Atlanta Daily World

Our Teen Agers And Crime

Occasionally we feel the keen indictment of the lack of sufficient recreation and mediums of employment, in observing the alarming rate before us in juvenile delinquency. While we deplore the number of crimes committed and are in harmony with the court's effort to reduce this condition, we are nevertheless not unaware of a duty incumbent upon society to do its part toward the youth of our day.

The human mind is ever active; it is so constructed in its flexibility, as to be sensitive to every situation within its scope; it does not stop here but proceeds in the unbridled and unrestricted world of imagination. In that there must always be something for the mind to explore.

All along we have stressed and contended for more recreational facilities; we have advanced that the youth should have such employment as would comply with their development and age and that there should be sufficient recreational facilities.

The young people of our time have more adequate educational advantages than the youth of yesterday. The teaching profession has been lifted in its standards and requirements to the extent that the teacher not only is better prepared, but has less pupils to teach. Still, there is an ever increase in the crimes committed by teenagers.

Just now we are shocked by the reported attack of a teenager on a Fulton county housewife. His crime was allegedly wilfully planned and executed and was without the shadow of an excuse.

Such individuals running wild over a populace are always dangerous menaces to society and no section is immune from their attacks, which come without warning.

It is certain that the citizens of this county do not condone such outrages and that every endeavor will be put forth for the apprehension of the real guilty party.

The schools and the churches cannot do all the work in the line of the wholesome development of the youth. They can go just so far and then their resources end.

The parent, who has charge of the youth for most of the time must put forth renewed effort in the field of better environment and living examples. We have found to our regret that there are many cases of problem parents as well as problem children. No parents should relish being a problem around their children.

The youth of today will be the citizens of tomorrow. It is certain that we have a duty, that duty is plain before us and until we expand the area of our resource, we cannot look even the criminal youth in the face, and contend that we have done our duty.