Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-23

in Washington it must be of
sufficient popular appeal to
incur the wrath of a rela-
lively high percentage of our
well-meaning citizens before
it is given public considera-
ton. It takes the involvement
of a John Glenn or a busload
of cowardly passengers to
draw significant attention.
Even when the public is
aroused, however, the real
issues are buried beneath
quicksands of emotion and
enthusiasm. After all, the
true reasons behind these
and similar acts of juvenile
misbehavior are difficult to
comprehend; and, besides,
correcting them would in
volve a major change in
many of the established in
situations of our community.
A good bit of tax money
would have to be squandered
on adequate school and rec
creational facilities, for ex-
ample. It might even require
adequate courts and correc-
tional institutions.
AS a teacher, I come in
daily contact with many of
the causes of delinquency.
When I emphasize the merits
of honesty, hard work. and
individual initiative I am
countered by complaints that
I am outdated by govern
mental and private agencies
whose employees enforce a
strict code of goldbricking
and planned incompetence.
When endeavor to bring
out the best talents of my
students, I am frequently
thwarted by the attitudes
prevalent in so many of our
educational systems today
that mediocrity and conform
ity to group standards are
more necessary than high
quality and Self-reliance.
When I point out the values
to be derived from thrift and
pride of ownership, I get
the blank response of young
people conditioned from their
earliest years to the INSTALL
ment plan and the credit
card.
True causes of delinquency
can be found in faulty and
outdated textbooks the trivia
and inadequacy of which are
often unbelievable. They can
be seen in over-crowded
classrooms, status symbol
churches, broken homes, the
public worship Of chrome
plate, the garbage spewn
forth by the entertainment
media, and especially in the
growing national conviction
that the Government owes us
something for nothing and is
at the very least a public
benefactor which can spend
us out of our individual obi
cations.
And most significantly,
perhaps, these true causes can
be heard in the mumblings
of well-meaning citizens who
seek to end this problem
once and for all by crying,
naughty, naughty" in the
hopes that some miraculous
deus eX machina will hear
and descend from the Olym-
pus of our fumbling bureauc-
racy to set things right again.
william E. Vincent.
I would publicly like to
express my personal gratitude
to everyone for their concern
over the recent beating and
robbery that took place on q
D. c. Transit System bus.
I hope that in some way
this violence which has hap
pened to me will make every
one realize that the citizens
want something done and
are ready to face this prob
lem of juvenile delinquency
and violence in our Nations
Capital.
Page M. Powell.
The Midway Civic Associa-
ton has expressed its con-
Germ over the increase in
crimes committed in the Dis
trict for many years. Since
1859, it has voted unani-
mously that District govern
ment employees live within
the District.
1t is the feeling of the as
ISOLATION that if police Off
GERS were required to live in
the District the security of
every man, woman and child
would be greatly improved.
Not only do police officers
and officials receive good sal
aries, but many other bene-
fits that are made possible