Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-11-08
Correspondence.
Senior Glass Parties.
ELLSWORTH, Me, Nov. 5,

To the Editor Of The imertcan:
In the last issue OF the High School Re
corder, under the above head, it was stated
that it has become a general custom for
the seniors to give two or three parties
during the year; that the prime object
of these parties is to raise money to de-
fray necessary graduation expenses, and
that the money thus raised enables some
poor scholar to graduate who would be
unable to graduate without such aid.
Let Us look at the expense question
little and see what this money is ex
pended for, and where it lessons the real
expenses of graduation and thus aids the
poor student Does it help buy the
dress suits, the dresses, the ribbons,
shoes, gloves or even the flowers worn on
such occasions? Does it help pay for the
use of the hall for graduation exercises?
II so it helps the poor scholar to graduate,
but | fail to find single instance in
W hich money earned at these parties was
so applied.
The money to pay for wearing apparel
comes from the parental purse. The city
furnishes he use of the hall for the grad
uation exercises. II the students want
graduation ball they must pay for the use
of the hall for that purpose. The city
/ will furnish programmes and diplomas to
+ the graduating class. What is this neces-
sary graduation expense for which the
student must pay?
Home talent would furnish music for
graduation and ball at cost not exceed
ing forty dollars. The class of '93 sent
away and procured music not any better
than an Ellsworth orchestra could fur
nish, at a cost of about S175.
The class of 81 procured outside talent
at cost of about SIPS. The programmes
which the city would furnish did not
meet he aesthetic taste OF some. so they
incurred an additional expense for these.
One class would have saved Sl35 for
music, and the her would have saved
So for the same, il they could have
trained their feet to move to the strains
OF music produced by an Ellsworth or
chestrs.
And these sums are more than either
class melted from their fall and winter
term parties Ii Is these parties and not
the graduation bail, that present the
objeetiona bic features OF the case. 1t Is
claimed hat the attendance al the ball
would not be SO great il the music was
furnished by home talent. People 90 to
a graduation ball to help the students
out and not particularly to hear an
orchestra that comes from anothe place.
The attendance would not be per-
=.
was not quite SO large a. the Salem cadet
band might draw, no one would be SO
unreasonable as 10 claim that the receipts
from the concert and ball would be
diminished TO the extent OF Sl35. - or
even $50.
The cost of graduation here few years
ago would not much exceed 500. Now
graduation costs from s225 to $500 " hat
has caused this increase? Nothing but
pride in trying TO Guido all previous
graduating classes in the mere matter of
show
That it affords scholars opportunities Of
becoming acquainted Is too absurd an
argument to have any weight scholar
who has not made the acquaintance of
every member of the school while in the
grammar school, or during the first year
Of the high school course, will not take
much advantage OF the opportunities
offered by one or two nights in ball
room.
The Recorder asks; Are these parties
enough injury to the students to warrant
the dropping OF the financial question:
The financial question does not seem to
be very important, since he city viii pay
all reasonable expenses. So far as the
poor lessons go, perhaps they would not
be excuse enough for dropping these
parties, but when we take the moral side
of the question into consideration, the
answer can be nothing but an emphatic
yes
That even one member OF the high
school should think so little of his own
reputation as to appear at one OF these
parties, given under the high school
name, in an intoxicated state is to be de-
pored; but that half a dozen should
appear in such condition as TO reflect on
the good name OF the school is a matter
for grave consideration both on the part
of their parents and the school authori-
ties.
VIII any parent, who has a son in the
high school or who expects TO have one
there in the future, risk the chance of
that son making such a spectacle OF him
self, as some Of the present members, and
some of the alumni, have done at these
parties?
Considering The manner in which these
parties have been conducted lately, are
there any parents in this city dead to
the welfare OF their children, as to allow
the mere qualification of pride a fair
equivalent for the possibility of a loss of
the good name OF the Ellsworth high
school? \ FRIEND OF THE SCHOOL.