Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-09-08
A USELESS CURFEW

L
become a dead letter? Now that the
schools have started again. the
question of what the boys and girls in
the city who are of school age shall do
in their spare time is of paramount
interest not only to themselves, but
to their parents and citizens in the
city as well. Most of the hours during
the middle of the day are taken care
of, because they are spent in the
various institutions of learning
throughout the city.
1t is mainly after school that the
whereabouts of the boys and girls is
to be looked after. This brings the
question direct; shall the children be
allowed to go down town, wander
about the streets with no purpose
other than to pass away the time and
to just be down town, or shall the
child be kept closer and spend his or
her time in application to studies, to
cultivating the thoughts at home is
the simple laws for health. No one,
however phenominally bright he may
be, can continue to keep irregular
sleeping hours, staying out night after
night, and continue to do the best
work in the school room. The
student to whom the knowledge
gained in school stays the longest,
and to whom it is most useful, is in
nearly every case the student who tends
strictly to work, gets all out of every
subject he can, and who keeps regular
hours in living up to the simple rules
of health.
After all, what is there down town?
Maybe your child will see the other
fellow. but if his parents are wiSe, he
will not, There is nothing - worth
coming away from home for, and the
sooner one finds it out, the better for
him. For, "down town" is far from
being the place where any young
person can learn good; nothing but |
the meanest influences are at work |
there, and as consequence the |
education the young person gains |
down town is of an evil character. |
Nine o'clock, the time of the curfew, |
is late enough for anyone below the
age of 16 years to be away from home |
except in cases of necessity. Let the |
children cultivate liking for home,
let them keep closer hours while get |
ting the education that is to deter
mine their station in- life; let the |
parents do what most persons in the
city who have given it thought
believe to be. best, that is, let the
curfew ordinance be enforced, at least |
during the school year.
Many of the business men, parti
cularly those whose places are fire.
quented by the young folks in the |
evening, are in favor of this idea, and |
some have taken the initiatory in
making coming down town" less |
desirable. AS announced in another !
place, A. L. Hobart has issued a |
a notice that school boys will not be |
allowed in his billiard parlOrS even |
ings after supper. AS this is the most |
frequented place for young men in
the city evenings, this move will be |
appreciated by parents who believe
home to be the place for their boys
nights, at least during school.
Other business men who places are
frequented by school children even
ingS would do we'll to follow Mr.. |
HObart'S idea.
At the time the curfew law was
passed, it was believed to be the best
thing. 1t is still believed SO by most
of the citizens, but has been allowed
to slip away further and further till
it is not now strictly enforced. Since
it is good plan, and in fact the best,
why not enforce it?