Windsor Locks High School - Herald Yearbook (Windsor Locks, CT)

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30 THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD than any other set of causes. Industrial conditions also have a profound influence upon criminal statistics. Economic causes, hard times, strikes, unemployment are all productive of crime. Furthermore, increase in the cost of necessities of life is very likely to increase crime of certain types. Educational conditions have undoubtedly a great influence upon crime. While education could never in itself stamp out crime, defective or insufficient education greatly increases it. This is shown in the fact that illiterates are much more likely to commit crime than those w T ho have a fair education. The defects in our educational system which especially favor the development of crime are chiefly the lack of facilities for indus¬ trial education and the want of specific moral instruction. These things are necessary in a socialized school system. It is evident that this problem of crime is in no way an insoluble one in human society. What law r cannot accomplish or even safely attempt, educaton and social standards can. Social education of individuals is the key to the reconstruction of society. It is essentially a process of acquir¬ ing certain habits, ideas, and standards as a preparation for life. In the ideal home young people are taught by their parents the importance of respect for school, church, and law, and the disastrous results of crime both to the individual and the state are explained; but in the less desirable homes, youth must learn this same lesson from clubs and different organi¬ zations which aim to inspire young people to become worthwhile, law-abid¬ ing citizens. Often youth becomes so interested in the activities of such a club that there is no time or desire to commit crime. The national government has tried to give temporary relief to, youth through the Rehabilitation Act, Educational Aid, the Citizens’ Conserva¬ tion Camps, and Youth Hostels. Thus young people must not be discouraged, for society is trying to help them over these difficult times. Dr. Walton in a recent radio address to the Youth of the nation gave this advice: “Continue education for the days ahead. Do not give up. Never admit defeat.” Most important of all if the young people of America are to face the perplexing problem of crime squarely, they must have faith in themselves, be loyal to their country, and have faith in God. Doris Tambussi, ’36. VALEDICTORY YOUTH FACES INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS One of the major problems facing American youth today is what course the United States should take in international affairs. If our coun¬ try enters into world politics and endeavors with her superior military strength to prevent aggression upon weak states, she will be subject to severe criticism on the Lart of imprrial-minded Europe. On the other hand if she attempts to remain aloof, other countries will be quick to take advan-

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THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD 29 At a meeting of the Foreign Policy Association in New York, Eus¬ tace Seligman said that wars are caused by barriers to international trade. Moreover, many people believe that the international effort to obtain new war machines is the chief cause of war. In almost every country in Europe, there are millions of men ready to fight, such as in Italy where chil¬ dren of six years are trained for war. At times of real crisis the youth of any nation would respond to the call of arms, as they have always done in the past, but youth is beginning to realize the hopelessness of war. Youth wants nations to decide their difficulties in other ways less costly to human life and sacrifice. It is «aid about five hundred thousand students in schools are now conducting strikes for peace. To some of these rumors.Mrs. Frank- iin Delano Roosevelt’s name has been linked. The Brooklyn College strike is an example of one of these movements. Many of the students after a meeting on the college steps paraded through streets displaying banners announcing that Brooklyn mothers d ; d not raise their sons for cannon fod¬ der. Though we may not commend this method of spreading the peace propaganda, it shows hat youth is serious and in earnest upon this question. It has been predicted that we will not solve the problem of war until we have converted the whole human race and returned to individualism. However, now that we know ' what youth wants and the World needs, (not War—but Peace, peace with security, peace with national honor, peace w ' ith Christians, peace w r ith non-Christians), let us strive for Peace, and see if Youth cannot point the way to Peace and greater security in the future than have the past generations: for as our motto indicates “Res non Verba” or the time has come for “deeds not words.” Helen Jenkins, ’36. YOUTH FACES THE CRIME QUESTION Youth starts out in life with a soul l ' ke a sword, keen, bright, and uncompromising. Then comes w r hat Shelley calls “the contagion of the world ' s slow stain. Crime.” That comes to many young people because they begin with a banner inscribed “Excelsior.” but graduallv the dust of battle obliterates everything but the second syllable, “cel.” They feel that truth, honor, and steadfastness do not mean as much as they had thought; for discouragement, unemployment, and disappointment tend to low’er ideals and standards until the youth falls a victim o,f crime. Therefore age is a most important factor, for practically all crime falls in the active period of life. The average age of criminals is twenty-three years, while the age of arrests is nineteen years. To be sure much of this is due today to the fact that 3,000,000 American youth between the ages of sixteen and tw ' enty-five are unemployed. Thus idleness breeds crime. The tendency to crime comes from many sources. Conditions con¬ nected with family life have a great influence on crime; indeed, inasmuch as the family is the chief agency in society for socializing the young, per¬ haps domestic conditions are more important in the production of crime

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THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD 31 tage of this course of action and will do all manner of evil knowing that the United States will not interfere. What can be done so that she will not be¬ come entangled in another death-dealing war and yet at the same time re¬ tain the status of honor to which she is accustomed? Our situation in the world i3 most convenient for taking the lead to end the reign of terrorists in all parts of the globe. What power or coali¬ tion of powers would dare attack the United States? Where would the base be for their forces and supplies? Our country is separated from militaristic Japan by the wide Pacific. The Atlantic keeps w-angling Europe away from our door. Because of these facts our country should be able to prevent such things as Mussolini’s attack on Ethiopia or Japan’s advance on China. Our natural resources alone could sustain the country even in the event of war, for an indefinite length of time. “Therefore,” say the internationalists, “we should take advantage of God’s gift to us and let our place in the sun make us the ‘policeman of the world!’ ” But view this from a different angle, that of the nationalists. The very fact that we are far from the powers of the world is one cvf the strong¬ est arguments, also. If we are by natural boundaries far from tumultuous scenes why should we put ourselves out to bother with the affairs of others? Why not care just for our own interests and avoid another of those so-called “wars to end war.” We are not so closely bound-up with the rest of the world that we cannot exist at least without them. Of course some business men of our country stand to lose considerable amounts of money no matter where the war is. Stifl it is the ' r money and they realized what a gamble they were taking when they invested it. Why should hundreds and thous¬ ands of innocent Amercan youth just beginning to reap the benefits of manhood be killed, murdered for the selfish interests of three or four? There is still another path open—the middle road. Could some plan still be worked out whereby the United States could remain neutral during European conflicts, and at the same time retain an honored footing in the world? It seems as though we could interfere when some of our own possessions were in trouble or in some situation really warranting assist¬ ance and still keep out of major conflicts. As for American business, it stands to lose no matter on which side we cast our lot. Thus, why should we allow that to enter into our international dealings ? Therefore. Classmates, since the time has come for us to bid one another farewell, let us remember, that as American youth we have three possible roads to solve existing international problems. None erf them is perfect The road to the right is far too conservative and will allow our dignity to be tarnished. The road to the left is too radical and will bring about international complications. The middle road is, in all probability, the only logical way fo us to attain our long-sought-for purpose. Let us hope that whatever road youth adopts will be successful and that peace will reign on earth forever more. , . .. , QC Richard Blackburn, 36.