Description

Travel with Bennett-Watt and discover the Boys Town, a unique town founded by Edward J. Flanagan to aid at-risk children.

Transcript

Jim Watt: Boys Town was founded by Father Flanagan in 1917 as a refuge for children in need and it was a very unique refuge to the fact that he welcomed all children regardless of his religion. And it was a program based upon love and understanding of children and the home unique history has now expand over 80 years. And in that 80 years, over 22,000 children have lived with us and then that time Boy’s Town has gone onto impact the lives and millions of children around the world to its international programs and it’s been duplicated many times across United States also. School morning at a Wagner School on campus are elementary school, the boys and girls gather and they say the Pledge of Allegiance and they sing several songs and they hear the news—to go on that day in the school and around campus. And that’s Father Peter in Boy’s Town way of letting the children know what the news of the campus and helping to teach them the importance of being an American citizen. “Today, we want you meet Father Flanagan himself, the man who has created this new way of dealing with you.” “Thank you Sam and good afternoon everyone. I’ve always hated the cruel system but neglects boys until they’re forced into breaking the law. And then fails to solve the problem by putting them in reformatories. I’ve always believed that ‘mil boy’ wanted to be bad. ‘Mil boy’ needed reform and he’s only at dull society giving path a chance. I am proud that thousands of these boys have already been given a new starting Boys Town and that not one of them has ever disproved the belief that it’s closest to my heart, that there is no such thing as a bad boy.” Jim Watt: Several years go extending our name to girls on Boy’s Town. In 1979, new ladies became part of our program and today even make up 50% of the population here at Boy’s Town. Our children who come and live in the village of Boy’s Town are children aged nine to 18 and these are young people who’ve had problems in their lives and they come and they live here in our community in a family style living with their family, teachers, there’s 86 children per home and within the home they live very much like a normal family. They have their chores to do, their cleaning, their school work but then they’re also working on the problems that brought them here to campus whether what those might be because our industry unite them with their families whenever possible. The community and the village of Boy’s Town is very unique because Father Flanagan in one of the children lived in beautiful clean surroundings. So, when people visit the village of Boy’s Town, they see a community based upon Father Flanagan’s ideas. Most would agree that Father Flanagan would be thrilled at the highly respected and advanced computer curriculum here. Of course some of the basic skills of education are also needed. Boy’s Town Hall of history museum along with the rest of the campus is open to and welcomes visitors 362 days a year. Only close on Christmas, New Years and Thanksgiving.