Evening star., 1946-10-06

IHONlN O0fAVN Ms
Undersfaffed
Judge Bentley Points
To Heavy Load Here,
PTA Drive Due
Juvenile Court is almost so per
cent understaffed for the work 1t is
expected to do, Judge Fay L. Bentley
told the District Bar Associations
committee on juvenile delinquency
at q meeting in the court building
yesterday.
At the same time, the National
Congress of Parents and Teachers
placed responsibility for "an all-time
high" In juvenile delinquency
squarely on parents and disclosed
it is preparing to throw its T,000
member groups into an all-out cam
paign to put children back on the
path to social safety"
Appeals to Parents.
Mrs. L. w. Hughes, president Of
the PIT. A. Congress. announced
the impending move In q message
prepared for the October issue Of
its magazine. National Parent
Teacher. adding: II we are to put
the responsibility squarely where it
belongs, we shall have to place v
on the home"
Modern parents must never be
so busy that they neglect to live
with and for their children" Mr..
Hughes stated. Nor Is ignorance
less pardonable than neglect"
II Americas parents want to put
an end to juvenile delinquency they
will succeed" she asserted, calling
upon mothers and fathers to exert
the utmost discipline upon our
selves" and then get to work to rid
our country once and for all Of its
number one menace"
The Bar Association Committee,
which plans to meet twice monthly
for three months in a self-educa-
ton program in connection with
the problem, heard comments and
suggestions also from 1t. william
G. Murphy. head OF the police juve-
nile bureau.
Case Load Is Heavy.
Judge Bentley pointed out that
in the field Of social investigations,
q social worker normally may be
expected to handle not more than
Is cases a month. At Juvenile
Court, however, she said, workers
have II cases a month, In addition
to the job Of supervising all proba-
ti0ners.
The investigations, she said, are
to the court what the X-ray is to
the surgeon" Contributing causes
to a child's trouble are found in
such conditions of environment as
poor housing, poor health, family
friction and broken homes, she de-
clared.
The court d further handicapped,
she said. by an inadequate steno-sI
graphic and clerical stan.
A ichild's delinquency, the Judge.
pointed out, Is the responsibility Of
the community. The court. she said,
''can do only that for which the
community affords resources"
"Our condition should be at least
first class" she continued. Being
In the Nations capital. we should
be second to none. But our re-
sources are really very meager and
very poor, due undoubtedly to the
fact that we have always been
taxed without being allowed to say
how our money is to be spent"
Expressing delight" that the bar
association is 'tackling the prob
lem," Judge Bentley suggested the
committee study the court first
hand to gain real conviction Of its
needs.
The Judge reported the court is
handling more cases this year than
ever in its history.
Housebreaking Tops List.
1t. Murphy reported the largest
volume of juvenile crime last year
took the form of HOUSEKEEPING.
Sixty-f1ve per cent of the bureaus
cases, he said, involve destruction
Of property.
Because Of this evidence Of de-
structive tendencies, 1t. Murphy
suggested that children be taught In
school the importance and necessity
Of preserving property as one means
of cutting down the offenses.
1t. Murphy suggested as con-
structive measure to ward of juve-
nile delinquency a national youth
olympics," to be tied in with educa-
ton and character building. He
cited the success of recent trips
with local boys ball teams to other
cities.
The program need not be confined
to sports events, he said, but might
include competitions in music and
art. The point is, he said, that q
child loves recognition, likes to be
rewarded, and likes to travel"
Another means Of promoting the
welfare OF children in the commu-
nifty, 1t. Murphy felt, would be a
"swanky" night club without the
influence of alcohol. Entertainment
for youths from II to 10 years old.
he said, is sore need here.
It was decided by the committee
to hold its next meeting at Q pm.
October %, when it is expected that
religious leaders will join the dis
cussion. G. L. Aiello, chairman OF
the committee, presided at the
meeting.
Fur Pest Comboted
South African farmers expect to
built up a profitable fur industry
by eradicating the dassie, a pest
similar to the Australian rabbit.