El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-18
TEMPTATION Of
BOY IN SCHOOL
G.. P. Putnam Thinks Y. NJ.
G. A. Proper Place to
Guide Growing Lad.

Few men in FL Paso watch with
greater interest or with more sympa-
thetlc understanding the course OF the
high school student than does G. T.
Putnam, for so many years In charge
Of the FL Paso schools.
'I have put too many good years into
these schools" he said, ever to lose a
vital interest in Them and in the boys
and girls I came to know so well Ana
a 10 the high school students, my heart
goes out to them every day ! live, for
1 know their temptations so well.
The tide Of life is at its full in the
high school age. At this time there
comes surging up within the boy a flood
Of new interests and desires which ne
does not understand, but which impel
him to think and act in a new ana
strange way. The sanctions Of child
hood which he has accepted without
question from his elders no longer
satisfy him. He begins to chafe under
their restraint. His own experience mas
as yet furnished him no standards ade-
Quate to his needs lie is like man
board and the rudder gone adrift This
above all others is the time when
Teller needs a friend
THE impulses which come into his
life with adolescence are az the same
time the hazards of boyhood and, II
rightly directed, the promise of ef-
fective manhood It Is the task OF
home, school, church and other social
agencies to guide him at this time. IL
is a delicate task requiring the ut
most skill, firmness tempered with
tact, and above all, sympathy based on
understanding.
The Guiding Hand.
The Young Mems Christian associa-
ton, with its specialized equipment
and carefully trained workers, is one
Of the most effective social agencies
for this work. That the association
recognizes the Importance Of this work
. arfHr ion
is seen in the rapidly increasing num-
Der of high school boys organized in
bible classes and discussion clubs. The
last year book reports 10000 boys
from over 400 high schools in such
classes and clubs.
THE greatest hazard to the boy at
this period comes from his awakening
sex Impulses. The opportunities for
disaster which these afford surround
the boy whether his home be in the
country, village or city. 1t is OF ut
most importance that he shall come to
admire men whose thought, speech and
conduct are clean and that his own
habits OF life shall be free from impurity-
Too few fathers, teachers and preachers
are able TO get into close contact with
this phase of the boys life.
SOcinbiIIty and Honesty.
THE most marked characteristic Of
this period is sociability. Boys natur-
ally form groups for social enjoyment.
Left to themselves, this tendency often
leads them astray. The veXing problem
of the school fraternity is typical. Tn
der proper guidance this group ten
dency may be made constructive ano
improving. Here many schools are see
ing the opportunity afforded by |
athletics for training boys in habits OF
honorable sportsmanship.
There is also the danger that high
school boys viii develop false stand I
ards OF honor. The tendency 20 petty 1
evasion in their relations with teachers |
and parents is strong. Disregard for |
rights of property either Of individuals |
or Of the school or community Is COM
mon. he may satisfy his conscience by ]
claiming a different standard in his re-
latiOns with his teacher and his fellows !
or by a distinction between 'swiping' 1
and stealing. but the fact remains that |
he is in danger OF forming habits Of |
which are likely to become |
The Proper Leadership.
These and others which might be /
are the hazards which con- |
front the high school boy. The need /
Tor leadership is compelling. The /
schools are coming to realize more and /
more their responsibility for this social /
and moral guidance. The Young Mems
Christian association has the leadership 1
Necessary to supplement fully that /
which is usually inadequately provided 4
ly the schools. 1t has what is even 1
more mportant-trained leaders Of /
Boys. The school and the association
ire working together 10 turn high |
school boys into clean, morally self-re- /
liant men"
Tenement collections see Lee Newman.
ADV