The Pensacola journal., 1909-12-19

fdence Of all right thinking men and
women"
Work of the Local Association.
It is estimated that there are about
900 boys between the ages of Il and
IS in theSCity and that the work OF
the association through the building
or the various forms Of its extension
work touches in some way about 50
per cent Of them.
The membership of the boys de
partment is nearly equally divided pc
tween school and employed boys, 81
per cent being school boys and 40
per cent employed boys.
They come from all sections of the
city as widely separated as the Bay
shore and Bayou Texar, and repre-
sent all religious denominations
For School Boys.
With the pressure of study, the
needs of this class of boys mainly are
corrective bodybuilding and social
work.
The first is met by a thorough
medical and physical examination
given each boy, after which the ne
cessary gymnasium work Is taken un-
der the guidance Of an expert physi-
cal director The classes are held four
times a week in the evening and no
events for school boys are held on
other than Friday and Saturday
nights, as the association in no way
aims to interfere with the work Of
the boy and the school
The second is met by well-equip-
ped game room. reading room and
library of selected books, together
with group social events held from
time to time Along supplementary
educational lines are practical talks
by men interested in the boys. The
High School teams makes the aSso-
citation their headquarters and all
visiting teams are entertained here.
For Employed Boys.
The work for this class of boys Is
mainly educational and recTeative.
For the former a first-clasS night
school, under the direction Of the
best men Obtainable. is conducted and
all branches from the third grade to
special classes in higher mathematics
and a business course are taught Inc
need for and efficiency of this school
is proven by the fact that "a per cent
of the members of the employed boys
division attend the school and their
record Of attendance since the open
ing has been So per cent, and the
available class rooms at the aSSOCla-
ton are taxed to their capacity.
Besides the school work, practical
talks by prominent physicians, law
yers and business men are given
weekly.
In a social way group events are
held from time to time and game
tournaments and athletic cOntets Oc-
cupy a regular place in the program
The General Work.
For all members OF the boys de-
partment a monthly social gathering
is held, at which reports Of the work
are given and a talk, music, etc, are
a part OF the program
The boys have recently raised near
.Iv 800, which they are contributing
to the work Of the association in
other cities. thus learning, as boys,
lessons Of generosity which viii help
in making them public-spiTited citi-
zens at a later date
The Affairs Of the department are
largely conducted by the boys them
selves through the organization OF
the department as a city, the officers
Of which are elected by their fellows
In this self-government practical les
sons are learned in citizenship, which
will make them more intelligent men,
hers Of the community when the time
comes for them to take up their share
Of the responsibility in the govern
mpnt Of the larger city. In the work
ing out of their plans they have the
assistance of a number of the city's
able lawyers.
Through the religious work OF the
deDartment four young men are teach
ing Sunday school classes in as many
different churches.
Thus in the larger field and in the
local association is the question OF
why a special work for the boys
should be carried on being answered.