“Tt would be extremely helpful if the parents would assist the schools in seeing to it that such recommended books were read by their children,” Daly declared.
Rabbi Abraham J, Feldman, spiritual leader of Temple eth Israel, after look- ing over some samples of the comic books described in the Courant article Snn- day, said, “What can we say exeept the obvious * * * they ore terrible. We need an educational campsignu to shock the parents und the pullie tp general juto a realization of the kind of comic books being dished out.’
Dr. Feldman declared that “parents should urge children te use the public libraries more. The libraries have fine juveuile depactmenis.”
RABBI FELDMAN ADVISES PARENTS
“But,” Dr. Peldman added, “the parents should not just send their children to the library aud tell them to pick out some books. The parents should show the children that they are taking un iuterest in what the youngsters do. ‘The parents should set a good example and go to the libraries with the children,”
He ojfered this suggestion to parents whose children read the bad eomie books: “Sit down wiih the child and explain why the books are not desirable. Don't just say, ‘I forbid you fo rend these books. That would only wher the appetite, Sosi people are decent people and the ehildren will listen to intelligent rea- soning.”
Dr. Feldman declared that censorship is uot the auswer to the problem. “Censorship would kill one evil with another evil aud I’m not sure which evil is greater,” he said.
Ile said in addition to an educational campaign to awaken the parents, there should be an appeal to the distributors to participate in such a campaign. “it should be done by moral suasion,” he added.
MRS. SANDERSON DISTURBED
Mrs. Ilarold Sanderson, direcior of Clivistian education, Greater Hartford Council of Churches, termed the comic books “appalling” and added that “the lethargy of the public toward tLe preblem fs terrible.”
“T am very disturbed about these comie books that glorify crime.” she said, “but [am anore disturbed about (he comie books which emphasize sex. The age group of the youngsters who read comic books,” she said, “is the group that is just becoiuing iuterested in matters of sex. These unwholesome comics arouse the interest of the youngsters and send them out inte the streets where they get involved in sex situatious. This is especially true of children without good home backgreunds.”
She said that purents should not “pass the buck for molding the child to the school or church, Too many pareuts neglect their responsibility to their children.”
SUPERVISED LEISURE URGED
Mrs. Sandersot said the parents have the care of the children during most of the youngsters’ leisure-time periods, It is duving the leisure hours, she said, that the children read these comic books.
“Children are impressionable and mobile,” she said. “They move around a lot during their leisure hours tind have few demands on their lime. The pre- adolescent children don’t have much else to do so ther cead comic books.”
She said if parents supervised the leisure time of their chillren und directed the youngsters’ energies info constructive channels, the problem wouldn't be as difficult as it is aud there would be less delinqueney.
Editorial, February 16, 1954
Censorship of Comics Is Not the Answer
Ti is a litile more difficult today than ii was on Saturday to buy dirty comic books in Hartford, But if you will look behind the books with innocuous titles on display, you will find many gruesome tidbits still being peddled in downtown Hartford. After the disclusurés in the Courant many persons jiuve written or telephoned, asking what they can do to stem the filthy stream that flaws from goldplated sewers of New York. Some have said flatly, “there ought ta be a law.” Others cull for censorship.
