The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-10-03
Whats Wrong With Our Children

WHAT wiring VIM O~t $3.50
"Collier' s." in its issue Of Septem
her 10Th. has an interesting article witt
that title 1t ought to be read by
everyone who is interested At all II
the well being Of Juvenile America
This is the way he diagnoses the sit
uafion:
There is something wrong with out
children. II cannot be denied. Who
IS this fellow we're afraid OF on darl
streets at night He's a schoolboy
in rs teens. Ninety per cent OF the
desperate crimes OF today-the new
crimes OF violence ard death thai
amaze even the hardened police are
committed by boys under the age OF
twenty-one The criminal today is
a boy just out OF school He wasn't
in the army; he sai in grade school
during the war Instead of turning
toward work when school days are
over he turns toward crime.
And he finds crime and a Jail cell
Millions OF fathers and mothers
OF all classes are standing to one
side, aghasi. open-mouihed. perplexed
and amazed, helplessly watching the
new generation take its desperate
strides. There seems to be Grand
Canyon between parents and Their
children.
Then the author declares that The
God OF morals and ethics isn't in our
educational system. and He isn't in
enough OF our homes Too many
OF our children do not ever meet
Him anywhere This indictment OF
our educational system is 4 fair one
and educators know that the lack OF
genuine religious training. by law dis
allowed in our schools. is \ big factor
in breeding lawlessnesS and criminal
tendencies among the boys and girls
OF our time | hold the following
statement is the strongest Indictment
OF OUT educational system that ] have
ever read;
1T is considered against the Ia
in many states even TO mention re
igion in 4 schoolroom. The teacher
may talk in history and geography
lessons OF Zeus and Branma anf
Mohammed and OF pagan Gods, bui
the God OF our civilization has beer
made taboo. There are nine great
books OF relie 'on in the world; races |
OF men live BY them. One OF ihcs, |
is the Bible. The reading OF the |
bible is prohibited. in any Of il.
versions. in the public schools Of
twelve OF our states. There are g.
100000 children in the public schools
Of these states.
In thirty states there are no laws
against Bible reading in the public
schools. but by custom or tradition the
Bible is seldom called to the attcn.
ion OF the fourteen million children
n these states. So far as the
public schools go. our children do
lot ever learn that there is such a
mighty influence in life and in human
ffairs as religion: the fact that there
5 God and Book about Him is
thing that is not mentioned.
The author refers to the inadequacy
i the Sunday School with the state
ient that Sunday School leaders adj
nj, 2S.OO0.000 children are beyond the
ale OF the church school And. he
eclares, there are at least 100000
ONES in the United States that are
nchurched. The answer to the ques-
on. Whats wrong with our child
en?" is thus answered: They Dr.
OF have soul training. They do not =
ven have intellectual training in
Iorals and ethics
What is the solution, The author
writes that 81 we want religious
Ioral or ethical homes in America.
c must start new type OF Amcri-
IN home. and we must begin with
lie children of today; we must pat
oral or ethical instruction or actual
Jul training into our educational
stem somewhere
| am indebted to the editor OF The
ribune who called my attention to
is article which | have reviewed.
portrays menacing condition in
ir republic. The remedy lies With
IT three greatest ins,i,utions-the
eat trinity OF American society-the
Iurch, the school. the home