The Coolidge examiner., 1945-09-07
Residents Show
Little Interest
In Local Youth
Scout home contributions
lag as Legion sponsored
drive goes into second
week.

week.
If contributions for a scout home
are any criterion. Coolidge resi-
dents have little interest in the
youth of their community. Ben
Arnold treasurer for the Legion
sponsored building fund drive.
which is In It's second week, reports
that donations are coming In very
slowly.
1T is scarcely understandable,
Arnold says. "for many Coolidge
man will stand on the street corner
and tell you how bad some boy is
yet will not willingly dig down In
his pocket to make a contribution
that will help provide a place for
that boy to pursue the kind of ac-
tivity that will keep him out of
mischief"
In agreement with Arnold Is Ira
Wis Wall, under sheriff, who says
that Juvenile delinquency Is always
a community problem. Wall states
that he believes scout home which
would help keep Coolidge youth
off the streets would cut down on
juvenile delinquency.
Juvenile delinquency has been on
the increase in Coolidge for some
time. law enforcement officers
state.
Scouting activities contribute 10
the building of youthful character"
Rev. Olin Lehman points out "A
scout learns that through his own
efforts he can earn a merit badge.
In this way he Is encouraged to take
up new interests and new work
of his own volition. He learns to
depend on himself and so truly
builds his own personality and
character"
Rev. Lehman refers to the sys-
tenn of merit badge awards which
provides scouts with a variety of
subjects which, If thoroughly pur-
sued, lead to the attainment of a
merit badge. Each scout is In this
way encouraged to develop his own
interests and to assume responsible
ity for the understanding of his
work.
Not only are scouts, girls as well
as boys, encouraged to develop their
own personalities, Mrs. H. A. Un-
ger, president of the PTA, explains,
they are also given invaluable train
ing in community living. Boys
learn to work with other boys their
own age, she points out. Girls
learn to cooperate with other girls
OF their own age. Older boys and
girls have a chance to encourage
younger children in scout work. All
this, Mrs. Unger states, is true
basis for community living.
"If scouts have a building which
is truly their own" she says, "and
for which they are responsible,
training for future community
members will be extremely effec-
tive"
At present there are more than
200 Coolidge boys and girls In
scouting groups.
Think of what this means to
Coolidge" Joe Irvine. chairman of
the building committee, says. 1.-TWO
hundred boys and girls who will
some day become the citizens OF
this town. Their opportunities now
will determine what kind of citizens
they become. A scout building
where they can pour their energies
into healthful character building
activities would truly be an invest
ment in our youth and in our town."
Because the David Hood post OF
the American Legion believes in the
youth Of Coolidge and in the future
of Coolidge the post is sponsoring
this drive for funds so that Cool
idge boy and girl scout groups can
have the opportunity they deserve.
The Legion is willing to assume
the responsibility of erecting the
Scout building. The members are
asking Coolidge citizens to contrib
ute to the building fund.
1t is the belief Of the Legion that
Coolidge citizens are not only in
terested enough in their children
to worry about them but are inter-
ested enough to do something for
them.