The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-06-13
United Press Associations
BY JOHN w. STUDEBAKER

BY JOHN w. STUDEBAKER
U. S. Commissioner of Education
washington, June IS. UP)-
Machinery can be protected In
idleness for future use. But what
shall we do with our youth? So
ciety cannot safely say to youth:
"Remain idle, but keep yourselves
fit. You will be fed and clothed.
You won't be forced to starve.
Some day you will be useful to
yourself and to society,"" Certainly,
we cannot say that to millions of
young people.
We are dealing with human per-
sonality when we work with this
problem of surplus youth. 1t Is i'm
perative that we understand the
psychological impact of enforced
idleness on young people.
After speaking over the radio on
this problem and outlining a plan
for q Community Youth Program,
/ received many letters from young
people and parents. They were
serious and presented the situation
better than any abstract analysis
could.
Quotes From Letters
A boy from Waverly, N. Y,
wrote me:
II am one of the youths to whom
you refer out of high school but
finding it hard to make a living
and not become discouraged.
For the past two years have been
attempting to continue my educa-
ton in college, but it still looks
doubtful. If such a plan as your
were put into force, it would alter
my whole life"
II am one of the many youths"
writes a young man from Jersey
City, sin my community who would
like to continue their educations
but who find it impossible under
the present financial situation.
Married men are always given op.
portunities for jobs and we who
are high school graduates are cast
aside. Every place you so they ask
for men with three to five years
experience.
'sMost of the boys who have
graduated with me-" he continues,
ARE out on the streets loafing,
forming bad habits, because they
cannot get employment. I am Is
wears of age and willing to do
any type of work SO I can con-
tinue with my education. My
father works only part time and
there are five in the family"
Enjoyed Geo Camp
Their father, a general practition-
suggests a further problem in his
letter:
'T.ast year I spent six months in
q CCC Camp and enjoyed the
experience very much. President
Roosevelt deserves lot of credit.
But there are many young
fellows like myself who upon their
discharge from camp find them
selves again without work"
Here are some letters received
from parents:
II am the mother of three with
in the ages you mentioned and
know somthing of the heartbreak-
ing anxiety of the last few years"
says letter from Baltimore.
Schooling May End
.My daughter of "a has been Out
Of college nearly four years and
still has no job. My second daugh-
ter OF 20 is in her second year Of
medicine and my son IS Is in his
second year of pre-medical work
A boy from Jamestown, N. Y.
err with work among the very poor
most Of them on relief, worries
from day to day as to how mucf
longer he can keep them in school
Anything your office can d.
for the vast army of young people
now unemployed, discouraged ant
losing their morale will be a god
send to not only them but to theil
distracted parents"
War Veteran Worried
A letter from the Pacific Coast
II am World War Veteran witt
disability of 60 per cent. There are
four youngsters. :. When M
my eldest son graduated. 1t was
our hope that he should enter the
University of Oregon. :. However
/ have had to bow to the times.
DAY after day he came home
footsore and discouraged at the
outcome. He keeps diary of his
daily activities and one reads
his thoughts showing greater
announcement and the growing
sense of an inferiority complex sc
dangerous to youth"
A widowed mother from Ohio
writes:
Il was left with my boy when hi
was only six weeks old. ! washed
over the tub to raise him. Nov
he Is twenty. one and l need hi
support badly as can't get work
any more. God alone knows
what might happen as idle hands
tempt the devil. II. Many a moth
er's heart is aching tonight like
mine."
/ feel that we must build a piar
at once that will assure our I'M
enpioyed young people that there
Ii going TO be a place for them, ar
opportunity to work, to study and
to engage in recreation under tho
guidance of the constructive forces
ia the community through the
agencies of education and youth
service--a National Community
Youth Service.