The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-11
The Boy Problem
 As the Press Sees It
By PHILIP DAVIS
(Exc:usive Service THE SURVEY Press Bureau.

' compliment if it were so, but as one eastern city replies. "our homes are no homes at all Our boys practical ly live on the street."
 Another eastern town views the problem industrially. especially from the angle of the working boy. "Our great mass of working boys" it says, "are like sheep without a shepherd" The profane foreman and the loose tongued fellow workman are bitterly scored. What to do with these boys between IA and 20 and how to steer them away from the rocks of dishon- esty, immortality, vice, is a tremendous problem which few towns seem tc have seriously thought about"
 z Poor Environment
 Most cities, however, describe the problem in terms of environment. The influence of the saloon, pool rooms cigar store, public dances is strong Motion picture shows come in for their much deserved share of criti- cism. All cities and towns suffer from them. Some cities are still suffering from houses of prostitution sandwich ed in between homes and doing busi- ness in the presence of street boys of all ages. /j
 Next to poor environment lack of recreation is most often referred to as the cause of it all. It is comforting to know that even the most backward cities recognize that the boys greatest heritage is This play time because it is his building time."
 The third question, "what are the first steps which should be taken to- wards meeting the problem is char acterized 'the burning question of the day" by one city which hastens to add that "in spite of this, it burns and burns without furnishing any light on the problem" Speaking negatively, one city cautions us not to take the wrong steps such as doing something for boys rather than>~with boys and thereby creating that what-is-there1 in-it-for-me state of mind which is al- together too prevalent an American characteristic. Fl
 Another city is anxious to disabuse us all from the notion that the solu- ton lies in money or gifts for work with boys. We need men and wo- men of understanding, primarily. Money is secondary issue" Still an-
 
 characterfzed as retail work with boys. There is quite too much of the pitifu1 little retail business in the rescuing of boys" The writer in ques- ton is obviously a mass boys club enthusiast. He insists that boys are gregarious and must be handled in groups, that the solution of the only boy in the family is few more boys in the family. so that each boy can help the others along.
 Mark Hopkins on, a Jog with boy at the other end might make an ideal university if the boy on the other end would stay put, but he won't" He would leave the moment he heard the call of the fellows in the wild, which is the call of the gang. He might return. but he would bring the gang to join Mark Hopkins and then there would be a university indeed.
 Most cities, however are not satis- fled with negative answer They present complete program as the only safe solution. The universal need pr community program for work with boys so well under way in a few cities Is the outstanding lesson of this survey. The proposed program every where calls for the things necessary to complete it which the particular town Is without This may be a ju- veniie court, a boys club compulsory education law. continuation schools, parole officers. boys workers coun- cils, big brother movements. Some cities which have these agencies in whole or in part emphasize the need of co-ordinating them all
 Outside of the socialization of con- ditions and agencies the main empha- sis is on character building or those influences which "organize the ego" The appeal everywhere is for the en- richment of character. that boys may have abundant example to follow. One city reminds us especially that boys