street, which leads them to become rough and wild. Riis is saying that the tough conditions in the slums make it hard for young boys to have a good life and grow up well.
