HON. PAUL DOUGLAS, Senate Office Building, GEORGE WILLIAMS COLLEGE, DEAR SENATOR DOUGLAS: It has come to my attention that there is a bill pending in the Senate that would provide Federal assistance for projects to demonstrate or develop techniques and practices leading to a solution of the Nation's juvenile delinquency control problems. I understand that this is S. 694. It is not necessary for me to impress you further with the gravity of the problem that America faces in the rising delinquency rate. As dean of George Williams College, I have observed many of our students and graduates who are working in the most difficult areas of Chicago, and I am convinced that there are many constructive ways in which relief can be brought to our cities in this area, provided that the agencies now working in these directions are given some financial assistance. We are not lacking in ideas but rather in the means for putting these ideas into action. I would be most thankful to you if you would send me a copy of S. 694 for further study, and if you would bring this letter to the attention of Senator Lister Hill, who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare and to Senator Joseph Clark, chairman of Mr. Hill's subcommittee dealing with problems related to juvenile delinquency in legislation. you cosponsor this bill or in other ways give it your strongest support at the appropriate time, those of us who are close to this problem will be most appreciative of your efforts. Should With kindest regards and good wishes for your continued high level performance on our behalf. Sincerely yours, ARTHUR H. STEINHAUS, Professor of Physiology and Dean of the College. STATEMENT PREPARED FOR SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE BY REV. FRANK E. DUNN, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF RELIGION The problem of juvenile delinquency and crime is in the main a community problem. It is at this point it must be solved. While resources of Federal and State Governments can be helpful, even instrumental in acheiving solution, it is the community that must use all available ideas, funds, and personnel in a continuing thrust at this problem for the final answer. The current bills to provide aid in combating juvenile delinquency, now before the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, are steps in the right direction. The institute would like to suggest that a small portion of the sums proposed by these bills could demonstrate unquestionably, in two or three cities, that crime can be halted, and juvenile delinquency prevented, and a blueprint for the solution of this problem would evolve that could then be made available to other American communities. What could be given to the local community as a trial or test program that would provide the way out of this vexing problem? In the main the test community would receive a plan of organization, an extensive detailed program of operation, and a professional staff to oversee program and personnel. Initial informational surveys would be taken to determine community awareness of its crime and juvenile delinquency index, and of citizen willingness to go all out in an effort to solve this problem. The operation of this test action could, within a single year, provide American experts in this field with the ultimate answer. In the process of the trial operation evaluational studies would be made, revealing the weaknesses and strengths of operational procedure, of organization, of program, and of personnel including the staff. The institute would recommend the test action be conducted in three cities of varying population categories: one in the 500,000 class; one in the 250,000 population class, and the third in a city of approximately 75,000 population. Yes, the all-out effort of the community, its institutions and organizations, its leaders, its experts and its citizens, all organized on a permanent corporate basis, utilizing the services of a vast army of personnel as well as the total facilities of the community and all this directed by a professional staff; this can reduce crime and prevent juvenile delinquency. This is total mobilization of the community on a scale never conceived heretofore. This idea as such has never been used in America. If the citizens of a community banded together and using the sum total of their resources cannot solve this problem, then we had better face up to it as insolvable. But the problem can be solved. This is not to say there will then no longer be crime and juvenile delinquency. These things will be as long as there are people on the earth. But the problem, like smallpox, can be controlled and its effects minimized. The American Institute of Religion has the solution to the problem of juvenile delinquency and crime. Five years of research in the ideas and answers of the experts has produced it. The critical will say that what we have is only theory. But this theory is based upon the sound principles of citizen action that have been productive and successful in the American scene. Here is one overall plan that can meet every test and which in any trial run will provide us with the elusive answer we have so long sought. Mr. STEWART E. MCCLURE, FULD NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, Newark, N.J., May 4, 1959. Chief Clerk, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. MCCLURE: In response to your letter of April 23, 1959, we respectfully submit the following statement on behalf of the Fuld Neighborhood House in, support of S. 1286 (Javits bill) and S. 694, "Juvenile Delinquency Control Projects Bill” (Hill-Clark bill). At its regular meeting of April 1959, the board of trustees recorded its full support of S. 694 (Hill-Clark bill) and S. 1286 (Javits bill) as two vital and necessary pieces of supportive legislation. In this era of urban renewal and social redevelopment, the Fuld Neighborhood House represents, as a nonprofit social welfare agency, a bulwark against the growing social needs in the city of Newark. The service described in the enclosed booklet, New Ways With Youth, is one effective method of dealing with teenagers who find the city streets more conducive to limitless activity than the well-structured, socially acceptable neighborhood house. The street club worker, who deals with the teenage gang, meets them on their own grounds, and through genuine, warm and firm friendship, moves them to higher, firmer and more acceptable grounds. He represents good social and moral values to the hopeless group, yet he allows the group to decide for themselves, individually and collectively, the values important to them. He represents firm and strong limits to a group who knows only confusion, detachment, and