The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1921-04-20

ooAN - ~SoSNN~
ing the movies from one to six times each week.
33 per cent Of 4th grade.
as per cent Of 9th grade
al per cent of 7th grade
So per cent of 9Th grade
SO per cent of High School.
.When asked to give suggestions as to subst-
tutes for the movies, eight out of thirty eighth
graders, mentioned basket ball games, parties,
roller skating, etc. The remaining twenty-five
referred to spending the time at home, at such
pastimes as the following" Playing games with
brothers and sisters Reading, music, etc"
"Studying, making candy" Entertaining
friends"
"Among high school students the same type OF
answers predominated, while among the boys
there were a large number who referred to the
need of a gymnasium in the school house, a boys
club room and chance to meet their friends in
their own homes.
"In regard to the Community House five peo-
pie who have had charge of it at different times,
all agree that the idea is good, but that many par
ents seem to have given up all effort to provide
entertainment in the home, and are letting the
Community House take the homes place in this
respect. They seem agreed that many children
use it as loafing place, that many groups go
there without adult supervision, and that many
stay around long after nine O'Clock when they
should be at home.
1--WE found 26 per cent Of the 7th grade, 80
per cent of the 9Th grade who report never having
during this year been invited into friends home
for meal, nor having friends in their own homes
for meal. Of the 1874 high school people who
answered this question. 26 per cent report having
had no friends into their homes for meal.
"In answer to the question Els there a definite
time set for you to be in the evening" out of 1913
high school people who answered, IS per cent
said mo-
eve found large percentage Of children who
do not like to stay home in the evening or who
do so only occasionally, giving as their reason
the fact that cit is too quiet, that there is never
any company" that at is too monotonous."
"The curfew law states that all children under
and including those Of 16 years of age shall be at
home after nine o'clock We find this law being
,dsregarded by almost every one 1t seems time
for the parents to take an united stand in this mat
ter and by cooperation to secure better results
"In general, it seems that there is great need
in Redwood Falls, as we'll in all other American
towns, for the homes to awaken to realization
of their real and natural function. The children
themselves show that they feel unconsciously per-
haps, dissatisfaction with existing conditions, and
a
and for the companionship Of father and mother"
Editors Note. In the original paper which tab
ulated the answers to the questions asked there
were found many interesting answers, some rath-
er pathetic ones and very many Illuminating ones
Eighth grade pupils who stated they liked to
stay at home only sometimes" gave among other
reasons the following; much work and get
so many scoldings," eff there is something to go
l. cfo
there if parents are there but not if we are left
alone" Seven pupils of this grade stated they do
not like to stay at home and among the reasons
given were "Too lonesome" Nothing to do, "Be
cause everything is the same,' Cannot have any
fun" Of the eighteen pupils of this grade who
stated that they like staying at home, the largest
number indicated that this is because they like
to be with their parents.
The high school students answers to the same
query were also interesting Thirty-five of these
said they liked to stay at home evenings only
sometimes" hundred, forty said "yess" without
reservation and twenty said no, also without res
ervations. The majority of the yes answers show
ed the same liking for being with the parents
that the younger pupils showed, and the fact that
these children were allowed to bring their own
friends into the home colored many of these an
swers Some of the answers amusing on first
thought land rather saddening on the second. For
instance one girl stated "Id love to stay home
if the old folks did not always have so much going
on there" Another said "Going out every night
is hard on my nerves" and another said 1T is not
good for the reputation of any boy or girl to be
out every night" Another stated "When there
is nothing to do up town usually spend my ev-
ening at .home," another Because it costs too
much to go up town every night. One boy who
said "No" gave as his reason that "there is no
pleasure in living if one has to stay at home"
Another "Have to do something for excitement, y
and still another "More pleasure in being with
young people"
+ SMALL TOWN TALK :.