The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-13
The Expense of Education.

vi
One of the biggest problems with
the American fathers and mothers and
educators today Is that of the expense
of education. Each year as the e
penSes soar the problem becomes
more difficult for the man of mod
crate means and. in a great many
more cases that people care to stop
and think about. the result is disas.
trous.. Those who are wealthy do not
stop to consider it, although they, al.
most as often as their less fortunate
fellow beings. suffer for the same rea.
son. Statistics show h a a large per-
centage of the students in the high
schools and colleges are working their
way through and cannot afford lux
uries. while these same luxuries make
the educational institutions of the
country impossibilities to many young
people. People are beginning to awak-
en- to the fact that there are more
self-made and self-educated men and
women in the United States than of
the sort who have had the trail blaz-
ed for them. and since these are in a
majority, why should not something
be done to equalize the state of affairs
in the college and school life? Each
year with the coming of the COM
mencement season the war on the ex-
travagance of the rich students is be-
ing waged more strongly than ever,
if a war on themselves can be classed
as such, for it is a fact that the re-
form has started with the rich them
selves. Some. of course claim per-
sonal rights in the matter. Wise par
ents have come to realize hat the son
or daughter INDUCED is injured more
many of the unnecessary expenses.
One of the evils resulting from this
movement that is being wiped out is
that of competition among the young
especially as to graduation
gowns. The daughters of wealthy
parents prepare as elaborate an out
fit for graduation as possible, in many
cases imported and costing three or
four times al much as the ordinary
girl would think of paying. While
some girl. less fortunately situated can
only spend a mere pittance for her en-
tire outfit. Then there are the elabo-
rate dresses for the %banquets. recep-
ions and balls attendant. with gradu-
alton and the poorer girls commence
ment days are utterly spoiled because
she has no chance and is overlooked
and snubbed on o of her clothes.
Intelligence. scholarship, etc.. being
o~vershadowed by apparel. Many of
the best colleges are overcoming this
uiiiASultN, ~! lnSlllullDS d UNIFORM
mode of dress for graduation and US
ing influence toward simplicity Of
dress for all other college functions
during the YEAR as well. These insti-
buttons have thereby become more
popular and have been patronized by
a better and more intellectual class of
students for this one reason. Com
petition in dress. where the children
Of wealthy parents are overdressed to
the point of vulgarity, begins with the
kindergarten and by the time the child
reaches the high school and college
the question of dress becomes a nui-
sance. This does not apply to all stu
dents who have wealthy parents for
some are too we'll bred and refined to
commit the error, but the majority is
great enough to arouse the leading
educational men and women to the
wrong that is being done every day to
worthy young people and in a few
a complete reform is hoped for
by those who have the cause at
heart.