Evening star., 1947-01-06
Letters to The Star
Points on Juvenile Delinquency
From Different Angles

From Different Angles
To the Edito. OF The Star:
There is a great deal OF talk about
juvenile delinquency. Most of the reme-
dies suggested ignore some fundamental
principles. Most OF the delinquents, at
least those In the great majority are
boys. How many adults realize the
changes that have taken place in the
environment, of our growing boys and
girls? How much boldness develops in
delinquency because of the "softness'
used In our correction OF youth and the
sentimentality with which We treat ju-
yenile offenders.
When our cities were small, boys found
plenty OF places to play in the same way
that Kids have played over since man
came down from the trees to live in
caves. The average boy wants to climb.
run. swim and test his strength and skill
with his fellows. Today no boy in city
can cast stone or throw missile from
a slingshot. There are too many win
doWs and people about. Yet, this Is an
age-old activity since the day when
David slew Goliath.
Nor can the kids find trees to climb.
For centuries. all boys have liked run
ming games. Run, sheep. run, Red Rover
and prisoners base are unknown since
the day of the automobile. To run be-
yond the curb courts violent death.
There are no streams to dam up and
after hard work learn the dog stroke.
The fear OF typhoid-although almost
nonexistent today-keeps the boys from
the adventure of swim in the river
even In safe areas.
Nor will the mere existence OF a play
ground. half mile away from home.
supply the demand for the thrills of
competitive games. Few kids sense any
allegiance or loyalty to q playground.
But all are in school by law. The school
room is the only place where most chill
dren have SENSE Of belonging To be
on team connected with a school has
a pull for elementary school children
, almost as strong as the attachment OF
college athlete to his alma mater.
Nothing is more disintegrating to
growing child than to be caught up be-
tween agencies vying for his activity or
membership. E. B. HENDERSON.
To the Editor Of The Star:
To prosecute parents for juvenile de-
linquency wouldn't accomplish much.
No one Is more painfully aware OF this
problem than parents. But to large
extent they are helpless to do anything
about it.
Parents themselves are desperately in
need of help all along the line-eco-
nomic. housing, food. medical attention,
education (most of all in the art of cor
rect living, especially appreciation Of the
practical benefits of religious principles,
and then academic), athletic and recre-
ational facilities; but often their most
heroic efforts to obtain these things
don't get far, and although they plead
for assistance from those who could help
them they find a deaf ear turned to
them.
If any one should be prosecuted, it is
the public officials who have it in their
power to do something to provide these
badly needed things, but fail to do so.
That's where the trouble begins.
= I. M.
To the Editor OF The Star:
Every day we read in the papers that
juvenile delinquency is increasing.
After working in the Junior Police and
Citizens Corps for three years, I believe
Father Flanagari's statement that there
is no such thing as bad boy or girl,s
There are neglected boys and girls.
One Friday night we were showing
free movies in the basement of Tabor
Presbyterian Church at Second and s
streets NV. You should have seen the
happy expressions on the faces of about
As boys and girls during the running of
the pictures.
We must show teen-age boys and
girls that we are interested in their
welfare. 1t pays.
CLARENCE E. SHAW,
Volunteer worker in the Junior Police
and Citizens Corps.
People and Government
To the Editor Of The Star:
There was far less provocation then
than now, and labor unions were not
included in the menace. when Wood
row Wilson wrote: TT is an intolerable
thing that the Government of the Re-
public should have got SO far out of the
hands of the people; should have been
captured by interests which are special
and not general. In the train of this
capture follow the troops Of scandals,
wrongs, indecencies with which our poll
tics swan. The hypocrisy and brazen
affrontery of our politicians is source
of wonder to any thoughtful and hon.
est man."
About 100 years before that, Thomas
Jefferson said: "It Is an axiom in my
mind that our liberties can never be
safe but in the hands of the people
themselves. The people in every coun-
try are the only guardians of their own
rights. Educate and inform the masses
Of the people,
Economic justice is the goal for which
honest endeavor must strive, and
Truth" as Emerson declared, sis the
summit of achievement justice but the
application of 1t to affairs"
j. B. CHAMBERLAIN.
Homesick for Washington
To the Editor OF The Star:
Washington, we miss you more than
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