“The children in our generation were better behaved.”
This statement has been said by each generation probably since the beginning of time.
Going through the old papers I have seen many articles on the good things the youth of the day had done, knitting squares for blankets, repainting and repairing toys for the poor at Christmas and in January 1945 I found this:

January 4, 1945
Brownfield
“Busy Bees send Gifts To Young Patients
“When the pupils of Brownfield school held their Junior Red Cross meetings prior to Christmas they decided to write and find out the names of all the children in the Calgary Junior Red Cross Hospital, also their ages.
“On receipt of this information from the officials Brownfield Busy Bees went to work and sent each child a present individually wrapped, the number being 42, and just in case someone had unexpectedly been taken to the hospital during Christmas two extra presents were included making a total of 44 gifts.
Much credit is due these pupils and their teacher, Mrs. Victor Jordahl in helping to bring happiness to children less fortunate than themselves on Christmas morning.”
This article got us debating the old “children were better behaved” statement and we were leaning towards agreement when I read a few more pages and in the very next week’s paper I found this:

January 11, 1945
NOTICE
“To Parents or Guardians of Teen Age Boys
“Kindly note that any further molesting of persons or property by young boys resident in town, likewise the use by them of foul or abusive language in public places and on the streets will not be tolerated in the future and will result in action being taken by the proper authorities to curb such action.
By Order
Town of Coronation”

That night I was watching the news and in one news program they had a report on a guilty verdict for the 13 year old girl accused of murder, and a report on a 13 year old girl who had sent 3,000 postcards to the troops in Iraq.
I guess the thing we have to remember is that there was good, and not so good then; just as there is good, and not so good now.
It all reminds me of one of my Grandmother’s favourite sayings: “The more things change the more they stay the same.”

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