The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-24
Vacation-and Juvenile Delinquency

- (Offseial City. stass ana C~1nty Nswspapsr)
= Vacati0n-and Juvenile Delinquency
Il 1t is curious fact that in many cities the sum
mcr vacation period for school children results in
an increase in the cases dockcted by Juvenile courts
and other tribunals. /,
1t is also a fact that the mothers Of children who
never arc placed in the unpleasant position Of fac
inE an adult Judge often are glad when the school
bell rings in September and their progeny again
Atart the long march toward the schoolhousc and
the blessings of education
!. To anyone who gives the matter a thought the
questions present themselves Why do children
loo often trouble with the law during the
vacation period? What is the remedy-if one is
10 be had?
Adults whose memories. arc sufficiently clear to
!fecall the most charming incidents of their own
youth should know the answers instinctively
= Children get into trouble because their minds
tare net actively occupied with things accept
able to the law and to the peace and comfort of
the neighbors.
Nearly every man can still recall with a smile
!the pranks his gang" played Halloween, the
manner in which he raded Old Man Smiths or
:chard watermelon patch; the time he put oil in
Widow Zander's we'll. If he a normal active
hoy the average man of today might even blush at
the "front" he presents to his own children when
he reprimands them for the very things his father
convicted him of 80 40 years before.
4 But father had remedy which is fast going out
Ct style. Conviction followed by execution in
"a most startling MANNER The tales some wood
sheds still standing could tell about of Bis
lmartks most prominent citizens Perhaps the old
system of applying copous quantities of strap oil
was not all it might have been. Unquestionably,
prevention is better than and this brings to
mind an obvious "cure' which might be offered to
the children of Bismarck to keep them from COM
hitting not only the misdemeanors listed in the
J etiquette books, but those serious offenses
which might bring them into court of justice.
!: The is legitimate Of activity
for the growing boy and girl. For instance, a
survey of Bismarck shows that it hasn't single
public tennis court. Tennis is a game which re-
quires not only skill and agility, but considerable
). energy After few hours the tennis court the
average boy and girl is more willing to adopt the
motto "early to bed. early to rise" than otherwise
would be the case.
The argument that children can get much eX-
sGrcise pushing the lawnmower or wedding the gar
den has merit. Still, it is pontess. Somehow, the
thought Of wedding the garden pushing the
lawn-mower lacks appea-even to the boys and
girls of yesterday
Is, Nearly every modern city has some public play
around facilities, for both children and grownups,
and playground is complete without tennis
courts. In large cities the demand has been SO
great that public tennis courts to be found
wherever the municipality acquire the o.
sufficient land They used by thousands Of
people, adults we'll children. Helen Wills
Bill Tilden and other maids and men have made
impression American youth. Modern boys and
girls have the same yearning to emulate their
achievements the average 40-year-old boy of to-
day had to emulate the deeds of those mythical
heroes Of the Alger books.
There is much to be said for public tennis courts.
They cost little They not difficult to build
scxpensive to maintain They offer clean, whole
some recreation to a large number of people. Ten
mis- not only offers recreation. but fine opportunity
for social contact between boys and girls the
best possible basis that of honest rivalry and
petition. No boy can be blamed for resenting the
:thought that girl could beat him at any athletic
game and no girl who acquires skill could re-
saist the temptation of trying.
d. Still another point to be considered is that of
Public pride and civic spirit Bismarck cannot af-
ford to be less progressive than its neghbors. Mi
;stot, Grand Forks, Fargo and other cities of the
state have public tennis courts These cities are
s5haking bid for the interest Of the younger gen.
:eraticn with the idea Of interesting them in the
se6mmunity and eventually contributing to its
:gowth and prosperity. Bismarck should do the
same
There Is just way for city to engender civic
pride and loyalty and that is to earn it. The COM
eunity owes debt to its children II it is paid,
IS returns handsome dividends when they grow up.
S. A few cheap public tennis courts would be a
suitable installment on the debt which Bismarck /
|1)wes its children-and at the same time deposit
IA the hank Of civic pride.
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