Fourth Inter-national Conference of Boy Workers

Fourth Inter-national Conference Boy Workers By Oscar A. Kirkham THE Fourth Intcr-national Boy Workers' Conference was held at the Edge Water Beach Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, November 28, 29, 30, 1927. The purpose of the conference was to bring together, from all parts of the American continents, repre- sentative workers for boys, and representatives of business men's organizations interested in boys — an opportunity for inspiration, recreation, and education. A message from President Calvin Coolidge read at the opening of the conference gives further meaning as to the purpose of this gathering: "I can think of no investment likely to pay larger returns for the social, economic, and spiritual welfare of our country than proper training of our boys. As in other fields, cooperation here will increase the effectiveness of the efforts. The various organizations taking part in the Inter-national Boy Workers' Conference are to be congratulated on the opportunities for real, patriotic service." Judge James C. Cropsey, of the Supreme Court of Justice, N. Y. C, said, 'We want formatories rather than reformatories. What we need is agencies to keep the boy right rather than agencies to straighten him out when he goes wrong." "To organize work of this kind — seek out of our great modern investment all of the facilities that are stimulating, the inspiring rhings that are really worth while and that count, the best things in our civilization; to find, as far as possible, the individuals who express these things, express them unconsciously, express them with- out poise, express them within their genuine selves, and then to bring these boys into natural relations with these men, is one of the most stirring, most challenging, most rewarding enterprises of which we can think." said Dr. George E. Vincent of New York. "There is but one problem on earth, and that is the human problem. There is but one way to save humanity, and that is through childhood." These two premises were laid down by Dr. D. K. Kurtz in a Sunday sermon at the time of the conference Because of the importance of the period of learning in childhood, the task of religious educators is great indeed. It is the supreme task of the race. One need only remember that only one in every 100 becomes a Christian after 20 years of age, and only one in 1000 after 30, and that which applies to religion, applies in a like way to

366 IMPROVEMENT ERA crime. More than 90% of the criminals in state prisons today committed their first crime before the age of 20. The tradegy of Protestantism lies in the loss of children to the church. Today there are 58 million persons in the United States who hold to no creed. Most of these come from Protestant homes. We thought it was an old man's world, so we lost our children. It is well for us to remember that the only real values are human values, just people, folks. All else is machinery. What good are our railroads, fac tories, stores, industries, except they supply the needs of folks, and of these, children count most. No nation can be civilized and neglect childhood and youth. The program of the conference included the inter-national leaders of service clubs — Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist, and others, — and also heads of national and inter-national movements established for the welfare of boys. There were present representa- tives from seven different countries. President B. T. Jones, ex-president of the Inter-national Lion's Club, in his opening address, said that the purpose of the Confer- ence was to make the coming generation the finest and best in the history of the world. The boy problem is the man problem. Men who will stand the acid test of character. Boys need: 1 . Christian leadership. 2. Exemplary parents. 3. Program that gives freedom for individual development. 4. Opportunities for many helpful and happy experiences in the great out- of-doors. Among the great national agencies studying boy welfare, Dr. E. M. Robinson represented the Y. M. C. A., an organization with more than one million members in the United States. He said the great purpose of this organization was to create in young men a belief in Jesus Christ and his great mission — to follow his doc- trines and teachings and to help others to do the same. He further said that men may be afraid to discuss religious matters with boys, but boys are anxious to have religion discussed with them. "Let the motive power behind the boy's action be a true Christian re- ligion and it will endure. He quoted President Coolidge as having ^aid, "There is no substitute for morality, character, and religious conviction." Only three out of ten children in the United States are touched by any religious program. A very interesting study has been conducted at the West Y, in Cleveland. Ohio. The question was asked of several hundred boys what sub- jects for discussion would they enjoy the most, (subjects in which

FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BOY WORKERS 367 they would like help), and out of some 30 suggested, the following arc the first listed in their order of selection by the boys: 1. War, 4. Team-play, 7. Jesus, 2. Honesty, 5. God, 8. Money, 3. Gambling, 6. Smoking, 9. Parents. These young men took the following pledge: "I propose, with God's help, to be manly in muscle, mind and morals, to be unselfish and helpful to others. I will, under all circumstances, stand for clean speech, clean sport, and clean habits. I will encourage other boys to do the same." James E. West spoke for the Boy Scout movement with its three-fourths of a million members: "Scouting is a process of making real men out of real boys by a real program i hat works. "Scouting develops character, initiative and resourcefulness. "It trains for leadership. "Scouts become good citizens. "Scouting is a program of useful, attractive things for boys to DO in their leisure time. "It is learning by doing. "Any boy who has passed his twelfth birthday may become a Scout. "When a boy becomes a Scout he takes the following oath: " 'Upon my honor I will do my best — " '1. To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law. " '2. To help other people at all times. " '3. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.' " The Boys' Club Federation reported an inter-national organ- ization with an enrollment of 268 clubs and a membership of 208,- 171 boys. Club membership in the federation does not involve any financial or other obligations other than loyal cooperation in the interest of boys. The Boys' Club Federation promotes new boys' clubs wherever they are needed; is a clearing house for ideas and methods and plans relating to boys' clubs; issues helpful literature; publishes a magazine on applied ideals in boycraft. Their head- quarters are at 3037 Grand Central Terminal, N. Y. The Big Brother movement, with headquarters located at 200 5th Avenue, New York, told the story of how thousands of busi- ness men and others located throughout the United States are serving the delinquent youth of the country as big brothers. The Demolay Movement was represented. This movement has had phenomenal growth; — one-half million membership; own their own headquarters' building in Kansas; operate on a one- fourth of a million budget, and own two dormitories at state universities. The Jewish people's institute work was brought to the at-

