◆ SpookStack

Truancy is’‘tha first evidence of delincuencye Publicity of tne facts of truancy, not the individyal case, should be given to the gencral public. The people of 3an Francisco pave no: idea at the present time -of tho extent of truancy. .. . . 31118 (5) Physicians know that anything which adversely affects the health of a chile makes for juvenile delinquency and crino. Decayoed to.th, stomach ulccrs, nervous Ciserders, and their like, all tena to develop juvenile delinquency. . Evory chile should have the benefit of frequent exanina tions ang treatment by skilled physicians. if the parents cannot, or do not, ‘seo that the child receives such mecical treatment as it requires,it .- “then becomeg the Guty of the Statd to sec that the child is given troa tment. oot Evory child is entitled to.a sufficient and ‘proper’ diet. Hero ‘too it 48° the duty of thd parents to furnish what is needed, and if . they fail, the duty devolves upon tho State. a . (Los Angeles now has plans for the’ crection as soon 48 pos= sible in tho nost-war period, of a nov $200 ,000 cowntown health conter for that city's schocl chilccen. The proposed counter will provide — ‘spseial clagnostic serviccs for children with chest and heart . diseases, ondocrino disorders, pesturca,, orthopedic, pohavior and mental problems. It also will afford ove refraction examinations and “omergency health caro by school oculists, anc contists and specialists | volunteoring their sorviccs. .Necdy chilcren will be troated under P.T. Ae sponsorship. The present Yale Strect Clinic (principal urit of 23 P.f.A.-sponsored clinics in that city is said to be serving. about £2,000 pupils anmally. ) (6) Tho character of most chileren is formed chiefly by concitions existing in the homo. Every chile is entitled to a gocd home, to loving cnre, to proper home training an¢ guicance. For that . ‘peason, whatever makcs for good homes makes for a Gecline in doling q ueney. by minors and a lower crime rate. Overorowcing, unsanitary —quarter?, war-woeler parcnts (resulting in coor= key" children) irregular hours, ane sinilar results of the impact of war incustrics upon San.-Francisco, sll vring chile delinquency anc ertme, They 211 must be foucht by cvery means within the gity's power, You cant t have people sleeping in the Torninal Building; tho Ferry Builcing, and other public builcings for lack of a home, ana expect those noople to raiso normal, healthy chil“ron. In one home in the Sinsct Tistrict there are rifteen people living in five roors,. Irpossidlo? Hot at alll The group consists of a war work2r, his wife and thoir turce ehilcren; his sister-in-law, her husband (doth working) and their four chdlerer; two acult sisters of the war worker (doth of whom wort:); and two slderly relatives of members of the group. se living room and the dining room of this hora have both been converted into sleeping quarters, Cookint fs all dene on one stove in relays, with each group-having its fixcd hours of kitchen use. Cots for some of tha chila@ren have been placed in. the basement. These ncople are upper midcle class, of a high degroe of. intollicence, and have a splendid income, They are willing and anxious to secure larger and botter quarters for all of them, but tims far have been umble to find any suitable placos for rent. . I believe that a rencwed, continuous ané vigorous canpaign should be begun at onco to- secure morc housing for San Francisco and this entire vicinity. With nore ncople flockin: hero each day, tho situation will Decorie inereasirsly intolsra lo. ; As to ths: present oergency shortage, sone steps must be talon inmeciately to give'’shelter to «11 individuals unable to secure shelter. : Across from tho City Hall cre the wartime osererency berracks crected for the A mcd Forces an¢ others directly connectod with tho cael