The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-03-14
Shall Sweet Girl Grads
Wear Caps and Gowns
From Thursdays Daily.


wear plain white sailor suits, with
out any lace or insertion? This is a
question that the school board wres-
tied with last night at its regular
monthly meeting In the end, the
matter was left to the school COM
mittee to decide. At any rate, eX-
pensive graduating gowns and any
thing that hints at snobbery are to
be done away with. The matter
came up in the course of discus
sion as whether or not to do away
with the usual graduating essays and
orations and substitute lecturer
from abroad.
Superintendent Sperry brought be-
fore the board a request from the
senior class that the usual gradual
ing exercises be changed and a
lecturer secured.
Mrs Smith moved that the re-
quest be granted, owing to the
amount of work that the class has
to perform in order to satisfactorily
complete their studies. She said that
some Of the parents of the honor
students, who would be the ones to
appear on the program, are anxious
J that their sons and daughters be re-
lieved of this extra work. One
young lady, at the beginning of the
year, had announced that she was
going to try not to stand higher
than eleventh in the class, to avoid
going on the program. In spite Of
her efforts, she landed among the
honor students, and is now threaten
ed with nervous prostration over the
prospect of having to prepare and
read an essay. The motion was car
ried, after considerable discussion,
in which several board members
expressed the thought that at least
the valedictorian ought to appear.
Simplicity of Dress.
! The question of simplicity Of
dress was then considered. and it
was stated that some of the girls
have already begun work on gradu-
alton gowns. 1t was stated that
with some families this was a
great burden and put serious finan-
cial strain upon them. Graduating
outfits cost as high as $25 to $50.
A member of the board recalled
that his wife's had cost $50, includ-
ing lace and insertion, and he
. thought that the parents ought to
be spared this expense.
i Then the question of what the
sweet girl graduates" should wear
, If expensive gowns were to be
blacklisted, came up and it was sug-
gested that caps and gowns be worn,
so as to be all on a common level.
Caps and gowns, it was stated, could
be rented for $3.50.
! Mrs. Smith recalled that once she
had seen class of girl graduates
gowned in sailor suits-all alike
and that the effect was very pretty
Then the board discussed whether
caps and gowns or sailor suits would
be preferable. 1t was decided that
if sailor suits should be designated
the class colors might be worn.
| The outcome was motion by Mr.
Regain to refer the matter to the
school committee, to ascertain wheth,
er the class would prefer to dress
in caps and gowns or sailor suits
which was carried. If the caps and
gowns win, then the boys as well
as girls will be expected to appear
, in them.
! The point was raised that posi-.
bly, the board could not enforce its
action, but it was stated in reply
that pupils who did not comply with
the boards wishes could be kept off
of the stage.
Granting Glass Privileges.
| Another matter brought up by
Superintendent Sperry was that of
granting privileges to the senior
class, as is done in some schools,
such as eXcusing the members from
attendance in the building except
during recitation hours. This would
be matter that the parents would
be asked to decide in each case, and
where the privilege was granted, it
would be forfeited for violations
1T was stated that this has been the
practice in the st. Peter high school
for a number of years. The matter
power to act, without formal action
being taken by the board.
Mr.. Regain brought up the matter
of truancy, and stated his belief
that there is a good deal OF it in
the Franklin district Mr.. Sperry
stated that he would like to have
any cases reported to him by any.
one having knowledge of the fact.
! Mr.. Jefferson suggested that an
eighth grade be established in the
Franklin school, because of the long
distance many have to walk to the
high school building, it being two
miles in some cases, which had
, caused many to leave school after
f, completing the seventh grade. He
would discontinue the kindergarten
and add the eighth grade.
| The same point was raised in re.
gard to the West Mankato school,
and then the suggestion was made
that an eighth grade be established
in each of the four grade buildings
! and the one at the high school done
away with, as this would necessi-
tate the employment Of only one
more teacher The fact developed
that there is not room in the Pleas.
ant Grove for this.
Referred to School Committee.
On Mr.. Regan's motion, the mat
ter of having an eighth grade in
;; the Franklin and West Mankato
schools, instead of the kindergarten.
primary, was referred to the COM
mittee on schools, to report at the
next meeting.
During the discussion, DR.. Beach
did not think that tla1, L.