Evening star., 1947-01-26

equipped to help in building our c
cerned about the growth of every
American boy and girl, since no
single individual is unimportart to
the Nations welfare.
Because the Department OF JUS
tice has immediate responsibility for
those juveniles who come into con-
hict with Federal laws, the depart
ment for more than a year has
been carrying on a campaign
against the rising tide of juvenile
delinquency.
The campaign eliminated in the
National Conference on Prevention
and Control of Juvenile Delinquency
held in Washington last November.
1000 experts dealt
with all phases Of the juvenile prob
lem. Ell
Every Community Must Help.
AS the campaign has progressed
and as the conference reported its
findings I have become convinced
that the delinquency problem re-
quires broad and long range ap-
proach.
Attempting to lead youths into
rich and purposeful living after
they are already in trouble is not
an easy task. 1t is not only diff
cult, but more costly and often too
late. In some respects it is like pro-
viding safeguards at railroad
crossing after lives have been lost
through tragic accidents. Planning
only for those now in difficulty,
therefore, is too narrow and re-
stricted an activity.
Since delinquency is the symptom
rather than the problem itself, 1t
is OF primary Importance that every
community in America endeavor to
safeguard all youth and provide
better environment and opportunity
for normal growth and develop
ment.
If every community strengthened
the traditional institutions of Amer
ican community life-the home, the
church, the school and related ac-
tivities-that are essential to the
happy wholesome growth of all chill
dren, and erected safeguards against
local influences that endanger the
health and welfare of every child,
then a long step would have been
taken in the prevention and control
of delinquency.
Lessons of Life.
The many cases OF boys and girls
in trouble whose difficulties are
traceable to home factors should
cause all of us to realize that a
good" home is a necessary part in
the lives of children, and a basic
unit OF society.
This theme ran throughout the
deliberations of the Panel on Home
Responsibility of the recent confer
ence.
Normal home and family life lies
at the very foundation of effective
American citizenship. 1t is the
cornerstone of character growth. In
the home, ethical values are learned
and standards of conduct are
nodded. Out of the joys and prob
lens of family living come lessons
of life that will help the youth Of
today build a better America to-
morrow.
In this age of discoveries and ad-
vances, scientific and social, some
parents fail to realize that they are
still the most important influence in
the lives of their children. Through
them children should experience af-
fection, security and guidance, in
elements in child growth.
Being a parent does not give one
all wisdom for dealing with children.
All of us who are parents can tes-
tify to that. Parents need help.
The problems of family life-home
and child rearing constitute
a major community responsibility.
BY this do not mean that the
should prescribe a pat
tern of family living. There is no
one set of values to which all fam
lilies can subscribe. Besides such a
pattern would be contrary to the
tradition.
Family Breakdowns Alarming.
I do believe, however, that every
thing possible should be done to
prevent the alarming number OF
family breakdowns that are taking
place today. Through parent edu-
CdllOll, 1dAlily touiAoCAAA6 SSA 'ASS'
forums, classes, institutes and in
other ways, the church, the school,
the social agencies and other forces
in the community can strengthen
the home to the end that parents
may better discharge their respon-
sibilities in preparing youth for
meeting the serious problems of to-
morrow.
The church, because Of its unique
position in the community, can
stress the worth and importance OF
every single individual as a part
of the good society. 1t can interpret
the Golden Rule and help to relieve
group tensions that threaten, and
could even destroy, our democracy.
Church leaders can consistently
hold up before their members the
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