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, 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, Wм. R. CHRISTGAU, [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. The 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. 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 intendents have approved the idea and the specific project but have been unable to get any money appropriated for it. SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER FORMS OF AID The alumni association appropriates approximately $1,500 per year in the form of scholarships to Clinton graduates. The amount, perforce, is limited by the resources available. These scholars are selected by the principal and the faculty as the most deserving on the basis of scholarship, service, character, service to the school and community, need, and promise of future contributions. to society. In addition to these regular contributions, the association from time to time answers special pleas brought to its attention. For example in 1958 it gave $200 to a senior in Michigan (former Clinton graduate) who would have had to drop out of school otherwise. In the same vein, $100 was awarded to a sophomore at Dartmouth, who found the rising cost of a college education just a slight bit more than his parents could meet. Once again money, money. In the school at the present time there is a special experimental class in biology. It is studying the techniques of research and experimentation. Most of its equipment, animals, and instruments were supplied by the famous Sloan-Kettering Institute. The necessary concomitants, such as food for the animals and certain pieces of equipment, were lacking. It is a very simple thing to say that the board of education should supply these things. In a huge system such as ours this is impossible. The alumni association granted $125 to keep this project going until June. Money, money. In addition the alumni association has spent freely of its meager funds to send boys to the Shawnee Leadership Camp, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Boys State, etc. Money. The purpose of this brief report on the efforts of the De Witt Clinton Alumni Association to bring to the current generation the real cornerstones on which democracy rests, as well as to get it to carry the torch that the association has held so high, is to try to interest individuals and organizations with money to make a direct contribution to help carry on and expand the work. Those familiar with it know its value. Without money it must end. Can the most fabulous country, State, and city let its "kids" down? A thousand times no, especially as long as there is money to be had. THE JUVENILE PLANNING GROUP OF ASHEVILLE & BUNCOMBE COUNTY, Re Juvenile delinquency control bill, S. 694. Hon. JOSEPH S. CLARK, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. Asheville, N.C., May 12, 1959. DEAR SIR: The Juvenile Planning Group of Asheville and Buncombe County heartily supports your bill proposing Federal assistance for programs to control juvenile delinquency. Our group, composed of representatives from civic, religious, and professional organizations of the community, devoted to the prevention and reduction of juvenile delinquency, is very active and interested in the welfare of our youth. At our regular monthly meeting held today the group voted to support your bill. You may include this letter as a part of the hearing record. Very truly yours, PHILIP CLARK, Chairman. STATEMENT OF JOHN M. GLEASON, NATIONAL DIRECTOR, BOYS' CLUBS OF AMERICA Gentlemen, Boys' Clubs of America is appreciative of your invitation to appear before this subcommittee which is considering legislation concerned with juvenile delinquency. My name is John M. Gleason and I am national director of Boys' Clubs of America which is chartered by the Congress of the United States. I am a past president and life member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, a member-at-large of the National Safety Council, a director of the Connecticut Mental Health Association and a member of President Eisenhower's Advisory Council on Youth Fitness. I have also served the Army and State Department in Europe as an adviser. I am a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy and served for 25 years as a police official, including service as the chief of police of Greenwich, Conn. Prior to becoming national director of Boys' Club of America, I served as chief administrator for the town of Greenwich. I have, therefore, had the opportunity to observe this major problem of delinquency as a law enforcement officer, a public administrator, and currently as head of an organization which has as a primary concern the preventing and lessening of juvenile delinquency. Perhaps it might be helpful to put into the record a brief statement about the Boys' Club movement in America: There are Boys' Clubs in 352 communities in 42 States, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia. There are 500,000 boy members. There are 1,400 full-time adult workers; 3,500 part-time adult workers; and 10,000 volunteer workers and 70,000 adults serving on boards of directors. The national organization is headed by a distinguished board of directors; Herbert Hoover is chairman of the board and Albert L. Cole is our national president. The Boys' Club movement began in the 1860's when public-spirited citizens in several New England communities established facilities and activities to provide boys from lower income families with opportunities for constructive use of leisure time. The movement spread to other communities as the effectiveness of the Boys' Club philosophy and methods became more widely recognized. In 1906, some 50 existing clubs joined together to form the national organization to service the clubs and to assist interested communities in establishing new clubs. In spite of limited funds and little publicity and promotion, the movement spread steadily. Early in the 1940's the movement took on new impetus and began to show a rapid growth of new clubs. In 1942, there were only 209 clubs in national membership. At the end of 1958, the number had increased to 522 clubs. During 1958, a new club was established on an average of one in less than every 10 days. Although most clubs