Imperial Valley press., 1926-12-18
WHO IS TO BLAME?

If the information given the district attorney and the
probation officer this week be true and there is 10
doubt its truth, there is particularly nasty
and revolving existing among the younger genera
ton of this city not TO mention other cities IN lmperai
Valley.
The story recouned in Thursday nights issue of
this paper was was not pleasant The Press had
desire, other than of public duty to print It.
Within the past few years several moral cankers
have to light among school girls and boys IN tins
city, and the Press, cooperating with the school and
peace officials has aided in keeping the scandal quiet
believing to in the best interest of community
This method of handling such situations has not, In
Our opinion aided in suppresslng them, as we hoped II
would. 1t has therefore been determined to give the
fullest publicity the present case, consistent with
proper cognZance of the fact that many OF our read
ers youngsters in the adolescen period OF their
lives.
Discussion of the present is certain to cause
the individual to ask, How is these things can hap
pen?"
It is not difficult to find the answer. The blame
not be attached either peace officials to the
school authorities The latter MAINTAIN strict su-
pervision the young folks entrusted to their care
during school hours The trouble is not there. A
sufficient number of peace officers cannot be assigned
watch the comings and goings of several hundred
youngsters during the evening hours Tor obvious
The blame and we say it with little fear of contra
dction rests with the parents OF these school chdren
They their boys and girls ln0lScflnate use OIL
automobiles at any and all hours, allowing them to go
here there, and everywhere and showing little con-
regarding the persons with whom they associate
or when they return nome ar nlght.
Oh my girl is all right she visiting Of her
school chums,'' says the mother father. Perhaps
she Perhaps also she has used this excuse to get
out of an evening / ogo-the Lord only knows where
or with whom This trick is old one; we all used
it in our youth Long automobile rides at night with
out any supervision; frequent opportunities for Ques-
tionabe conpanonshps; surreptitious drinking the
the silly supposition that it is smart sporty to
do so; failure to demand that school children be III
their homes reasonable hour these of the
that such the present one to crop
out with frequency that IS astounding.
There are also the foolish parents who have children
who lust couldn't 90 anything wrong Half the time
the youngsters don't know how wrong it is, just be-
cause their parents are too blind to give the proper
advice and counsel, or too careless to do so.
1t to wake up these fathers and mothers that the
Press has to the conclusion to give this present
publicity and that has caused the school author
tiles and officials to make thorough investigation of
affairs.
There are many fine boys and girls going to school
here in Ell Centro of whom their parents and the city
well be proud. There others of whom
not be proud They the smart Sporty
fresh group who know it all and who make nuisances
Of themselves whenever they appear among decent
ladies and gentlemen.
And the pity of it is thas THESE youngsters to
blame for their shortcomings This must be charged
up to blindness. the fooshness and the downright will
full ignorance of parents regarding the dOings of their
children while out Of their sight