punishment. He represents hope for the hopeless. S. 694 would provide the means for further experimentation and work with a group of teenagers who, if left to their own devices, will ultimately cost more to city, State, and Federal Governments in the form of funds for correction and penal institutions. We strongly urge the adoption and passage of S. 694. MARTIN A. LIVENSTEIN, DEAR BARRY: I see where there is a juvenile delinquency control project bill, S. 694, cosponsored by Senator Lister Hill, to be presented to the Senate. They have written to me for my opinion and here goes: Let's not appropriate any more money for any more studying of problems. If we could take the money appropriated for studies and surveys and use it directly, and locally, juvenile delinquency would be cut. What we need at present is placement officers to check boys and girls who have been released. We need prevention officers to work with idle youth and keep them from getting into trouble. We need more supervised playgrounds. If the Senate does not know how to spend the money, give it to the State agencies, already provided, to use directly with juveniles. Thank you for all past favors and with kindest personal regards, I am T. D. ROMERO, President. STATEMENT OF THOMAS C. CORBITT, SR., FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE TRUE CITIZENSHIP NATIONAL UNITED IDEAL CONSTRUCTIVE AND INSTRUCTIVE ASSOCIATION, INC. Mr. Clark, and most worthy members of this committee, I Thomas C. Corbitt, founder and president of the True Citizenship Association, do highly appreciate the privilege extended to me to appear before this committee in behalf of this association to support this great and most worthy effort which deals with juvenile delinquency. This subject carries with it many complex problems yet to be solved, such as the cause and cure, and most important, the prevention of juvenile delinquency. To these problems, apparently, it is hard to find a solution. They have puzzled our top experts who are specialists and who are highly trained to work in such fields. Even the many schools, churches, and various organizations that worked and are still working with whatever support they may have thus far have failed to find the answer to the problems relative to juvenile delinquency. However, some good has resulted from such efforts, but much more must be done. The bill, No. 694, that was so wisely designed and introduced by the chairman, Mr. Joseph Clark, and Mr. Hill, is being supported by his coworkers, and others, seems to be the right kind of bill, designed to "hit the spot". First, it will offer great financial aid, and help workers who are and who may be willing to devote their time to working, thinking, and searching for new ideas and new projects that may be fitted with necessary equipment to do the job of curbing and preventing delinquency. If such a bill is passed, and I hope it will be as soon as possible so that financial aid may be available at an early date, it will stop this terrible pest, stop the acts that are ruining and even destroying our children of today who would otherwise be good citizens of tomorrow. Second, No. 694 is also planned to aid new projects and new ideas, and even dormant projects which might have been retarded due to the lack of finances. Such federal aid as this bill would give would set up and put into operation projects and new ideas, among which may be the very solution to the complex problems concerning juvenile delinquency; the cause, the cure, and even the prevention. Over a period of many years I have been dealing with children in various capacities and in many types of services. I have served as a teacher in both public and private schools; also I have served as a teacher in churches, as well as director of youth recreation department and other departments. I have actively affiliated with such organizations as the Y.M.C.A., Boy Scouts as counselor, and I am now a member of the commissioner's youth council. By serving in these capacities, I have been able to study youth and their needs. In addition to such contact with children of the public, I have had the opportunity of further observation of my own very large family of 11 children, including 7 boys, all of whom have served, and some of whom are still serving, in different branches of our Nation's Armed Forces. Each of them made good servicemen, having served with honor. Through strict parental guidance these boys grew to manhood and they were never identified with delinquency. I cited this personal case as an example to show how they (the parents), can teach and emphasize good citizenship in the homes, while rearing the children and also to show that if this method is followed by all parents we would go a long way on the road toward prevention of this evil among our youth. This formula will work for rich and poor, high and low. Now, Mr. Chairman, I am proud to say in the behalf of the True Citizenship Association, Inc., that we stand strong in support of your bill, No. 694, designed to provide aid for the control and prevention of juvenile delinquency, and we do support all good principles, and every sound effort that will contribute toward the spread and maintenance of true citizenship in our homes, in our communities, and within our Nation. Therefore, Mr. Chairman and members of this subcommittee, since we believe that juvenile delinquency has reached its highest peak ever, now is the time for the Federal Government to take steps in this connection. We feel that the passage of No. 694, immediately will pave the way to a solution. Mr. STEWART E. MCCLURE, DE WITT CLINTON ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, Mosholu Parkway, New York, N.Y., May 22, 1959 Chief Clerk, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, U.S. Senate, DEAR SIR: We will be unable to send a speaker to present our case before the committee considering the Javits bill S-1341, to aid those agencies fighting juvenile delinquency. However, we are sending 75 copies of our plea to private and public agencies, which appeared in our January 1959 bulletin. We feel we could not make a stronger brief. Our slogans are "Change Juvenile Delinquency to Juvenile Decency" and "Train Leaders Among Youth To Help Youth." The DeWitt Clinton Alumni Association wishes you every success in your endeavors and hopes it may be among the instruments selected to fight the battle. Sincerely yours, CHRISTGAU, WM. R. [From Dewitt Clinton Alumin Bulletin, January 1959] WHAT THE DEWITT CLINTON ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IS DOING FOR THE PRESENT GENERATION OF CLINTON STUDENTS-COGENT REASONS WHY IT SHOULD GET WIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT NOT ONLY