Just as the parent in the home establishes habits while the child’s mind is plastic, so the community stands _in loco parentis_ to the future citizen, and surrounds him with safeguards while needed. Knowledge is needed, scientific investigation is fundamental, expert wisdom is indispensable, costly though it is, being the product of long research and rare brain power. This is at the service of the nation for the good of all the people, and it is the surer the wider the range of experience. For this reason chiefly, greater actual knowledge and more complete harmonizing of conflicting interests is necessary. Certain sanitary measures are carried out by the Federal government as an education to communities, just as communities educate individuals. Federal effort may be unwisely put forth in certain cases, investigations of little consequence may be undertaken, but on the whole a democracy must learn to manage its affairs by making mistakes. The principle should not be discarded as a result of the first mistake. The immediate concern of this chapter is with the leaders of community movements, the educated, sympathetic, farsighted sociologists, sanitarians, and economists, whose concern is for the advancement of mankind. These leaders must have courage and belief in the value of their work, for no half-hearted means will carry the community forward. Still more, they must have knowledge, a sure ground to stand upon. To acquire this means both time and opportunity. To go into betterment work without it is to set back the wheels of progress, not to advance them. CHAPTER V _The child to be “raised” as he should be. Restraint for his good. Teaching good habits the chief duty of the family._ Our success or failure with the unending stream of babies (one every eight seconds) is the measure of our civilization: every institution stands or falls by its contribution to that result, by the improvement of the children born or by the improvement of the quality of births attained under its influence. _H. G. Wells, Mankind in the Making._ Children are the most hopeful element of our population, and we should concentrate our efforts on them. _Dr. W. F. Porter, Harvard Medical School Lectures._ We want the mothers to be the health officers of the home. _Charles W. Hewitt._ When human beings and families rationally subordinate their own interests as perfectly to the welfare of future generations as do animals under the control of instinct, the world will have a more enduring type of family life than exists at present. This can only be accomplished by the development of controlling ideals which are supported not only by reason and intelligence but by ethical impulse and religious motive.