GEORGE JUNIOR REPUBLIC, THE, an American colony of boys and girls located at Freeville, N.Y. It was founded in 1895 by W. R. George who conceived the idea that youth in their teens have sufficient brain power and physical strength to assume responsibilities of self-government and self-support, and contended that lack of such responsibility developed indifference to law and order and the dignity of labour. His little colony, com posed of 144 boys and girls from New York city, was established on the basis of any other village, except that its citizens were between the ages of 16 and 21. The laws of New York State are followed, and in addition the citizens make special laws in their own town meetings for their particular needs. The same social, civic and economic conditions prevail in the Junior Republic as in other communities.
The Junior Republic has served to launch the self-government movement for youth in schools, institutions, prisons and com munities in various parts of the world, and has demonstrated the applicability of its principles to youth of all classes and conditions of society. Other republics, modelled on the George Junior Republic, have been established in several other states.
(W. R. G.)