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Back to Classroom-tested Lesson Plans and Handouts
Problems of
Youth
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
Out of School Activities
of 14,683 Children
Cleveland, June 23, 1913 |
|
Where they were seen: |
|
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On streets |
7,799 |
|
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In yards |
3,581 |
|
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In vacant lots |
883 |
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In playgrounds |
1,869 |
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In alleys |
551 |
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What they were doing: |
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Doing nothing |
5,961 |
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Playing |
7,358 |
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Working |
1,354 |
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What games they were playing: |
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Baseball |
1,638 |
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Kites |
531 |
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Sand piles |
471 |
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Tag |
153 |
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Jackstones |
325 |
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Dolls |
282 |
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Sewing |
144 |
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Housekeeping |
244 |
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Horse and wagon |
113 |
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Bicycle riding |
92 |
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Minding baby |
60 |
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Reading |
52 |
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Roller-skating |
47 |
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Gardening |
27 |
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Caddy |
6 |
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Marbles |
2 |
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Playing in other ways, Mostly just fooling |
3,171 |
1. What
changes had taken place in the lives of youth, according to the
Boy Scout Handbook?
2. What,
according to the handbook, were the solutions to the problems
of youth?
3. How did
children in Cleveland spend their leisure time?
Education
|
Resources Invested in Education |
|
|
Spending on Education |
Spending Per Child 15-19 |
Percentage of GNP |
|
1860 |
$60 |
$ 5.33 |
1.4 |
|
1900 |
$503 |
$20.53 |
2.9 |
|
Improvements in
Education |
|
% Illiteracy 10 or older |
High School Graduates |
College Enrollment |
|
Total |
White |
Black |
|
1870 |
20 % |
11 |
80 |
2.0 |
1.7 |
|
1900 |
11 % |
6 |
45 |
6.4 |
4.0 |
|
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Proportion of Young Attending School |
Average Days Attended By Pupils |
Proportion of 17 Year Olds
Graduating High School |
|
1870 |
57 |
78 |
2 |
|
1890 |
69 |
86 |
3.5 |
|
1910 |
74 |
113 |
8.8 |
|
1930 |
81 |
143 |
29 |
|
1950 |
82 |
158 |
59 |
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Percent of 18-21 Year Olds Attending College |
Percent of Adult Population Illiterate |
|
1870 |
1.7 % |
20 % |
|
1890 |
3.0 % |
13 % |
|
1910 |
5.1 % |
8 % |
|
1930 |
12.4 % |
4 % |
|
1950 |
29.9 % |
3 % |
1. How many
days of school did a typical student attend in 1870? What proportion
of young people actually attended school? How likely was such
a student to graduate from high school or attend college?
2. Describe
the changes that took place in educational expenditures, high
school graduation, college enrollment, and literacy rates.
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