El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-10-26

an expense to the students, which their
! parents had TO bear, and which elimi-
mated the students whose parents were
not financially able to meet the ex-
penses of these parties, thus forming
clicks in the school, which is the very
death of the true democratic spirit
that should be the life of a high school
Also, though the dances were often
given in the name of the school, they
were without the supervision of the
teachers, and many things done by the
students which were open to criticism,
were blamed upon the school.
BY having a hall where the students
may have their parties without any
expense other than what refreshments
the pupils may wish to have, all the
students will be given the advantages
of social recreation. I believe very
strongly in the educating influence of
social organization upon young people,
if these are properly managed, and
I am encouraging every student &C
tiYity in the High school, but every
organization must have member Of
the faculty in the society both as
guide, helper and critic
Physical Development Important
Another really important thing in
the school as a real social center is to
provide for the physical development Of
the students. To increase the use Of
the high school as a physical recrea-
ton center. It should have tennis
courts, for the public use Unless one
is member Of a private club, or IS
rich enough to have a court of ones
own, there is no place where people
generally may play tennis or take 9TH
er healthful outdoor exercise. There
ought to be two swimming pools, for
boys and girls in an ideal social CEN
ter This would be a big step to pro-
mote the general health of the com
munity. There is only one swimming
pool in the city, that at the Y. NJ. c. A,
and none for women and girls The
use of the high school as a social ply
0nUpInnTnanT would
way conflict with the Y NJ C A work
or other athletic clubs that are or
may be organized, for its aim would
be to provide for students and people
that do not or cannot belong to these
organizations.
Night Schools Should BE a Part.
Might schools should be, a part Of
the social center work of the high
school," continued Mr.. Hughey. "to
give opportunity for special work and
training to people who have to be en-
ployed during the day time This has
been found invaluable to reach the
great mass of the people who have
the ambition to improve themselves,
but not the opportunity. Another fea-
ture should be summer sessions. I
can safely say that at least One-fourth
OF our students would like to continue
their work through the summer, either
IL making up work in which they have
fallen behind. or in taking up special
work, or to fit themselves for college
entrance 4 number of teachers re-
NAMED through the summer in Ell Paso
and tutored. All of them did very well
financially, but this should not be nee
essary as here again it eliminates the
pupil Of small or moderate means. The
schools belong to the people and if
they wish to use them through the
summer for school work there should
be a way provided for them.
These are just few ways IN which
a high school may be a true social cen
ter for the people of the city" con-
cluded Mr.. Hughey. "They are not
visionary ideas, for most of them are
being utilized today in the cities where
the people have awakened TO the OPP
pcrtunities for social service and so
cial benefit, in utilizing the schools as
a social center"