Evening star., 1939-11-20
Urges Instruction in
Ordinances for Boys
Maryland Judge Says Many
First Offenders Are
Ignorant Of Law

- the Editor of The Star:
The topic of conversation in nearly
every American home today is crime, its
cause and cure. I pause for moment
to suggest a possible solution.
In all public schools practically every
subject is taught with the exception of
an intelligent Interpretation of local
ordinances and laws. realize, of course,
that to include this subject in the cur
riculum would entail larger appropria-
ton for schools.
The American Automobile Association
has been for many years valuable in
stitution for the education of youth
Boys, equipped with belts and badges
furnished by this association, are as
signed to schoolboy patrol duty, and
although they are carefully instructed in
their duties their efficiency Is often i'm
paired by children who are not made to
realize the Importance of this safety
measure.
So many provisions for the safety of
our children have been neglected. For
example, we find parents who, having
found it necessary to purchase bicycle
Tor child as an economical means of
transportation to and from school, rarely
ever take the time to see that the child
understands the laws which were made
for his protection in this matter Steal
ing rides on the rear of moving vehicles,
on skates and sleds as we'll as bicycles,
Is serious violation. A knowledge of
the laws would probably eliminate tragedy
and source of great anxiety to Mr..
MotoriSt.
Police records contain altogether too
many names of boys whose parents pur-
chased air rifles for them as a reward
for meritoriouS work in the classroom.
Ihese well-meaning parents lacking
knowledge Of the laws, gave the rifles to
their sons and admonished them to be
careful Later, officers found the BOYS
on the streets with the rifles in their
possession and as a result they were
taken to Juvenile Court, the parents
censored by the court Here we have the
sad case of boys with minor police rec
ordS which, in later years. may prove
embarrassing, particularly should these
boys desire to take civil service exami-
nation for Government position. Ig-
norance is no excuse for a violation of
the law, but how in Heavens name can
child observe laws he has had no op-
portunlty to study.
Many young men and women are
CRIMINALS serving time simply because
they did not understand the ordinances
OF the town in which they lived After
the first offense they became hardened
by their experiences in the cell and con-
tinued on the downward path, outcasts
of society.
l recommend that, if and when nv
suggestions are taken seriously, the
Board of Education, upon the advice of
the assistant corporation counsel of the
Juvenile Court, cause to be published a
section of each article of the police regu-
latlons to be given school children along
with other class books, which are return
able, and that one assistant corporation
counsel for the District of Columbia be
designated whose duty shall be to in
struct school children during school
hours in all laws and ordinances en-
acted for their welfare. In addition.
there should be trial board of school
officials designated by the Board of Edu-
cation to try first offenders, and all pa
tlence should be exhausted before invit-
ing police action.
VINCENT A. OSTERMAN,
Associate Judge, Orphans Court,
Prince Georges County, Nd.
November IS.