Wanted: two good parents for ivery child.
That was the keynote of aft address by the Rev. Ray P. Hebert, executive director oir Associated Catholic Charities here, at a session Thursday of the Louisiana Conference of Social Welfare.
Father Hebert said that a child's needs can best be met by providing him with a sound family life. ,
.; "Unless we base our program for child development on a sound family life," he said, "we are not going to be successful in doing away with needs of children in our society."
Father Hebert said that agencies and services c o u Id help solve immediate problems, but that they could not "take the place of a good family life based on sound moral principals."
He said that the local point of most religious denominations was the establishment of the family as a unit. I Father Hebert &lso stressed the need for a united front by parents to control the behavior of children. This control, he said, must be exercised with love and affection.
Dr. Clarence Hv W ebb, of Shreveport, who. also took partj in the morning panel discussion, cited a strong family life as a deterrent to juvenile delinquency.
"If there is one thing that we have .learned a b o U t the problems that cause a child to come into conflict with society," he said, "it is that there is no simple answer.
"But the most important aspect that affect this kind of child lies directly in the home." STRONG, HEALTHY
Dr. Webb said that he "personally deplores the absence of a mother from the home."
"Being a good mother while working outside the home can take place," he said, "but I would be the first to say that it is a tough job."
The pediatrician said that he thought that children today in Louisiana were "strong and healthy."
"There is some talk that children today are soft," he said. "I grant that they could be harder if they worked 12 hours a day. Their muscles would be harder, but I don't know if their moral fiber would bk better. And they certainly would not be able to enjoy childhood." Dri Webb said that agencies should co-operate with civic and women's groups in the commu-i nities to improve school health; I to take better care of handicapped children, and to develop 4 strong program for deal-i ing with adolescent behavior.
Later in the day, Dr. Webb was presented the 1960 George Freeman award given by the conference for distinguished service in the field of social j work in Louisiana.
Dr. Webb' is a visiting lecturer at the Tulane school of medicine and chief of the * pediatrics department at the Louisiana State university postgraduate medical school.
He is a member of Louisi-| ana Youth Commission and has served ih official capacities in many civic and K»cial agencies. Dr. Webb, who is a graduate; of Tdlane university, is on the National Committee of the Boy Scouts.
At an afternoon session of the conference, Dr.. Edgar B. Phillips, executive director of the American Child Guidance Foundation, Baton Rouge, said that prevention of the development of emotional disturbances in children was as important as treatment.
ELECTION HELD He said that this required jnore manpower dedicated to this work; more knowledge into fthe field of human emotions; and better communications among professional groups deal-iing with children.
Others taking part in Thursday's meeting were Judge Leo Blessing; Mrs. Claude Kirkpa-trick, Jennings, La.; and Roland Nelson.
The conference also announced the election of new board members: members-at-1 a r g e, Michael J. Cousins, Natchi-toches,, Mrs. Ethel. Chance, Marksville; and Miss Florence Sytz, New Orleans.
Also elected were: chairman, region two, Ann Fox of Rus-toa; chairman, region four, Mrs. Florence McKoih, Alexandria,; and chairman, region 10, Guy 1 Singleton, New Orleans.
.Mrs. Mary E. Parker, elected for a two-year term at the last convention,, will continue as president. Mrs. Joyce Joseph remains also as second vice-president.
The meeting ends Friday with an address by Mrs. Moise Cahn, past president of the conference and member of the National Committee, 1960 White House Conference on Children and : Youth.
