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Show It Protects The Home That the spiritual needs of clul-ditn clul-ditn together wit'i the means of building character should be emphasized em-phasized in connection with child hc.-.:th is the cpinion expressed by the Rev. Harry Emerson Fosdick, D. n., of New York City. "Today, cn National Child Health Day we would do well to consider one phase of child life which recent events have brought forcibly to our attetion," says Dr. Fosdick. "There are in this country, we are told by those who are studying study-ing the problem, 'midget' organizations organ-izations of ohildren six and seven years old who are receiving their first training for a life of crime, and there are 'junior' organizations organiza-tions of boys in their 'teens who are already part way through their apprenticeship for a criminal career. How much more evidence of this sort will the nation need before it takes more seriously its responsibility for teaching them that which is good and healthful in other than physical realms?" Citizens the country over are apreed on the necessity of giving children the best physical care. It is time now that they agreed on helping children to build character. char-acter. A sense of responsibility to neighbors and to society, on the part of the grown man or woman and an appreciation of that which is just, are qualities which result from years of training. They have their beginning in early childhood in the way the small boy or girl is taught to act in daily relationships relation-ships with other members of the family and with playmates. In referring to the keynote foi National Child Health Day, as stated by the American Child Health Association and the State and Provincial Health Authorities Authori-ties of North America - "Support Your Community Child Health Program: It Protects Your Home" - Dr. Fodick concludes: "On May Day every community, through its responsible citizens, should dedicate de-dicate itself to the support of all those elements in its social service ser-vice program which strengthen character in children." |