Evening star., 1932-05-01
Children and the Depression
Continued From First Page.)


denied doing anything wrong, but re-
fused to give any hint Of the reason
for his grief But the tears continued
to flow In fact, he was so emotionally
wrought up that he became definitely
IL and had to go to bed.
When he had missed school for two
days his teacher came around to see
what was the matter. as Paul was one
of her brightest pupils. She put his
parents out Of the room. questioned him
s7npathetically, and finally, in a gust
of tears, he blurted out his story.
Jimmy. one of his classmates, had
pointed a finger at him and jeered
MY daddy has got a job and yours
hasnt Your daddy is no good. cause
he hasn't got a job" The child had
been so bitterly hurt in one of his
tenderest spots-his love and admiration
for his father-that he could net posi-
bly, rally the forces of his loyal little
soul to meet the shock He could not
even reveal the cause of his grief to his
parents for fear of hurting them.
School Efficiency Impaired
To psychological injuries of this kind
which our children are suffering today
many others are undoubtedly being
added. A recent survey made by the
National Education Association shows
the bad effect on the schools in many
communities of the necessity for re-
trenchment. Reduction in the number
Of teachers and consequently over
crowded classes, closing of vocational
and Summer schools and the cutting
out Of ungraded classes, reduction in
psychiatric work for unadjuSted chill
dren. the elimination of school nursing
service, the cutting down Of money
spent on athletics and the closing of
playgrounds-al these are gloomy parts
of the picture which cannot be over
looked. There is also the decreased
consumption of milk and the rickets
which will be sure to follow in due
course. At one health center in New
York City, for instance, where the per-
centage Of undernourished children has
been carefully diagnosed for three years,
malnutrition has increased from 18 to
so per cent since 1923. In Louisville,
KY, another agency reports a decrease
of 1000 in the number of children
able to meet the health and weight
standards.
All these, I grant, are gloomy facts
and figures. But 1 do not believe they
are the whole story, or even the most
important part of it. I believe that the
thing for US to keep in mind is that the
agencies for dealing with the problems
of childhood are not only more numer-
Gus and powerful than ever. but that
their numbers and power have been
multiplied by the depression. In the
last few years America has been taking
part in a great Nationwide movement
for the betterment of her children. She
has the will to win battles for them;
she has more weapons to fight those
battles than ever before, and there are
many facts to show that she is still
moving forward, depression or no de-
preston. Here, briefly, are few indi-
cations of how far she has already ad-
Vanced:
Evidences of Progress.
There has been more progress in or
ganizing agencies for child and human
welfare within the last 20 years than
in any previous 100 years in the whole
history of mankind.
The very term Child welfare was
invented only 20 years ago at Iowa Uni
versity.
Millions Of mothers know more-far
more than in any previous economic
depression-about child nutrition, food
preparation, rest, sleep, exercise, vita
minis, cod liver oil, food values, bath
ing, sunshine and all that affects
child's physical growth and wellbeing
Mothers generally know far more
than ever before about the child's men
tai health and emotional development
Hosts of mothers who do not have to
work, but who, heretofore, have spent
much time away from home and from
their children, are now staying at home
and taking better care than ever of
their families.
Infant Mortality Lessened.
AS a result, fewer babies are dying
now than ever before in the worlds
history.
Incomplete reports Of the infant death
below that of 1881, and still farther be-
low that of 1880.
In 1912 only one State had Bureau
of Child Health and today At States
have such bureaus.
In 1912 only one State had bureau
for dependent, neglected and delinquent
children, and now more than half the
States have such bureaus or agencies.
Today more free milk and food is be-
Ing distributed for babies and children
than ever before.
In 1912 the movement for country
wide health and social service had not
begun, but today thousands of counties
have organized county plans for health
and social service for both town and
country.
Mems clubs of all kinds, Rotary, XII
wants, Lions, OptimiSts, and the frater-
nal organizations such as Masons, Odd
Fellows, knights of Pythias, knights of
Columbus, Red Men, Elks, Woodmen
and all women's clubs everywhere, and
all churches, as well as hundreds of 9TH
er agencies, are organizing as never be-
fore for the welfare, not only of their
own members and their children, but
for all human beings Of every race, color
and creed who stand in need Of help.
Faith in Future.
AS a result there are more sound,
well people today under the American
flag than has ever been true of any
group Of 1oo000,000 people since time
began.
We older folks who weathered the
hard times from 1893 to 1897, from
1907 to 1909, the distressing years Of
the war, and the depression of 1920 to
1922, have seen these vast agencies
grow and grow just because times OF
economic misfortune have opened the
human heart and quickened the human
intelligence; hence, our faith is not
now in the least shaken, but is stronger
than ever that within few months we
shall rise and master this pressing
situation and be happier and healthier
people than ever before
l cite these facts and agencies be-
cause they are Zeal things to be thank
ful for, and because they are powerful
aids in preserving our morale. The
mere presence of Napoleon Bonaparte
on the battlefield was said to be worth
a hundred thousand fighting troops
We are all standing on a great battle
field today. The battle cry of this day
must be keep up your morale and
stand by the children"
Other Hopeful Signs.
There is also, think. another reason
for looking from this May day into the
future with cheerfulness and hope. In
the beginning of this article 1 told the
story of little PSli ihe background of