368 IMPROVEMENT ERA tention of the conference. One of their homes in Chicago is doing a wonderful work for Jewish youth. They have established very elaborate buildings and are conducting an accredited evening school, organized to meet an urgent need in the community. It offers the complete high school program at hours convenient to the working persons and with rates of tuition within the reach of every one. The educators are all professional teachers, among the most capable in the city. It is a cultural center. It offers lectures on music, arts, and drama with a department for physical education. The institute has organized a bureau of vocational guidance for the young men and women of the school who are undecided about their future and are not sure of their personal qualifications in any particular vocation or profession. This service is free. The same applies to the employment bureau. Students who are out of work find the employment bureau ready to offer assistance. The Boy Work Program of the Knights of Columbus was also presented. Their boy-guidance movement has been adopted under four headings: 1. A graduate course in boy guidance at Notre Dame University. 2. The establishment by the order of a number of two-year scholarships for this course. 3. A 30-hour course of intensive training in boy leadership. 4. The authorization of a junior organization to be known as the Columbian Squires. "What does it profit the community if it gain the whole world and loses its own boys?" There are 8,760 hours in a year. A boy's year may be divided up as follows: Sleep 3 , 650 hours Meals • 550 hours School 1,000 hours Leisure time 3,560 hours Leaders are urgently needed to guide the boy during his leisure time and to help him develop himself by following a properly se- lected program of activities. The boy of today, between the ages of 12 and 18 years, needs the interested association and "palship" of: 1. Fathers not only of good intentions, but also well informed. 2. Upstanding men who understand him. 3. Men who can and will give him encouragement, sympathy, direction, dis- cipline and example. The Playground and Recreation Association of America asks these questions:

FOURTH INTER-NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BOY WORKERS 369 Why are there so many children killed and maimed playing in the streets? Why are there several hundred thousand law-breakers in the United States? Why are there 100,000 youngsters in our Juvenile Delinquency Courts each year? Why do 60% of our school children have physical defects which hinder their school progress? Why do we have a disproportionate population in our institu- tions for the care of the mentally afflicted? Why do we have under-privileged boys and girls and under- developed men and women physically, mentally and spiritually? They answer, in part, because we spend more to keep a young- ster in an institution than we do to give to him a place to play safely and heartily. We spend more in a day for personal luxuries than we do in a year for public recreation. We spend more for medicine than we do for physical education. We spend more for cure than we do for prevention. We live too fast in strenuous America and do not play enough to keep balanced and mellow. We have achieved industrial development at the expense of living. "If we are to combat the vicious and pernicious influence that in certain places in our commonwealth are seeking to undermine our security, then we must see to it that our young men and women, as well as those of more mature age, are environed with influences that are helpful and stimulating. "Anyone who is a student of our life today, especially in great centers of population, must reckon seriously with those antidotes that are designed to overcome and eliminate the poisons that, injected into the life of our people, destroy their loyalty, their patriotism and their moral and spiritual life." The Inter-national feeling was made known when it was said that "youth today must not, cannot grow up without reckoning with the teaching of Mahatma Grandni, the Indian; Woodrow Wilson, the Anglo-Saxon; Sun Yet Sen, the Mongolian; Lenin, the Slav; and Benito Mussolini, the Latin. What a bewildering variety is here! What challenge that such diverse types have 'made their century.' What a fascinating study to find out who they are and why they hold the place they do in the hearts of millions of youth the world over." In closing this report may I suggest that we join with the Athenian young men in saying as they said:

3 70 IMPROVEMENT ERA "We will fight for the ideals and Sacred Things of the city, both alone and with many. "We will never bring disgrace on this, our city, by an act of dishonesty or cowardice. "We will revere and obey the city's laws, and will do our best to incite a like reverence and respect in those above us who are prone to annul them or set them at naught. We will strive increasingly to quicken the public's sense of civic duty. "Thus, in all these ways, we will transmit this city, not only not less, but greater, better, and more beautiful than it was trans- mitted to us." Be Ye the Salt of the Earth Rise in your strength now, O children of Zion, Hear ye the word of our God, Calling you forth from all worldly temptation, Pleading, "Oh, cling to the rod." Over the earth a dark cloud is now resting, Satan unbound has his fling. Urging his forces onward to battle. Trophies of souls back to bring. Pleasures uncertain are bubbles of sorrow. Idleness surely brings woe; Vanity's treasures are garnish as tinsel, Through them no joy can you know. Seek ye for pearls of heavenly value, Rubies beyond worldly worth. Up to your standards the Lord has commanded. "Be ye the salt of the earth." Raymond, Canada. HELEN KIMBALI. ORC.II.l