FROM ALUMNI BUT FROM PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SOURCES (By Irwin S. "Doc" Guernsey, faculty coordinator and director of the educational leadership project) EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP WEEKENDS In 1951 after years of deep thought, planning, and preparation the alumni association started its project with the above name. About four times in the course of the school year from 30 to 60 boys were taken to the Hudson Guild Farm in Andover, N.J., for an educational weekend. Over the years more than 1,000 boys have been invited to these weekends. It was felt that by sleeping, living, playing, and discussing together it would be possible, perhaps, to get at the roots of what makes the younger generation of Clinton students click. The newspapers and other media play up the problems of juvenile delinquency, the beat generation, the underachiever, the detached child, and other characteristics that apparently have no firm foundation in something concrete that could be attacked successfully by the school, the home, the church, and the government. It was felt that if the boys had an opportunity to discuss their problems with other boys and with some friendly faculty and alumni people, perhaps they could "talk out" their secret storms and stresses that were bothering them. If they found out that their problems were universal and shared by others there was a possibility of lessening the tensions that seem to grip all young people today. All kinds of students are taken on these weekends. Discipline problems, boys who could do better but didn't, boys who had everything but did not share anything with anyone else, boys interested in the "fast buck," and groups interested in following various professions such as dentistry, medicine, law, engineering, and such. A definite program is worked out with a minimum of five "buzz" sessions, where all discussions are led and participated in by the boys. The faculty members and the alumni listen and at times participate. There is never adult domination or anything that would make a student "clam" up. One topic will illustrate the type of thinking the boys and student discussion leaders tackled. How much freedom should an adolescent have in relationship to his home, school, and community? One would be surprised indeed at some of the thoughts these boys have concerning parents, teachers, policemen, and others. In a brief summary such as this it can only be said that after several "buzz" sessions of give and take most of the boys felt the sense of "belonging" and went home with a feeling that they must give as well as take. This was a new experience for many of them. The students flock to extra curricular activities after a weekend and, although graduated, they never forget the weekend and never. will. A group of 100 boys, spread over 3 weekends, drew up a code of conduct and ethics, the preamble of which stated, "In order to be a member of a community, a person must be aware of the rights of his fellow men and his responsibilities toward them." In March 1958, the topic of the "buzz" session was the sputnik versus the explorer or as it was developed the trained man versus the trained man with an education. I can't write further about these weekends without expanding this brief to unwieldy lengths. I must emphasize so that there will be no misunderstanding, that these weekends were boy run. Student leaders were trained at one weekend to become discussion leaders at the next one. Each boy was himself-he unfolded and grew-he was completely unaware of differences of race, color, religion, scholastic ability, etc. carryover was terrific. In passing, I should like to say that many States, cities, and individual schools are trying this weekend (and sometimes much longer) method of education. Everywhere the reports are enthusiastically favorable. In this city some schools and general organizations have tried this experiment as a result of the De Witt Clinton project and have found it works so well that it is repeated as often as money will allow. The Although the alumni association supports this program financially, it is planned for and run by the school under the supervision of Principal Degnan. The boys are selected from the current student body by faculty members-the supervisory personnel at the weekends is from the school. All faculty members are welcome. Of course this is as it should be. However, interested alumni-Colonel DiGiacomo, Ben Bitler, Howie Glickstein, Paul Marks-attend most of the weekends and are very impressed with the value of the project and the necessity for continuing it. Dr. Miriam Goldberg of the Psychology Department of Teachers College has not only attended some of the weekends but has arranged for a group of Clinton boys to go the farm. This weekend was held in conjunction with the New York City Board of Education, Division of Vocational and Educational Guidance. This weekend was financed entirely by the sponsoring parties. Other similar weekends are in the offing. Dr. Goldberg has been very enthusiastic about the results so far attained and the future possibilities of the program. Partially as a result of the success of those affairs, Director Guernsey was selected to run an experiment on the campus of Cornell University during the summer of 1954. A group of outstanding high school juniors were exposed to the values of group living, etc., on a college campus. The undertaking was such a success that it has been continued and expanded by the Telluride Association. This is mentioned because of the hope that the De Witt Clinton Alumni Association will continue and expand its project. Money, money, money. This is what makes the educational weekends possible. Each weekend costs about $1,000 under the present setup. The parents are asked to contribute to the association if they can afford it and they feel that their boys benefited. It costs about $15 per boy for food, lodging, transportation and incidentals. The parents usually cover about one-fifth of the cost. The rest is underwritten by the alumni association, which depends entirely upon voluntary contributions. Foundations have been approached without success, mainly because they feel the project is akin to camping and they cannot aid such endeavors. No weekends are held or planned during the summer months. This is a part of the regular school program and it is felt that it should be supported by all municipal and private groups sincerely interested in placing the current generation on the path toward true Americanism― opportunity for all and discrimination for none. Alumni, citizens, friends-you are all invited to see this program in action. The board of education and super 41638-59-25 |