Roanoke Rapids Herald

PAGE NINE
DAVIS TELLS CHURCHMEN
OF RECREATION CENTER

At the December meeting of the Roanoke Rapids Churchmen, an organization of the officers of the local churches, C. W. Davis, city school superintendent, gave some startling facts about the youth of Roanoke Rapids, an interesting sketch of the many fine things in Roanoke Rapids, and made a plea for a recreation center where 5,000 young people, in and out of school, would have proper facilities for social development.

The problem of what to do with and for the youth after they are thru school is one which is growing larger and more important every year. Mr. Davis says a community recreation center will help more than any one thing. His speech was as follows:

"I have talked to this organization once before this year about a matter that should give all of us grave concern. Mr. Early appeared on the same program and also stressed the same thing. It was the matter of crime prevention. What I shall say to you tonight is not directly concerned with the same thing: yet if realized, will be an agency for good in our community. I still think there is something radically wrong when a nation spends $13,000,000,000.00 a year on crime, and $3,000,000,000.00 on education.

We are spending at the wrong end of the line.

My chief concern tonight is the youth of our community. We have more than 5000 of them, and I believe they are worthy of any consideration we can give them. It is not my wish to boast of anything we have, but to state facts and truths as I see them

We have here the foundation of what some of us think is to be in many respects the leading town in this section of the state. A healthful location surrounded by a rich agricultural section, with no town of equal size nearer than Rocky Mount on the South, Petersburg on the North, Henderson on the West, and Elizabeth City on the East. We have the location; we are surrounded with the raw materials; we have the industry (more than $30,000,000 invested): and we have the potential power of more than 5000 young people.

All of these assets properly trained and put to work can make of this town a united, harmonious community.

We have here well-kept mill villages - homes with modern conveniences - the kind that contribute toward making the family happy and contented.

Our nine churches, representing seven different denominations, administer to the spiritual side of our lives, though a great multitude of our people give these institutions little attention. The hospital, with its modern equipment and staff of doctors and nurses, takes care of our infirmities.

Our schools in a fashion help with the training of the mind and give some attention to the physical and social side of the pupils' lives.

C. W. DAVIS

All of these things I have mentioned are splendid. We would not be without any of them for anything. All of us are justly proud of them, but there is still something lacking.

Just a few days ago a citizen said to me: This is a poor place to rear children. Why? Perhaps there are a number of reasons that could be given. Roanoke Rapids is a new town. Many of us do not think of ourselves as being permanent to the extent that we have established or own our homes. We have thought of Roanoke Rapids as a place to make a living and not so much as a place to live. And as a result our children have suffered.

But you say we have good schools for them. Yes we have, but that isn't all we need.

In 1929, 154 pupils entered the seventh grade. Sixty-two of them finished in the senior class in 1935. The school has a program of athletics and physical education. Boys and girls are taught to play. They are also taught to read good books. When their connection is severed with the school, either by graduation or otherwise, most of the play is stopped. Most of the reading is stopped. It doesn't look quite fair to build up a desire for a thing and then shut off the supply. We are teaching children to read and to love good books, and are saying to them when they leave high school there isn't any books for them to read.

What I am trying to say to you tonight is this:

1. We have the foundation for a good town.

2. We have excellent industries and good mill villages with modern conveniences.

3. We have economic wealth.

4. We have strong churches.

5. We have excellent medical attention.

6. We have good schools.

7. We have great potential wealth in young people.

8. We do not have proper facilities for the social development of youth. Consequently their love for good literature and wholesome play is being neglected, and they are seeking recreation that frequently does not make better men and women.

So I ask you tonight to think seriously of throwing your influence individually and as an organization behind a movement to build and develop a recreational center and library in this community. Of course, it is going to cost, but crime is costing. It will not stop all crime, but if it prevents just a few, it will be worth the cost.

Such a program may save your boy, or it may save mine from crime. Boys are going to have something to do. Shall we furnish the direction or shall we leave them to select and direct their own activities.

Just a few days ago, I heard a man say that this town was born in strife, and would probably always remain in strife. The statement as to birth may be correct, but I see no reason why we should have to remain divided. Our student body is not divided. They study and they play side by side. They will continue to work, play, and enjoy life together, if we as adults will lead the way and make some provision for it."