Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-28
The Problem Of the Children.

In the discussion Of the question OF
checking the children Of this city from
roller skating In the streets at night 1t
must be borne in mind that the object OF
those who seek a remedy Is not to de-
prive the children Of wholesome pleasure
or to interfere with their proper use Of
the streets but TO cause their parents to
exercise a moro effective discipline over
them and to accept more seriously their
responsibilities toward the young. 1t Is
not "A legal question. It IS distinctly a
moral issue In the broadcast sense and
instead OF opposing the Judge of the Ju-
venie Court IN his unquestonablys sincere
desire to safeguard the children from the
evil of Contamination. the citizens should
give him their hearty support
In the absence of curfew law such as
Washington needs II Is necessary to find
perhaps devious methods of keeping chill
dren off the streets at night That there
is necessity for such procedure must be
plain 10 all who frequent the main thor
ourhfares after dinner. Children swarm
N le streets until late hours, using their
skates as means of rapid transport from
their homes to far distant points of con-
gregation. They roll themselves or are
pulled by street cars. motors and car
riages swiftly into the center OF the city.
where lured by the bright lights and ac
tivity they remain for two or three
hours, returning easily in time 10 81
Ience the usually indifferent questions of
parents. That such associations as they
experience in this manner are unwhole-
some 10 them cannot be gainsaid. They
are In serious physical and moral danger.
Something must be done to arouse the
parents to an appreciation of their re-
sponsibilities If a father or mother
thinks to raise child properly without
giving thought to its companions or
pleasures or diversions a serious mis-
take is made. The city cannot, of course,
guarantee that the parents will discharge
their duties satisfactorily after they have
undertaken them as they should. but it
can and should at least compel the par
ents TO keep the little folks under obser-
walton at hours when they should be
studying their lessons or going to bed
The average child has plenty of time
to play during the day and is in no need
Of extending the recreation period until
far in the night. The children who use
roller skates after dark are not the weak,
anemic poorly" ones who require out
door exercise. They are not on the
streets skating in response to natural
need of fresh air and calisthenics. They
have gone to the extremes to which this
age is prone They romp in the morning
and at school recess and after school and
Immediately after dinner, and they would
continue until midnight ii they could.
There is hardly one child out of hun
dred of those who skate on the streets of
Washington after dark who is not more
in need of rest at home than of the ac-
tivity of unrestrained street playing.
If the parents of today were more
serious and thoughtful in their under
standing of the responsibilities of their
relationship they would try to provide
something more wholesome for their chill
dren than roller skates. Companionship
should be the first principle of fatherhood
and motherhood. If children were prop
erIy entertained al home in the evening
they would not be eager to rush into
tho streets as soon as they have had din
ler