Arkansas State press., 1944-09-08
/ - VIEWS -

school to work are the new employment opportunities open
ed up by the production of war materials, Adults and
older youths are employed in defense plants and factories
leaving the civilian industries to our youth.
Another important factor is that school children are
found all together in one place, eager for new experiences
and feel that they ar taking part in the war effort and are
often willing to accept any wages offered. Another reason
for leaving school for work; these teen age boys and girls
are children of depression, They and their parents remem-
Der those days when employment was hard to secure and
think they had better work now while jobs are plentiful.
School can wait.
Youngsters can not be expected to realize the i'm
portance of an education. Nor can they anticipate the diff
flcultes in returning to school after breaking off. when
adult interest in education lags youngsters interest in
school flags" Too little emphasis has been given to the
value of school during war by parents, communities and
the Nation.
Here is what the War Manpower Commission says:
1.-THE first responsibility and obligation of youth under Is,
even in wartime, is to take full advantage of their educa-
tional opportunities in order to prepare themselves for war
and post war services and for the duties of citizenship
In most cases, youth under Is can best contribute to the
war program by continuing in school and, when their serv-
ices are required, by accepting vacation and ~part-time en-
ployment.' Your No. l war work is school work. Keep it
In our State Department of Labor more Employment
Certificates have been issued than ever before in the his
tory of this department. Each day Investigations disclose
some minor employed who has given a false statement
about his age or has no Employment Certificate. These
boys and girls find the pay envelop more interesting than
their school books.
Constantly facing these facts stated I realize we must
take immediate steps to interest the youth in the import.
ance of school first and stimulate a go to school spirit in
the state.
At the annual meeting of the Arkansas Probation As
ISOLATION held on April 18th in Little Rock | asked them
to sponsor a Child Labor Education Week. to publicize
child labor laws and emphasize the danger of employing
children of school age.
Governor Adkins proclaimed this week, September 10th
through September 10th as Child Labor Education Week.
W. }. Mccain, Commissioner Of Labor intends for Miss Eva
Patterson and me in the Women and Childrens Division to
work very closely with all interested groups in an effort
to see that every child possible returns to school.
With the Arkansas Association of Probation Officers
as our sponsor we are meeting marked success with the as
sistance of our co-sponsors the Patriotic Civic and church
groups; Chambers of Commerce, Parent and Teacher AS
socations, Health Department, County Welfare, Supt. of
School and all community groups. The newspapers and
radios have been most generous IN acquainting the public
with Our Back to School Program
In such an emergency as now exists we must be ready
to consider the protective standards that have been built
up during peace time. We must weigh their Importance in
preserving the democracy for which we are fighting and
safeguard the health, vitality and education of those in the
formative years of life. The care q Nation devotes to its
youth is n barometer of its civilization and a test of its sur
vival.
Get Set For Tomorrow Go To School Now!