Evening star., 1917-11-11
can Children Have Responded to Call of War

Scout spirit This uttlo scout W19
trying to win the medal that was Of
fered to the one who should sell ten
liberty bonds to ten different indi-
viduals. He succeeded in inducing his
family and his parents friends to help
him out by taking nine bonds. One re-
NAMED to be sold. and the contest was
drawing to a close. Finally. 80 that tho
scout might be winner. his father
suggested that his aunt buy the other.
She agreed, but 1t was the father who
actually paid for II. The boy sent in
the notice that he sold ten bonds. Then
1t was suggested to him that he may
have sold ten bonds. but he did not
sell them to ten different individuals.
for the father had virtually bought two.
Quick as a flash. he sent letter to
headquarters admitting the error and
telling the head scoutmaster that he
was not entitled to the medal. littlc
bronze medal means much to a boy of
fourteen. but 1t meant much more to
this boys scoutmaster to know that
high ideals of integrity and honor were
deep rooted in this American youth.
Each scout is planning to adopt sol
dier and keep in touch with him
throughout the war. In Kansas City
the Boy Scouts have adopted a soldier
at a nearby camp and will perform for
him any tasks at his home which he
desires to have done.
The Boy Scout war band has set
precedent for the service Of boy musi-
clans in war time. This band, which Is
the largest band Of boys IN the world.
marched in the Washington prepared
ness parade. leading the House of Rep
resentatives contingent. Not only were
the musicians in evidence at this time.
but the scouts from the ranks did po-
lice work in the streets.
The boys have wrapped bandages for
the Red Cross. and though a course In
Red Cross first aid Is part of a first or
second class scouts training. they have
gone into the work with doubled en-
thusiasm this season. helping to wrap.
pack and ship for the different chap
ters throughout the country.
Everywhere provisions are being
made for mastering the children into
the service of the country and letting
them feel that theft part is a signid-
cant one. worth doing well. The food
administration has recently addressed
a letter to school authorities announo-
ing that a part of its work In the fu.
ture will be to issue through the bu-
reau Of education series OF bulletins
which will contain Lessons on Com
munity and National Life" to serve the
very urgent purpose of calling to the
childrens attention the necessity OF
conserving food and the other resources
of the nation. Mr.. Hoover says that
these lessons will serve at the same
time the broader purpose OF training
pupils in the schools to recognize their
rights and obligations in the co-opera-
tive society in which we live. and he
urges all school officers to promote
with yigor this plan for the more COM
prehensive teaching of democracy.
The bureau of education is also PLAN
ming to have the issues of the war pre-
sented to the children in their history
lessons in such way that they VIII
understand the Significance of the great
task in which the country is engaged
and SO they will better realize their OBJ.
legation in performing some duty 70
help.
ices which children themselves have
performed and will be able to perform
for the country since war was declared.
The country is also awake to its extra
responsibility in regard to its youthful
population at this time. The federal
child labor law became effective on
September 1, 1917. 1t provides that no
child under fourteen may be employed
in any factory. mill. workshop or can
nery whose products are shipped In IN
terstate commerce, and no child under
sixteen in any mine or quarry. Ine
law will release many children from
work and make 1t possible for them TO
go to school.
Gil of National Defense Is working to
see that these children who are set
free are given a better chance In tho
world. Miss Julia Lathrop. a memner
of this committee and the chief OF the
children's bureau, is urging that there
shall be no cessation in Americas ef-
forts to keep the children in school.
She points out that after three years
of war England is urging a new law to
keep children n school until fourteen.
allowing no exemptions and including
all rural children. Miss Lathrop says
that no words can be strong enough
to express the Importance of giving to
the nations children nurture and edu-
cation in the fullest possible measure
as war protection of our last re-
serves
This same committee is recommending
measures for the protection of children
in war time. child welfare work
through day nurseries. recreational IA
cilities. attention to defective and de-
1inauent children. especially because of
the increase of juvenile delinquency in
Europe since the outbreak of war. and
such other lines of attention as will
guide the nation toward a conserva.
ton of its infant and child welfare dur
ing the present emergency.