Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/137

Rh Not only as individual parents, for our own boys aud girls, but as a comunity, tou, we have a responsibility concerning everything that reaches children, Pri- vate conscience and public respousthitily must be inveked to check the excesses in which all of these media have indulged, The willingness of some of the producers of television anid radio programs, movies, und comics to exploit morbid futerest in horror and vYivleuce bespeaks a greater concern for proiils than for children.

Coe aaule has a right to expect that conmnuuications ef alt kinds shall be governed by public inlerest rather than by suevey ratings or ¢irculation figures, “Public” includes children. Not al) programs or inovies or comics can be geured to the young. But to pile up horror aud violence in programs or movies deliberately timed to catch the children's eyes and ears suggests u flagrant disre- gard for their welfare. The combiued reseurces of an informed cammunity can be drawn upon for standards and criteria as to what is anid what is net suitable for young listeuers and readers. Tle combined skills of the industries and specialists in communication might well be foeused on more creative achieve- ments for children.

Comic books are of many kinds and varieties. [ver since 1916, the Child Study Association of America has consistently evaluated children's books and magazines, published book lisis for parents, and prepared anthologies of children's stories which have become hall- marks of good children's reading.

Our work in this field has won mniversal recognition and has con- tributed not only to the marked imcevease mn children's reading, evi- deneed by brary and book sale figures, bit also has helped to achieve the inereasingly high quality of today's books for children.

Similarly our association has tried to assist in promoting higher standards in comic-book literature. Obviously much remains to be desirecl.

If out of this committee's deliberations there will come new and positive suggestions as to how this aim can better be furthered, x rea! contribution will have been made to the well-bemg of our children,

The. Thank you very much, Mr. Dybwad. You did, at the outset, mention somethime of the Child Study Association of America, but for the record would you give ns a Iittfe more informa- tion about this organization, its history, when it was organized, what its internal structure is, and so on? ;

Mr. . It is an organization which goes back to 1888. 1t has functioned under several names, Federation of Child Study, Society for the Study of Cluld Nature. fis present name and incorporation took effect in the District of Colunbia in 1924.

Since that time we have operated under that name. We are an organization which is governed by a board of directors of ontstand- ing citizens. We have an advisory board of prominent men in the field of education, psychiatry, soctology, social work, and related fields concerned with the well being of children.

Our activities are many. Children's reading is only one of them. We haye been concerned with the publication of books and pamphlets and articles fer children and since you asked the question, | can present to you a list in which such publications are made available to the public.

The. This document will become a part of the record, Mr. Dybwad. Let it be exhibit No. 19.

(The document referred to was marked "Exhibit No. 19," and is on file with the subcommittee.)