Evening star., 1947-12-20
Delinquency and Juvenile Court

Our Juvenile Court has at its disposal physi-
clans, psychiatrists, probation officers and case
workers, who are we'll qualified to produce
effective results. However, the question arises,
are the best interests of the child and society
served in the handling Of many cases by this
court? The case cited below is only one Of
many which might be related:
Almost year ago two or three schools in
the Northwest area Of this city were broken
into, rooms ransacked locks on desks broken
and property damaged and stolen. The Police
Department apprehended some Of the boys
who attended one OF the schools which was
unlawfully entered. Within very short time,
probably a month or six weeks, some Of the
boys were returned to the same school into
which they had unlawfully entered and placed
in their regular classes. Now, less than q year
later, robbery almost identical to the first
one has been committed in which the same
pattern was followed, except that it was not
necessary to break locks on many desks since
they had previously been broken.
Now, as citizen and taxpayer, pose the
question: Is it good, fair or practical policy
to permit children to get away with such
misdemeanors. In the first instance evidently
the children were not impressed with the
seriousness of the crime, for their sudden and
speedy return to the schools which they ran
sacked made them heroes in the eyes of many
Of their weaker companions, and the fact that
nothing had happened to them made their act
one Of real bravery
If the best interests of the child and society
are to be served, our Juvenile Court should
stop kidding itself and take very definite steps
in cases of this kind. It will probably be re-
vealing to the court to know that there are
children who tell their parents and teachers
that "the Juvenile Court isn't going to do a
thing but put them on probation several times. "
If a study of the records of the youths who
commit the robberies murders, assaults, sex
offenses and the like is made, 1t could be that
many OF these young adult or near adult
offenders will be found to be the "probationers''
of yesterday. A DISGUISED CITIZEN.
Maybe Somebody Does Want Him
To the Editor of The Star:
Your editorial Three Cheers for Alger" is in
teresting
have son sixteen who has no White House
ambitions but would like to make himself USE
full. In spite of all the bowling we hear about
being unable to get work done, apparently he
just plain isn't wanted. All because he
graduated from eighth grade "by the skin
of his teeth" and refuse to force him through
either Junior or senior high schools! What's
the use? He is good in subjects in which the
educators aren't hotheaded about any more
spelling and English Neither are recognized
in colleges anymore, if the graduates working
for Uncle Sam for whom I had to type letters
during the war are any indication. All our
educators think of is mathematics. If boy
can't DO that he doesn't pass! Why waste his
time? God intended him to use his hands, not
be mathematical automaton!
The boy fixes his bike all the time, fixes his
and my husbands tires can put together the
delicate pieces used in making wooden air.
plane models; does beautiful job of cleaning
our house. But nobody wants him!
All.
Complains About Princess Allowance
To the Editor of The Star:
The British Parliament has voted to give
Princess Elizabeth and her consort Phillip an
allowance of 100000 yearly, four -fifths to
Elizabeth and one-ffth to Philip. Philips
present salary as an Admiralty clerk is s51 sc
weekly and henceforth he will have to struggle
along on paltry $4,000 a year.
I am just small taxpayer with wife and
1--WE children for whom work IA hours daily in
Guiding Sundays in order that may give them
a good education and a proper start in life
For years I have done this, for it is my duty
to them. have been to about three shows in
the past FIVE years. I am an enthusiastic base
ball, football and boxing fan, yet have not
seen one such event in years. When I think
of all this and contemplate that for years te
come shall continue to pay over 20T OF al
I earn in taxes, and standby and see our gov.
eminent shell out billions to Great Britain
In order that Elizabeth and ner husband may