The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-01
WHAT GAN WE DO
If WEDON'I DANCE?
HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS REPLY TO
BAPTIST PASTORS CRITICISMS.
Principals of the Schools Indorse the
Stand Taken by Ministers and Ex-
press Regret that This Amusement
Is so Intimately identified with
School Life.

3 e d . ,.aE . : a q -.
Principal w. r. webstersof. the East
high school heartily con1mends the.
criticism OF the social life of the high
schools by the Baptist ministers. This
morning he expressed the hope that
the ministers would press the agita-
ton far enough to arouse the parents
in the matter, SO that they would CO.
operate with eSschoo lst in regulating
the amount and character. Of pupils
amusements. sc
II greatly desire that practically all
the social lifA OF school pupils should
be outside Of school and wholly separ-
ated from 1t. The school should not
have that burden OF responsibility
upon 1t and cannot handle it we'll.
We have no class organizations until
the junior year and the number Of
class parties is very small. We have
no control over the other organiZa-
tons among high school pupils such as
their dancing clubs, but parents assoc
ciate them in their own minds with; the
school and have no doubt that idea
is encouraged by the young people.
There should be clear understanding
that they, not we, should control those
matters. In order that it may be clear
that the school does not foster social
life nor undertake to become respon-
sible for it's proper management have
had 1t in mind for sometime to send
out letter'to parents setting forth my
veiws in the matter and shall GER
tainly issue it next year. I think all
of the high school principals feel that
they are forced into duties Of social
censorship that do not belong to
Them
No arties in Buildings.
Inquiries at the Central and East
| High schools showed that no class
parties are held in the buildings and
| therefore the schools give no direct
sanction to dancing. The class par
ties outside are in reality beyond the
| jurisdiction of the school, but the in
! huence of the school principals is used
to keep down the number of parties
and to influence the pupils to provide
| other amusementS for those who dc
not dance.
| Robert fowler, president Of the
Central high school class, said that
their classes were so large that no 9TH
er amusement seemed feasible. He
thought tnte school social affairs We're
50 few that no one would be induced
to learn to dance merely to take part
his class has never protested against
dancing parties nor asked for any
other form Of entertainment; they
usually stay away from the class
parties. .s.
Principal j. N. Greer agreed EN-.
phatically that dancing, should not be
encouraged by the schools and never
permits it under any circumstances al
Central The one party that brings
out the classes very generally is the
Junior and senior reception to which
| the parents are Invited and which
they largely attend. There is dan.
cling at this but there is also a pra
gram for those who do not dance.
Rev. w. B. Riley's Idea. .-:., -.
\ Rev. w. B:Riley Of the First Bap
4 tisty church takes the ground that thf
Il school ought to exercise authority tt
Il the extent Of preventing at partie
using class names, amuSements tina
violate the conscientious scriples o
part Of the pupils, especially spartie
held in public halls which are not al
expression Of private hospitality. Con
tinuing, he said to-day
cit is certainly Objectionable to GU
best church people to have these func
tons presided over by members 0
the faculty.. I think, without doubt
} one of the most serious diffcultie
;! my church confronts now, in deal1n
:. with school people, is this one of tn
social life of the schools; and Their
are not a few parents who feel that
must be improved, or, notwithstanding
: ing the excellence Of the Minneapoli
3 school system, Of which we are PROUD
| the grades, we will not send ther
into the high schools, but to strict
denominational and Christian pre-
paratory schools instead. Our cor
J., tention is that the individual may d
as he p1eaSes, but the Puonc ;,,f sc no
t conduct that is offensive to so large
- ma # of its natrOnS.'