are located in the crowded and poorer areas of towns and cities, a number of clubs have been opened in small communities to serve all boys who have needs and problems. LOCAL CLUB AND NATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS Each Boys' Club belonging to Boys' Clubs of America is an autonomous organization. It is managed by a board of public-spirited citizens and supported by the community chest or united fund, or by contributions made directly to the Boys' Club. Boys' Clubs of America, composed of member clubs, establishes standards and methods; develops program and program material, plans buildings and equipment; recruits, trains, and places club workers, publishes periodicals, booklets, and bulletins; carries on national interpretation and publicity; and furnishes guidance plans and materials for the use of the movement throughout the country. There are seven regional offices and two subregional offices with field workers who give guidance and assistance to the Boys' Clubs in their plans and problems, and aid communities in the organization and establishment of additional Boys' Clubs. THE UNIQUENESS OF THE BOYS' CLUB There are a number of characteristics which, in whole or in part, make the Boys' Club a unique organization. 1. It is for boys. It is an all-boy organization and as such satisfies an age-old desire to have a club of their own. Its members have a real sense of belonging. 2. No proof of good character or pledge is required. Its membership is not limited to boys of good character only. It also wants to help and guide boys who may be in danger of acquiring wrong behavior. 3. Any boy can afford to belong. Membership dues are kept low enough so that the poorest boy can afford to belong on an equal basis with other boys. No boy belongs on a special or charitable basis. 4. It is nonsectarian. Boys' Clubs are completely nonsectarian in their organization, management, leadership, and membership. 5. It has an open-door policy. The Boys' Club is open every weekday, afternoon, and evening. 6. It has a varied program. At all times there is something constructive to do for boys of differing inclinations and to meet varying needs. 7. Not just a recreation program. The Boys' Club is much more than just a place for recreation. Emphasis is placed on everyday guidance. Every boy has a chance and is encouraged to develop to his fullest capacity health and physical fitness, mental and manual skills. 8. Gives continuous informal guidance. The Boys' Club is not just a mass of boys. It is composed of individuals, each of whom has his own needs, problems, skills, attitudes, and ambitions. A professionally trained and friendly staff makes possible an individual service and a continuous informal guidance program through which skills are developed, and attitudes are formed and fostered toward right and wrong, the rights of others, religion and our kind of government. For the further guidance of this committee, may we refer you to our annual report to the 87th Congress, 1st session which is submitted to the Congress in compliance with section 14 of Public Law 988, an act of Congress signed on August 6, 1956. In consideration of the specific bills before this committee, it is encouraging to Boys' Clubs of America to observe that the Congress is recognizing that the problem of juvenile delinquency is one which needs Federal leadership and funds. We feel it appropriate that such funds be large enough-because the problem is large so that grants for demonstration projects, for research, for training of personnel, for upgrading of already existing programs can, at long last, be accomplished with sufficient backing so that real progress can be made. Boys' Clubs of America, like other youth serving organizations, recognizes that it has a stake in attacking the problem of delinquency. At the same time, we recognize that although there is much testimony1 from educators, public officials, public administrators, police officials and court personnel which indicate that Boys' Clubs really have an effect on juvenile delinquency we also know that part of this testimony is not documented by hard solid research. We call this committee's attention to a report in the March 1959 issue of the annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. This study by the Center for Human Relations Studies of New York University is entitled "The Effectiveness of a Boys' Club in Reducing Delinquency." Abstracted, this report says: "The delinquency rates for white boys in three areas of Louisville, Ky., were compared for the period 1944-54. These areas were selected because they were similar in certain ecological characteristics. The delinquency rates decreased steadily over an 8-year period in the area where there was a Boys' Club. The delinquency rates in the two other areas with no youth-serving agencies increased over the same period of time. Some discussion is devoted to the limited nature of any conclusions that can be derived from a statistical study of this type in which several factors cannot be controlled. The study indicates that the Boys' Club was probably one important factor in the decline in delinquency in an area of a city where delinquency was increasing in other sections." Although this study was encouraging since it seemed to substantiate the contribution of Boys' Clubs in preventing this problem of delinquency it needs to be recognized that this was merely a first step, in that it establishes a base line from which other studies can begin. In view of the evident limitations of the procedure utilized in the study, the investigators felt that any similar statistical approach would yield results that probe no deeper than the present study into possible casual relationships. It is the opinion of research workers in the fields of sociology and psychology that an intensive case study and analysis is necessary in order to determine the effect of any social agency on the problems with which it deals. The investigators suggested two basic patterns of research that might be used in order to determine the impact of a Boys' Club on delinquency: Pattern 1 would be a historical-sociological survey in which the research workers would chronicle every happening, every meeting, every interpersonal 1 See appendix, attached. |