Milford chronicle., 1954-09-03
RsBon Ia Rarsnl.
81 DR. MARTHA "a ElloT
Chief chllaTen's aufeaa

Perhaps parents have lost touch
with their children.
Many people and many oreaniza-
tIcns have wOndered-publicly and
prITateiy-abOut the seeming irre1
sponsibility OF some of our young
people, particularly since the ex-
element OF the thrill chasers seems
% have q contagious quality, a way
Of spreading to youngsters hereto
fore marked By the most decorOus
conduct.
The quotation above Is not from
an organization, &c is that Of
newspaper the Jackson (Michigan)
Citizen Patriot which was worried
about the increasing number Of
highway accidents traced to teen-
age hot rod drivers The paper
came up with a suggestion for "a
lOOseknit Organization to be called
Parents, Inc. which would sponsor
dances. hot dog roasts, picnics and
other activities for teenagers.
This was not offered as a cure
all for juvenile delinquency, but the
editorial pointed out that mothers
and fathers working with their
children, to help them discover the
fun thrills and entertainment they
are evidently not finding now might
well channel much Of this hunger
into less dangerous outlets.
The day after the publication Of
the editorial the mayor Of Jackson
announced a public meeting Of par
ents. Three hundred and fifty
showed up. a twenty-five man ex-
ecutive committee was formed. The
name Parents. Inc, was adopted /
and the group swung into action
under the Craftsmanship Of a cor
ner druggist (WhO was, in fact, the 1
proprietor Of three drug store teen
age hangouts as well as the father |
Of l6-year-Old twins and two other I
children).
That was fifteen months ago /
since that April day when the group I
was formed, events and projects, /
have moved swiftly.
The operators Of Ella Sharp T
Park offered the use Of a building 1
for a clubhouse, which was named 4
The Sky Club. The city bus lines 4
schedules to provide
adequate transportation to and
from the Sky Club three nights a
week. "A local soft drink firm do
mated a handsome bar. (On open
ing night the pop, all you could
drink. was on the house.)
10 takes a bit Of money to grease
the wheels Of any such project. A
social group, the Table Toppers,
donated $1,000 The Jackson PO-
.icemen's Association Clipped in
with $100
Even the inmates Of the State
Prison Of Southern Michigan want
ed 70 get in the act With the CO
operation Of the warden a night of
boxing matches, was put on in
downtown Jackson. This brought /
another $4,000 to the Parents, Inc,
treasury.
BY last summer $500 young peo-
pie had been attracted to the Sky
Club. It was decided to try to get
B barn for summer recreation
.Our were offered. The local hunt
slub. offered to teach the youngs-
.ers how 10 handle guns safely, and
ianely.
There were classes in safe driv-
ing, among the many activities,
and last fall three Of the local /
schools won awards for going six
months without an ac-
.ident involving a tesnage driver. \
Parents, Inc.s has become part Of c
he warp and woOf OF the town. t
soW, in 1854, fifteen high school /
nd junior college young people h
erVe as a youth advisory council 4
o the parent Parents, Inc.
The community's experience is
lot only an Indication Of what can g
.e done when a number Of people +
.ut their shoulder to the wheel. it {
.oints up how teenagers respond
7hen there is a truly interesting
alternative TO thrill chasing to +
reak the boredom Of nothing to 4
.