LOCK 'EM UP

To The Editors of The Crimson:

I had the pleasure of reading your publication and was fascinated by an article entitled, "Banfield's Back."

Obviously, what is said in that article could not be the views of the powers at Harvard and I, too, could not have accepted a word of it only a few short years ago.

For the past seven to eight years I have been working with the poor, the deprived, "lower class." There are some exceptions but for the most part the observations of Mr. Banfield are true. I have had their homes repaired, only to have them destroy them. I have seen to it that they receive plenty of food stamps to aid in their diet needs, only to have them buy frozen foods, Sarah Lee prepared bake goods and plenty of sweets. I have tried to and succeeded in getting many of them jobs and into training for jobs. I placed three young men into average type jobs and in one month they had all left to go back to welfare.

My experiences with the poor are face to face, not some drivel dreamed up by a professor who wouldn't be able to cope for one day with the real thing. I do not believe the solution is spending more money on these vast programs which help only those administering the program.

I believe we should have training schools to train people in a skill. With a skill they can find a job and with a job they can begin their slow climb out of the lower levels.

It is difficult to picture a group of people who thrive on crime, stealing and mugging. But these people do exist and they cause other people not to want to be in school with them or live close to them. All the liberal teaching in the world cannot change this very obvious fact.

If we really want to help the poor we must look at the facts. We must lock up the criminal. We must teach middle class morality and middle class work ethics and we must not expect to see a sudden change. It will be long and tedious. Liberal teaching to date has only caused problems. That is because Liberals want things as they should be according to our own high standard. Things are not as they should be and hitting the middle class in the face daily telling them to be ashamed for what they think and do will never be the answer.

People do not appreciate that which is given them. When Harvard realizes some of these truths, then Harvard can make a contribution in solving the problems...but not until then. B.B. Copeland   Sacramento, Calif.