Evening star., 1942-06-14
By MRS. p. c. ELLETT.

President, District Of Columbia Congress
OF Parents and Teachers.
This week will see the closing of
our public schools for the summer
the graduation of several thousand
youths from high school and the
release Of almost 100000 children
from the ordered routine of school
days. 1t has been momentous
year-a history-making year. A
year that has seen many of our
cherished ideals shattered and many
new patterns brought into our lives
Where heretofore we have taught
our children the ways Of peace, now
we are teaching them the ways OF
war; where a year ago war was
only threatening, now 1t has be-
come a reality.
AS the months 60 on, undoubt-
edly this pattern Of war will become
more defined, more clearly inte-
grated into our daily tasks. But
there are some things which we
must hold fast if we are to emerge
from this world conflict a better
Nation. In the excitement ano
urgency of war preparation. it is
difficult to steer steady course, tc
keep eyes on a goal which has nc
glamour, but which does have a
certain satisfaction when once at
tanned.
Boys Clubs a Substitute.
This goal is to be found in a
normal home life, in family circle
from which emanates security ano
to which members return for COM
fort and inspiration.
Lacking the family circle as a
backlog for security, there are GER
tain other activities which provide
a fair substitute, such as the Boys
Clubs of America, which operates
three clubhouses in Washington and
in which any boy between the ages
of 6 and 18 is eligible to member
ship. These clubs are maintained
by funds obtained through the Com
munity Chest, and a day-long pro-
gram OF games and athletics is car.
ried on throughout the year.
A membership campaign begar
June 8 and will continue through
June 25 in an effort to enlist all boys
in the city who are interested in q
place to work and play. In addition
to the clubhouses. there is also
summer camp, which opens its 18th
season June % on West Hattor
Farm in Charles County, Md. Com.
petent directors will be in charge
and all kinds of outdoor sports. in
Guiding swimming, fishing, grabbing
and boating.
Paper Collecting Advised.
Administrative headquarters of the
clubs is at 26l Seventeenth street
Sc.
For boys and girls who will remain
in the city during the summer. there
is the possibility of continuing the
paper salvage campaign. Several OF
the schools have announced they
will continue their collections, but
most of them have apparently con-
sidered it too big a task. If boy.
and girls who have been collecting
papers and magazines would con
tinue during the summer months, i
would provide many hours of worth
while occupation; it would be con
tinuing a patriotic gesture and as
suring an income for them. Ever
though the market price for olt
paper has fallen we are assured tina
the paper which has been collected
by our schools is eagerly sought b.
the mills and is used up almost a
once. There are not a great man.
things that school children can d.
to help the war effort, but this il
something they can do, and even i
the returns are small. it will be s
worthwhile participation.
State News.
At the meeting of the Board o
Managers last Tuesday the follow
ing new chairmen were named
Record book, Mrs. E. M. Nelson
radio, Mrs. Richard Alexander
mental hygiene, Mrs. Roland Charles
The question of the emergenc,
day care Of children was discussed
but no action was taken. TIL,
board members felt that more tim
was needed to study suggestion
that have been made. However, i
did 60 on record as favoring tn
principle of nursery schools.
In observance of Flag Week,
poem, Our Flag" written by Mr.