Sir,- I read with some interest in your issue of July 30 an announcement that German mothers had sustained their case for equal rights with fathers over their children in the Constitutional Court at Karlsruhe. I have felt for a long time that a reform of this kind is overdue here where mothers are still not entitled to sign their children's passport applications, hospital forms, &c.
There is no doubt that child delinquency must be laid fairly and squarely on the parents' shoulders, especially on mothers, who are mainly responsible for the forming of the child's character in the early years. This responsibility should be driven home, beginning with the adolescent girl at school. Corresponding to this responsibility which no mother can avoid should be her official right over the child.
Where she has duties she must also have rights. Until she is given the latter it will be difficult to impress on the mother her immense and fearful responsibility to the nation for the growing generation. Where families are happy, equal rights with the father will make no difference; where families are unhappy, both parents should have recourse to courts if they cannot agree.
