The Little River news., 1923-05-23
MODERN YOUTH IS
 NOT ENTIRELY LOST
Students of Children Point Out Temp- tatIOns and Appeal to Parents Auto a Big Problem.

HIS 1ile, Iull Ol hazards, America s youth nevertheless is sound at heart
 The automobile and the modern dance teach many to say good morn ing, Judge" it is true, but only in utterly indifferent communities is Wlckedness among the young on the increase. In a majority of cities it steadily decreases.
 And prohibition, as it affects the young, is tremendously triumphant. Who thus brand the age as riotous, yet throw the def in it's teeth? Proba- bly, the greatest authorities in the land. representatives of the olderst common wealths: J. Hogericks, president of the National Probation Association and judge of the Juvenile Court in Rich mond, Va, and Herbert C. Parsons, former president of the same national organization and state probation com missioner in Massachusetts. They talked on childhood and it's present dangers this afternoon just
 
 conference of the National Association of Juvenile Court Judges and Proba- ltion Officers. Neither believed youth was doomed for the bowwows; neither believed that any individual is beyond salvation no matter how depraved he may seem.
 Auto Big Problem.
 'The automobile is one of our greatest problems" they admitted Parents of high standing in the con-
 munity tell us they have no control over their youngsters. There is one vicious association of ideas we find it
 hard to combat; boy, girl, automobile, speed, seclusion, alcohol, immortality" It is an enigma to be solved in the home. After all, they asserted, the most of the delinquents among the young can be traced to improper home
 life. Fathers and mothers must ap- preciate the risks their children are running.
 But one of the causes of wickedness by children virtually has been eradi- cated by dry laws, they said. De- spite the activities of the bootlegger, there is much less drinking in the average home today. Only the "old topers" and people of the so-called upper class indulge. And Juvenile Court records reflect the good influ- ence on the children on those homes now become temperate. Judge Kicks is a champion of the rod in the home, but only when intel ligently administered. "When parent whips a child to in spire fear then he has lost his case" he declared. q do not advise the hickory for the strong willed youngs- ters Really, I don't know exactly where to draw the line. I do not be-
 lieve in the larruping customs handed
 teacher has no right to whip any mans child save his own. Look at
 Florida and you will see what flog ging by outsiders leads to- Duty For the Church. The churches also must take cogni- zance of the presidents, plutocrats and plumbers of tomorrow" they said. Given child surrounded by religious influences, and in most cases the child is decent.
 Here's what consider a startling fact" said Judge Kicks. 'In my court last year 80 per cent of the boys picked up on the more serious charges were not affiliated with an Sunday school, church or other Christian in stitution.'
 But proper home life and religious training are not all child needs, they
 said
 "It is the duty of every community to give it's children supervised and safe places to play" they asserted. Every healthy child is energetic. He can't throw off his surplus energy on the fire escape or on the front walk 
 and should not play in the streets. He needs recreation as he needs food and clothing. And if he doesn't get it one way he will another, and so we re- ceive him into our courts" Lastly, there is one group of chill dren who are bad simply because their minds are warped. They are born defective. There should be psy- l,chiatrists to examine these youngsters, that they may be given expert treat ment and cured even as influenza is cured.
 We are merely giving our ideas, mind you, as to possible panaceas for social ills among children" MT Par sons pointed out. "They are based on