Guided Readings: Problems of Youth

Reading 1

Every American boy, a hundred years ago, lived either on a farm or in such close touch with farm life that he reaped its benefits. He had all the practical knowledge that comes from country surroundings; that is, he could ride, shoot, skate, run, swim; he was handy with tools; he knew the woods; he was physically strong, self-reliant, resourceful, well-developed in body and brain. In addition to which, he had a good moral training at home. He was respectful to his superiors, obedient to his parents, and altogether the best material of which a nation could be made.

We have lived to see an unfortunate change....It is the exception when we see a boy respectful to his superiors and obedient to his parents. It is the rare exception, now, when we see a boy that is handy with tools and capable of taking care of himself under all circumstances. It is the very, very rare exception when we see a boy whose life is absolutely governed by the safe old moral standards....Degeneracy is the word. To combat the system that has turned such a large proportion of our robust, manly, self-reliant boyhood into a lot of flat-chested cigarette-smokers, with shaky nerves and doubtful vitality...[we need to substitute] the better, cleaner, saner pursuits of woodcraft and scouting.

Boy Scout Handbook, 1910

Reading 2

Out of School Activities of 14,683 Children Cleveland, June 23, 1913
Where they were seen:
	On streets	7,799
	In yards	3,581
	In vacant lots	883
	In playgrounds	1,869
	In alleys	551
What they were doing:
	Doing nothing	5,961
	Playing	7,358
	Working	1,354
What games they were playing:
	Baseball	1,638
	Kites	531
	Sand piles	471
	Tag	153
	Jackstones	325
	Dolls	282
	Sewing	144
	Housekeeping	244
	Horse and wagon	113
	Bicycle riding	92
	Minding baby	60
	Reading	52
	Roller-skating	47
	Gardening	27
	Caddy	6
	Marbles	2
	Playing in other ways,Mostly just fooling	3,171