THOUGHTS FROM GIRLS AND BOYS TOWN The Original Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home Girls An Important Part Of The Famous Boys Town Family by Father Val J. Peter, JCD, STD (NAPS)—An 83-year-old orga- One of the keys for children in the 21* century is performance nization like ours has many landmark moments, but the most recent extension of our name to girls is important in propelling us into the new millennium. build relationships and learn to take control of their own lives. Father Flanagan, mark of Girls and Boys Town. It has been for decades. Our founder problems faced by young boys and homefor children “Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home.” On Valentine’s and a family for his boys. whelmingly to change the nameto “Boys Town.” They said theorigi- day in the life and dreams of the bad kids, and they knew Father At the beginning @ of the last century, 4 our founder, saw the ‘Ty dreamed of a home Father Val Peter Last August 24 was an historic place Father Flanagan built—The Village of Boys Town, Nebraska, and its 18 sites in 15 states and Washington, D.C. It was the dayall of its citizens voted to extend the name of Boys Town to girls. This vote by our children from across the country reflects the fact that girls, too, are part of our family. In fact, half of the 33,000 children directly cared for by Girls and Boys Townlast year were female. Just as with boys, young women come to us today as victims of a society that throws away childhood. These young women cometo us with a teddy bear in one hand and a syringe in the other. Years ago, they might have been abandoned on thestreets. Today they are abandonedin their own homes—victims of abuse and neglect. They do not like them- selves, and they usually do not like anyoneelseeither. Yet every girl and boy wakes up must proceed self-esteem. They must work andsacrifice to be suc- cessful. They need to learn skills, Self-government also is a hall- named his original Nebraska Day, 1926, the boys voted over- nal name soundedlike a place for Flanagan believed there was no such thing as a bad boyorgirl. Thevote to extend our nameto girls was an acknowledgment of who wereally are. A “yes” vote meantall the girls of America would know Father Flanagan was opening his arms to give each of them that very, very important second chance. The vote was acknowledging girls are part of our family and have been for more than 20 years. A “no” vote would be a vote for keeping with tradition. The boys andgirls spoke with a 67 percent response in favor of extending our nameto Girls and Boys Town. After the vote, one of our twelve-year-old girls said it best: “TI was so proud to vote yes and be part of historic change. I am sure that Father Flanagan welcomes us girls as his daughters as much as he welcomedboysashissons.” “He ain’t heavy, Father, he’s one morning and says: “I wish I had a second chance.” A second my brother.” “She ain’t heavy, Father, she’s my sister.” The leg- their needs met in prosocial ways. director of Girls and Boys Town, the chance means giving them the skills and virtues they need to get We don’t believe in sitting around praising kids and doing nothing else. If we did, they would wake up the next morning realizing they still didn’t have the skills to suc- ceed, and the praise was empty. endcontinues. Father Val Peter is executive original Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Homein Boys Town, Neb., and in California, New York, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Nevada, Rhode Island, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Geor- gia and Washington, D.C.
