Franklin High School - Molecule Yearbook (Franklin, VT)

Page 19 text:

-2 everyone is nervous, at least in my opinion anyway, I know I am. But then the curtain rises and I seen to fall into the plot of the nley. I don't recover from this sooll until the ulay is over and then my happiness at hearing the ao- nlruse overcomes my nervous- ness. Last, everyone cores out to take a bow and, I'll .tell you this, you will never feel any more pride than you do at that moment for a job well done. Robert Magnant '63 JD!I What is JD ? It means breaking laws, taking part in crimes and violence. All teenagers are faced with the name JD;'. Although they c'o not earn it, it is apolied to them because of what only a few do. The P.B.I. Director J. Edgar Hoover says, America is facing an emergency, a crisis which threatens the very future of our nation. It is JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. Sixty per-cent of all major crimes in a recent year in- volved young neoole. One of every nine teenagers had con- tact Ttfith the Police because of criminal behavior In that year. Many girls' cases were runaways and truancies.- Practically 50 Per cent of the boys' crimes were larceny, vandalism, robbery, or burgla- ry. Illegal carrying of weap- ons, disorderly conduct, drunkenness, and use of narco- tics made up 10 per-cent of the boys' cases and 7 per-cent of the girls'. Do we want this record stamped on our names? The figures above are already there but we can prevent them from ri sing. We can lower them. Do not think that all JD's are bums from the slums. Because they are NOT! Many are rejected at home and look for acceotarce and recog- nition in the wrong friends. They are not limited to the lower class. They come from all calsses just average teens. Perhaps you feel you can't helo. We associate with many young people who are potential delinquents. We are on the same age level as they are; we work, play and associate with them. Many prosrrais, money and time is suent on this pro- blem, but we are the ones who can do the most. 39 friends; try to help, just don't ignore these people. The rate has decreased; but this does not mean we are free from the tragedy. In 1961 figures showed 1; oer cent drot in semiurban communities and an 18 Der cent increase in cities Don't oass up the three R's; by doing this you become one of many too many three U's. Unschooled, unskilled, and unemployed. With nothing to do many of these people turn to crime. Hence - JD . Do help this country's young people, our nation's future. Our teen-agers can be useful, intelligent leaders in our country's tomorrow. We need you. Don't make those figures climb; be one of the many striving to lower them. Laurel Stanley ' 6I4.