The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-05-23

have little excuse left for illlteracy
and We are paying a good price IN
order there should be little excuse
"Thc other phase Ia that which de-
penda upon the use OF the boys out
OF school time--his play time. stu
dents Of childhood tell US that this
period has more 10 do with the dew
elopmcnt Of character than any
other. Il Is In the choice Of oceupa-
ton and companiouship made by the
boy in his leisure. that motives,
viewpoints and ethical standards are
formed and established. The activi-
ties and associations OF this 'volition-
al period determine In large degree
the use the boy will make OF the
knowledge and mental training ac-
CURED in school.
"No argument is needed to show
that II we are to get the worth OF
our investment in schools II ~ OF VT
al Importance TO see that the in
flucnces affecting the boy in his leis-
ure time are Of the kind to provide
him with the right sort Of motives,
viewpoints and standards. Other
wise our expenditure on mental edu-
cation is being discounted. some
time wholly negatived. and not in.
frequently perverted as a result OF
the wrong kind Of influences work
ing on the boy in his pay hours.
"The Boys Club Federation, fol
lowing many surveys Of boy life in
American cities scattered throughout
the length and breadth Of the land,
has complied statistics which show
that approximately sc per cent OF
American boyhood gets its leisure
time education--its character train.
ing-on the street and in the casual
associations which the streets affords
It's play time adult contact are those
of the pool room, the corner cigar
store. and other loafing places Of the
parasitic male. It's conception OF lie
in the world Of larger privilege is de-
rived from the cheap movies. It's
thrills are obtained from neighbor-
hood escapades, in which pilfering
from the grocer, JOY riding in stolen
cars. rocking windows and street
lights. cutting the plumbing fixtures
out 81 vacant houses. and similar adj
ventures figure. les idea Of law and
governmental authority is red
faced and perspiring policeman vain
81 pursuing IL up an alley, but re-
presenting something which would
Interfere with is fun and profit II u
were agile enough.
"Thls street education. whore some
c0untcfactlng influence OF inherit
lance or environment does not miti-
gate Us effect. has one or two re-
suits. II the boy Is a red-blooded.
imaginative. dangcr-loving young
rfor the sort who makes The ideal
gang leader he probably plays him
aclf into crime For example, prnc-
dcaliy an the crimes 81 violence
committed in the City Of Chicago are
committed hy lads between The ages
Of rs and %. who have been odu-
cated. morally on the streets, They
can cad and write and figure
shat they learned az school. Bot
the social viewpoint and motives
dcfo'oncd by a leisure time spent n
ithe street. and its allied spheres OF
life. are using this knowledge for
criminal ends The Chicago Crime
I Commission SAYS that il has yet 90
rnd an automobile bandit over -
wears ~ age. II the boy Is less az
rregiye and entcrprising. a follower
rather than a leader. he may drop
out % the gang life before be gets
into serious trouble. and find a job.
Bot the job means 90 him only a
nrcsac ard arduous method Of OBJ
aninF the money he needs for his
pleasures for cigarette. movies,
dances and such things. There is
probably girl upon whom he must
spend a little. Il is a blind alley.
he has no vision Of is leading 20 a
larger. more responsible career. His
street education has taught him that
work IS a necessary evil. His phil0-
sophy in relation TO the job is sum
med up in the four-word phrase OF