Evening star., 1947-01-26

ountry'S 1uture. we SiloulQ De coil"
highest ideals OF individua1 and
family living. The efforts OF the
church are needed now as never
before to assist in preventing break
downs in family life. The stresses
and strains on home solidarity that
have grown out of the war make 1t
imperative that the church offer
the spiritual counsel and other
guidance that will contribute to the
conservation of the American fam
lily.
Upon the church rests respon-
sibility to join with other forces III
the community to fight for the con-
troll or elimination of harmful In
fluences that make wholesome fam
Iily life difficult to maintain. Indeed,
the church should play an increas-
ingly important part in controlling
the forces in our society that cause
breakdown in individual, family and
community life.
Schools Shape Character.
The schools, concerned with the
growth and development OF all chill
dren, have as their chief aim the
building of good citizens.
The teachers take charge OF our
children at an early and impress
sionable age and help to direct their
Lives through most Of their child
hood and adolescence. During
school days character is shaped.
Since the schools play such
vital part in the lives Of our future
citizens, they should receive the un-
qualified support of every CONF
munity.
| Every community should have a
properly equipped school plant
available for use by the community
during daytime and evening hours,
365 days in the year.
A summer school program. which
includes a variety of recreational
activities, is especially desirable.
since much of delinquency among
youth has it's inception during the
long vacation period.
Properly qualified teachers, who
understand youthful behavior,
should staff our schools. This means
the payment of adequate salaries
to teachers, for starvation salaries
inevitably force good teachers into
other channels of employment.
A sufficient number Of teachers
should be employed to reduce the
class size and enable each pupil to
receive the necessary individual at
tention. Part Of the results of over
crowded classes and oyerworked
teachers is a contribution to our
delinquency problems and to poor
and irresponsible citizenship.
Recreation q Positive Force.
Wholesome recreation is needed
by.aI youth. 1t cuts across so many
activities of people and involves so
much of our cultural, moral, social
and physical welfare that it. Is one
of the effective instruments IN both
the prevention and treatment Of
juvenile delinquency.
| Since recreation is such a posi-
tive force in the lives of all, and
particularly of youth, every COM
,,,,y,}fv 1oroa opJ small ,rhon onA
rural, should provide adequate rec
leation resources. If this is done
important steps will have been
taken for the conservation and de-
velopment of all youth, as we'll as
for the prevention and control Of
delinquency.
A National Conference of Sports
writer's held in the Department Of
Justice in December recognized the
value of play, particularly In the
field of sports, as one method OF
preventing delinquency, and urged
that efforts be made to enlist mil
lions of American youth into the
realm of sports.
Participation in competive games
gives an opportunity for youth to
learn some vital lessons in citizen
ship, to grow in mutual respect and
understanding, since youth in play
erases the artificial barriers that
often seperate adults. They require
self-control; develop cooperative
attitudes, and learn the principles
of honesty, fair play and good
craftsmanship.
The game of life should be played
intelngently, squarely and in CO.
operative and sportsmanlike man.
ner. If the ideal Of good citizen
ship is to be realized, the game can
never be played selfishly and alone.
Team work among citizens is vitality
essential in the building of the COM
munity, the State and the Nation.
Responsibility Of All.
The Panel on Community Co.
ordination of the recent national
conference emphasized that 1t is the
community in which planning and
action must finally take place.
The Department of Justice, for
example, can carry out its response
bility with regard to those juveniles
who violate Federal law only as the
local communities succeed In meet
ing their responsibilities for dealing
with youth.
Many services, general and spe-
cific, both for all children and for
those who have already become de-
linquent, or who are in danger OF
becoming SO, are essential to cope
with the rising tide of delinquency,
which is serious threat to the well
fare of our country.
This is not task for the juvenile
court, the law enforcement agencies.
and related activities alone. 1t Is q
responsibility of ali agencies and in