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Show Juvenile Delinquency And Cedar City -,'f i'f By Wlllluin S. Lcltiii. Iron County Democratic Chairman if Ui to the present time I have hesitated to reply to the various articles that have been written concerning con-cerning Juvenile delinquency in Cedar Ce-dar City. Since the present Republican City Council and their law enforcement officers have openly attacked the State Welfare's appointee, as shown by the last Iron County Record, It Is only right that I as Iron County Democatlc Chairman, answer these charges. To protfent or cure an ill one must go to the cause. A good doctor doc-tor doesn't cure his patient by doctoring doc-toring the symptoms. He finds the cause and cures his patient by eliminating elim-inating the cause of the Illness. To prevent and cure Juvenile delinquency de-linquency we must go to the cause and do our work there. So long as the causes for juvenile delinquency exists In a community a thousand probation officers cannot cure that 111. And if the community eliminates the causes of Juvenile delinquency then a Juvenile probation officer will no longer be needed. And what Is the cause of Juvenile delinquency? Authorities tell us the cause is un'icalthy Social environment. environ-ment. Yes, the cause of Juvenile delinquency de-linquency rests on the shoulders of ttie parents, the community, and community institutions. Broken homes, neglectful varents poverty, poor housing, lack of recreational facilities. Insecurity of parents and children, etc are the real causes of Juvenile delinquency. It Is very foolish to point to a Stale probation officer and say he Is the cause of Cedar City's Juvenile Juven-ile delinquency. The wise competent individual or group would follow the line of a scientific investigation. They would ascertain the extent of Juvenile delinquency de-linquency here In Cedar City. They would find the cause and then strike to eliminate the causes, thereby there-by prevent and cure Juvenile delinquency delin-quency in Cedar City. "The greatest need In Cedar City, it was decided, was a trained probation pro-bation officer who understands the Juveniles and tiiclr problems (Iron County Record quotation of City Council Juvenle delinquent discussion.) This august Republican body places plac-es the responsibility of Juvenile delinquency de-linquency on the shoulders of one Democratic State employee. Is that the way our present City Council would solve Cedar City's Juvenile delinquency? Wise social authorities would say that we don't Deed more Juvenile policemen for a sick community that produces Juvenile delinquents. What we do need ls a healthy community com-munity that has no Juvenile problems prob-lems a community that creates a healthy environment for Its parents par-ents and children -- A community that promotes a higher economic standard for both parents and children child-ren (by encouraging new industrial developments like the late excelsior mill). A community without special privileges and favors. A community commun-ity where Christian brotherhood is practiced. A community where adults set the proper law abiding example for their children to follow. A community com-munity that has no slum or poverty areas. A community that plans and works for better homes and healthier health-ier iioir.ellfe. A community that has proper recreation facilities for parents par-ents and children throughout the year and not Just an expensive swimming pool that Is closed most of the time. A healthy community has educational and church Institutions Institu-tions that assume their full responsibility re-sponsibility of training and supervising super-vising children in their care. Institutions Insti-tutions that start hollering for policemen po-licemen and more policemen are certainly not doing their full duty to their community. If the present City Council wants some enlightenment on Cedar City's Juvenile problem, I suggest they contact the City's youngsters, the Teen Towners and give them a little lit-tle cooperation. I don't think the youngsters want the city to hire another policeman to chase them around. I believe they would enjoy having the City hire a full time recreation re-creation and welfare director with no police powers. How abput It, kids? |