The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-05-18
.DR. GEORGE DALE SPEAKS TO p-TA MEMBERS MONDAY


 guest speaker at the Parent Teacher Association meeting in the study hall of the Juneau High School He spoke on Child As A Resource" and he pulled no punch l es as to the slum conditions and other detrimental subjects in the political fields.
 Dr. Dale stated that before the child reaches the age of 2l, the politician has not thought of him nor consideration as to his vel face as far as legislation is con- cerned. However, the politicians s interest develops after the child reaches the adult age and when he has the right to vote. How ever, by and large, the child's political significance is small therefore his influence on his be- half is nil
 During the period as a Junior citizen the child has little or no ] ities he is "a pain in the neck" to be shunted into playgrounds and vacation schools and variety of other activities to keep him out of the way" when he is not in school.
 This is in sharp contrast to the labor value of the child in the ru- raj community and small town which is characteristic of the time when many of us were children, said pr. Dale. During this per iod the child also serves as scapegoat to be blamed and labeled delinquent for certain unsocial ac> tivities which are more often than | not product of the group with which he lives rather than of any thing peculiarly devilish in his own nature.
 When we are taking tlme out to bemoan the juvenile delinquency problem we should remind our selves that juvenile delinquents with few exceptions have just as much potentials for becoming par ticularly successful in their com munities as they have exhibited for becoming conspicuous for their unsocial and delinquent activities" he stated
 The child is ret a serious health hazard to a community as such, and he therefore receives less con- sideration and less protection in many respects than do the prosti- tutes. Whether we like it or not you and I contribute through our taxes, free penicillin at $10 a shot to the prostitutes. By the use of penicillin the prostitutes as a source of VD. are somewhat curb 1 ed" state Dr. Dale, and, he added while this is happening am quite sure there are many child ren in the same community who Tor lack of penicillin are allowed : to have their colds develop into ear infections and ether impair ments which migh1 result in a permanent disability"
 Dr. Dale also stated that peni- cillin provided at public expense would and could have prevented these handicaps. The public would probably be willing to provide this treatment for children whose par ents cannot provide it themselves, but since the child with cold is not considered public health haz- ard he is allowed to go unnoticed as compared with the prostitute who is commonly regarded as a public health hazard" said Dr. Dale.
 He stated that many of you know by sight, if not by name, the lobbyists who are busy in our Fed eral building during legislature sessions representing the liquor in terests, the salmon industry and various other businesses concerned with immediately making money out of our resources or by exploit ing our people,
 Dr. Dale said that the child is the "community's potential market and to let children live in filthy shacks, in unhealthy slums where they grow up to think such living is acceptable and they will be an assured market for such sub- standard housing. liquor and pros- titution, and undesirable conditions when they are adults
 Other business attended at the meeting was the installation of officers. as follows President, Rev. H. E. Beyer; Vice-President, Mrs. E. V. Carlson; Secretary, Mrs. T. L. Crooks; Treasurer, Mrs. Carl Weideman.
 Mrs. Ruth Popejoy was the iil- stalling officer, assisted by Edwin 0. Clark, Superintendent of Schools.
 President Rev Beyers made a short talk and thanked the mem 1 bers who had worked so ardently Throughout the year and helped to make the past year such huge success.
 The entertainment committee