Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-06-24
"Hich School Folly and wickedness"

pills now passing through our public
schools Is self-eyident truth. The
purpose Of our educational system Is
to safeguard the nation, and It Is
OF vital interest TO every citizen to
have that system accomplishing the
purpose for which It was brought
into being.
Our most far sighted educators are
looking with apprehension upon the
growing tendency to relegate to a
secondary place the great purpose
and give supreme Importance to ath-
letics and amusements.
There are today in our educational
institutions thousands Of pupils who
are there solely for athletics and So
cial advantages. and who have no
conception OF what they owe them
selves, to society or to the state. AS
result a spirit OF anarchy, or rebel
lion against any and all authority
that will run counter to the Students
idea Of a good time, Is invading all
our higher educational institutions
School life Is the time OF prepara-
tlon for llfe's serious work, and
time lost there and character mis-
formed there can never be remedied.
The folly OF such misuse OF time and
opportunity Is as great as would be
that of a general going to battle,
when the fate of an empire hung In
the balance, without having given a
thought to preparation for the con-
flct All athletic sports. and all
amusements during the school life
should be of such character as will
tend to higher scholarship. more
perfect physical development and the
broadening and deepening of moral
character.
While discussing this subject it Is
only fair to mention some criticisms
that have been made regarding the
so-called high school dances" which
have been held in this city. 1t Is
time to explain that the dances in
question have never had any con-
nection with the high school Hav-
ing been so named by the newspapers
In speaking Of the dances for the rea-
son that high school pupils have
dominated the gatherings. The
school authorities are in no wise
responsible for the attendane Of the
young men and young women OF the
high school at these gatherings. The
subject OF dances in general have
nothing to do with the question, but
there can be but one opinion with
serious parents Of allowing their
sons and daughters to waste valu-
able time, to say nothing about the
demoralzing effect of late hours
which intrudes on the harvest time
Of education.
No man In this, or any other coun-
try, has the interest OF the young
people at heart more than has DR..
Francis Il. Clark, the founder Of
Christian Endeavor. He says.
1T is high time that the people Of
America were awakened to the fool
ishness and wickedness that are
found in some of the high schools.
write not without knowledge of the
facts, and write with the full know.
ledge of the many excellent high
schools and high school teachers Of
our country and in full sympathy
with them,
These good schools, however,
should not shut our eyes to the con-
siderable percentage of schools whose
influence is demoralzing and de-
grading
In my opinion the high school
dances are responsible for much of
this deterioration, IL has come to
pass that In many high schools there
can he no graduating exercises or
any social function without a dance.
In spite of the fact that many par
ents are opposed to the promscuous
embraces. and the late hours, and
the accompanying dissipation, Of
these dances, the dances are encour-
aged hv the teachers; and the pupils
who do not 80 In for them are out
of the social SWIM and feel them
selves cut off from the legitimate
social features Of school life.
"But this is comparatively a small
mattcr | am speaking by the book
when | say that there are many girls
not ont OF their teens, who have been
ruined body and soul for time and
eternity. by those dances. II | should
mention the respectable tamilie,
whose daughters In the high schoo
have thus brought shame and dis
grace unon themselves and theh
parents, lt would be an appalln.
raNRI1fI,n