Evening star., 1942-12-09
Attitudes Dangerous
To Morale Reported
Among Midwest Youth
Indifference and Hostility
Cited in Survey by
Chicago Professor
By the Associated Press.

utSo9V tioiSSSot
BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Dec. 9.-The morale
of youth "at least in Chicago and
the Middle West needs improve
ment"
This is the conclusion drawn by
DR.. Mandel Sherman of the Uni
versity of Chicago following an in
vestigation of the attitudes of 1000
Chicago young people.
The inquiry centered on study
of themes entitled How the War
Effects Me" written by $500 high
school boys and girls as regular
English assignment, with no hint
of the interrogatory purpose.
In addition, 500 other Chicago
youths outside of school were in
terviewed in manner that would
not reveal that their morale was
under scrutiny.
quiry said, showed that The most
dangerous attitudes to American
Observation-Disclosures and hostility"
as we'll as critical and confused
views were held by nearly so per
cent of the youths investigated.
Personal Problems First.
DR.. Sherman said that the in
formation upon which the report
was based was obtained during last
June and July.
The most significant discovery
regarding the attitudes of the
youths" said a summary of the
report, by DR.. Sherman, head of
the orthogenic school of the uni
versity, was that the majority were
concerned with their personal prob
lens rather than with the problem
of winning the war. For example,
large number complained that
the sugar rationing was only an
introduction to the rationing of
many other articles which would
inevitably deprive them of most of
their comforts.
"The attitudes held by these
youths ranged from strong antag-
onism against the war effort and
the Government to a strong desire
to help win the war. This range
In attitudes could be classified into
seven types: Antagonism to the
war effort held by per cent:
critical attitude held by per cent;
indifference, 81 per cent: confusion
about the war, 12 per cent; mildly
favorable attitude, 9 per cent:
favorable attitude toward the war.
26 per cent, and a strong and vim
dlctlve attitude against the enemv
Il per cent.
1T is evident that the morale of
our youths, at least in Chicago and
the Middle West needs Improvement
and has not improved greatly since
the outbreak of the war. One of
the reasons for this bad morale Is
the confusion of our youths regard
Ing the causes and issues of this
war and the many conflicting state
ments they have heard and read |
They are essentially immature and
are unable to develop strong con-
victions.
1T IS very probable that the in
tellectual discussions regarding the
war and the issues of the war have
tended to confuse rather than clarity
their understanding.
Summary Given to OWL,
A summary of the inauiry's find
lngs was given to the Office of War
Information.
AS remedy, DR.. Sherman recon-
mended that Government leaders
be appointed to deal directly with
the youths to influence them to
greater efforts in the war.
We cannot leave the job to par
ents or to occasional volunteer work
ers because they have neither the
time nor the understanding of the
problems of this war" he said
DR.. Sherman also suggested "an
attempt to define the specific issues
OF the war so that our youths will be
willing not only to accept them. bui
also to fight for them. Only a few
OF the real issues should be pubIi
cl5ed and emphasized in concrete
way so that these issues can be
understood by our youths in terms
OF their own lives and own prob
lens. 1t is not enough to give them
slogans such as Beat the Axis or
Axes for the Axis After a time
enese slogans become ineffective.
Need Factory Jobs.
Make our youths excited about
the war" the report said. I'VE
must see that they become emotion
allied about fighting the war either
IN the armed forces or otherwise
Only in this way can we arouse them
out OF their lethargy and compla-
cency. 1t is entirely too late to
educate them fully in the ideals of
righteousness or the Four Freedoms
or the Atlantic Charter. Such edu-
cation should begin during early
childhood, There has been too much
'mtellectualization,' about this war.
with resulting confusion.
Our youths must be given effec-
tive jobs, not the temporarily play
acting jobs such as collecting a few
tin cans or little scrap. Such COL
lections can be done much more
effectively in many other ways. If
our youths are to take part in the
war effort they should do so di-
rectly by having factory or other real
Jobs for at least part of the day
Thus they need not be taken out
of their schools"
DR.. Sherman in an interview
added that so far as he knew the
inquiry was the first organized study
Of its kind to be undertaken, and
suggested that similar projects
might well be undertaken in other
sections of the country, particularly
since 18 and 19-year-old youths