Evening star., 1955-02-08
Youth Council
Asks Review Of
D. {. Budget
Fails to Provide
Needed Services,
Spencer Is Told

The Commissioners Youth
Council has asked Commissioner
Samuel Spencer for a review of
the pending District budget on
the ground it fails to provide
services needed to prevent juve-
nile delinquency.
A letter from Mrs. Henry Grat-
tan Doyle, council chairman.
acknowledged the difficulties Of
planning the budget within the
limited funds available.
Nevertheless, we of the Com
missioners' Youth Council feel
that we must ask for a review OF
the budget submitted to Congress
because the reaction of the COM
munity as expressed through our
area board members is one Of
keen disappointment" she wrote.
"They feel that the services
not provided for are the very ones
that are needed to prevent de-
linquency," she added, land that
official failure to plan a more
constructive future program
makes increasingly difficult their
efforts to treat the present stu
alton"
Lists Special Concerns.
The letter asked whether some
reallocation Of available funds
might be possible. 1t was accom-
panied by a report on the items
of special concern to the council
in the fields of welfare, health.
recreation and schools.
I'VE know that to acquire the
services we mention would cost
much, but we firmly believe that
not to acquire them would cost
more over the years." Mrs. Doyle
wrote. 1.-THE fact that we face
an increase of about Is per cent
in our school population by 1860
makes the situation even more
urgent. ...
"Can we take a step now on
some plan that will lead to the
establishing Of these basic serv-
ices for all District children?"
Mr.. Spencer said anything
that could be done would receive
every consideration. But he in
dicated little hope that the city's
revenue situation would permit
very much.
Summary Of Items.
Following is a summary Of the
''items Of concern" as outlined
IN the councils report:
Public Welfare - Additional
workers are badly needed" in
the protective services unit.
which, adequately stated. can
do much to prevent the break
down of homes and the subse-
quent burden of caring for chill
dren at public expense-to say
nothing of the individual trag-
edies that could be avoided"
This means a lack of services
which adds up to too many
repeaters and a large number
Of maladjusted youth in the
community without guidance"
Health Department-The re-
quest for funds for mental health
services for school children was
not granted. Such services are
needed: I'VE know that ten
dencies toward delinquency can
be detected and that preventive
steps can be taken. We know
that steps can be taken to cor
rect emotional disturbances that
manifest themselves in undesir-
able behavior patterns, but that
there must first be professional
analysis and a recommended
course of action"
Recreation Department-There
is a shortage Of leaders and
facilities, with no provision for
special attention for other-than-
normal children. The council
was particularly disappointed"
that a request for 10 rowing lead
ers was cut out. These workers
would have worked with area
boards to reach youth in the
streets and alleys and those not
participating in organized activi-
ties.
Public Schools-There Is o
"crying need" for extension Of
service along many lines. Pri-
mary is the need for special
classes, particularly in remedial
reading. Studies show a high
correlation between inability to
read and behavior difficulties
prone to lead to delinquency.
Urges Smaller Glasses.
1
The councils maximum bene-
fits project is showing that re-
duction Of a class size to 30
pupils gives a teacher a chance
to know her pupils and give In
dividual attention. She can
identity the disturbed child and
get an indicated treatment
process started. She also can
help the gifted child to develop
| to full capacity.
The service Of counselors in
junior and senior high schools
is not nearly enough to meet
the needs Of the secondary
schools and the council would
like to see that service strength
ened.
| The Public School Research
Departments small staff Is
heavily burdened and far behind
on its schedule of testing. A re-
search department sufficiently
stated not only to give service
on individual cases when in
dicated but to make studies Of
the entire school population is
needed.
Roturiuns Nominate