Father Flanagan started it when he said, "There is no such thing as a bad boy." This was the motto of his famous Boys Town. Then the theory was enlarged upon, and it became "there are no such things as bad children, only bad parents.” I wonder if that is not just about true. I read an interesting article recently by Brigadier General Carl Turner, US Army Provost Marshal for Europe. He states that in Europe, nobody speaks of "juvenile delinquency." The proper term one is told is "parental delinquency.” One of our pet theories about delinquency, that it is born out of poverty and underprivileged, is certainly refuted in Europe. General Turner points out that the US communities in Europe have excellent schools, churches, and recreational facilities. Scouting, organized athletics and social activities provide wholesome outlets for youthful energies. In theory then, juvenile crime among US families should be rare. Instead it is the greatest problem the US Provost Marshal has to face. It is his contention that parents hold the key. Too many parents substitute generosity and indulgence for parental guidance. They allow their children to run with no check on where they are going or what they are doing. It is significant that in US communities abroad, parents are held accountable for the conduct of their children. Perhaps environment is not so important as we had thought. Perhaps it is not a matter of crowded schools and lack of social programs. Perhaps General Turner had put his finger squarely on the answer to our own growing delinquency problem when he says "a healthy home life is a full ounce of delinquency prevention.”
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