Evening star., 1943-12-01
Get Evidence
Delinquency Rise Due
To Mothers at Work
Children's Bureau Chief
Sees Employment Call for
Million More Women
Star Stan Photo.

Evidence of how deeply the
juvenile delinquency problem is
affected by wartime services of
mothers was before the Pepper
Senate Subcommittee on Health and
Education today. as it continued its
search for corrective measures.
There was the testimony yester-
day by Katharine F. Lenroot. chief
of the United States Children's
Bureau that:
"A factor of major proportion in
the cause of delinquency is the en-
ployment of mothers outside the
home.
THE number of children requir-
ing child-care services, because their
mothers are employed, is constantly
mounting Some five and one-half
million women with children under
IA years of age were working out
side their homes in April. ls43-
about 1000, 900 more than the num-
Der SO employed in 1912.
Million More to Work.
1T was estimated that at least
million more workers would be
employed this year and that most
Of them will have to come from the
ranks of housewives, which will in
crease the number OF children for
whom care will be needed
Inadequate provision for the care
of children of working mothers con-
stitutes an outstanding example OF
failure to meet children's wartime
needs in comprehensive way
The investigation committee alse
heard a corps of child guidance ex-
perts, headed by famed Father E. J
Flanagan of Boys Town. blame par.
ents for the mounting misdeeds ol
their offspring.
Father Flanagan Testifies.
Lets keep the mother in thu
kitchen where she belongs sale
Father Flanagan. founder and. direc.
tor of the nationally known home
for boys near Omaha, Nebr.- .-.'The
present war is being fought pfimaril.
for future generations. and it would
be a hollow victory. indeed. If We
process Of winning it.
"A mother renders more tnvalu-
able service to her country right in
the home, than the most skilled
riveter or machinist could ever con-
tribute" He declared 1t was the
mothers duty not only to keep the
child out of mischief by keeping him
busy" but to provide a proper
moral and spiritual background, the
lack of which is the real cause OF
delinquency"
Earlier. the committee was advised
by DR.. William Healy Of Boston. OF
the Judge Baker Guidance Center
that a primary parental duty is to
overcome natural tendencies of q
boy to display herman qualities by
trying to surpass the deeds of some
criminal character and of a girl tc
indulge in romantic fantasies as tc
the lonely serviceman.
Charges Churches Fail.
DR.. Healy commented that "the
church hasn't done a good job" OF
handling the juvenile delinquency
problem. Later, Father Flanagan
departed from his prepared copy tc
dispute the statement, saying "peo.
pie who criticize the church don't
know what they are talking about"
Miss Lenroot said Federal fund.
should be provided to help loca
agencies rescue thousands OF chill.
dren on the threshold of Jail"
I'VE would shout to the high
heavens If even one out of a thou.
sand planes came of the assembl,
line defective" she declared. I'VE
should protest with even more in.
dignation every time We discover q
single child getting into trouble be.
cause of neglect or mistreatment by
his family or community