The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-24
FATHERS TO BLAME
Why Boys Are Scarce In Higher
School Grades.
sUP'T 6. M. JORDAN DEPLoREs IT
His Position Defined In an Address
before East Side Grade
Graduates.

Fathers who are Indifferent or who look
more TO the immediate earning ABILITY OF
their sons than to their education are re-
sponslble for the small percentage OF
boys completing their common and high
school courses, according to Superinten
dent c. M. Jordan. DR.. Jordan spoke to
the east side pupils who were graduates
from the grades in the auditorium OF the
east high school this forenoon, and his
taking note OF the preponderance OF femi
n1nlty IN the graduating class ELECTED his
remarks concerning the conditions In the
Minneapolis schools yesterday and his as
scriptton Of the cause to negligent faith
ers. Superintendent Jordan said:
Looking over your faces this morning ind
than less than one-third of the graduates in
this class are boys. This is serious mat
ter, and the question is: What is tho cause
for so many boys dropping out of school at
so early en- age? I believe the audience IN
tnls room this morning explains it In large
part. How many fathers are there here now?
How many fathers would give up an hour or
two from their business this morning to see
their boys graduated? 1t is very serious
thing that the men OF this and of every other
city ara losing interest in the education Of
their boys and girls. 4
A short time ago I asked teacher in a
certain school In Minneapolis to show me her
report cards. There were forty-two of them
In all. Turning them over saw that thirty
eight OF them had been signed by the mothers.
Only four fathers had been the report of the
school work of their children. -.
The upper grades Of schools are being
given over almost exclusively to our girls.
Something must he done by the parents to
keep their boys in school. The fathers are
very Indifferent and many of them, it ap-
pears, think more of the immediate earning
capacity of their children than Of their educa-
ton. r
The Graduation Program.
The large auditorium was crowded
when the exercises began at 1920. The
class occupied several tiers of seats in the
middle Of the hall, Immediately in front
Of the platform Professor w. f. Webster,
principal of the east high school, presided
There was music by the eighth grade cho-
rus, rousfng school song, we'll sung. The
drst number was an original story,
'Snowfakes.' by Lillian Dame. Dale
Brown gave a defamation, John Burns
at Gettysburg" after which there was an
other original story read by Margaret Nc
Mullen. Her subject was "Mince Pie"
Interest in the program. however, cen
terd In an illustrated story and song,
1.-THE Owl and the Woodchuck.' There
was series of clever pictures drawn by
pupils in the class, illustrating the vari-
Gus situations in the story, which was re-
lated by Mollie Larkins. J. Ralph Can
terbury took the part of Woodchuck and
q dozen Of his classmates were the owls.
1t was an interesting and entertaining
feature. The diplomas were presented by
Superintendent Jordan.
.-. North Side Graduates.
This afternoon at 2:30 the class K. L.
and M. of the north side high school
were graduated from the grades at the
north high school building. There was
music by the north high school orchestra,
a brief address by w. W. Hobbs, high
school principal, songs by the schools and
recitations by several members of the
graduating class. Superintendent Jordan
presented the diplomas to the graduates.