The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-03-28
State Superintendent Disap.
proves of Elaborate EXer-
cises Which Characterize
Commandments.
SIMPLICITY IS PLAN
Says He Wants to Find Boys
and Girls on School Plat
forms Who Are Neatly But
Simply Dressed.

INDIANAPOLIS. March 2s.-The
state department of public instruction,
through Superintendent Charles A.
Greenhouse, expressed disapproval
yesterday of elaborate exercises which
have characterized most of the high
school commandments of the state.
He declares that graduation events
have assumed such proportions that
they have grown to be almost
white elephant"
Pupils, teachers. parents and the
public generally will be urged to CO.
operate with the state department IN
causing simplicity to mark the 1914
commandments both in the high
schools and grades.
simplicity in exercises, simplicity
in dress. with no parade of costly
gifts and other nonessentials, should
Characterize commencement exercises
in all the public high schools de-
clared Mr. Greenhouse.
Statement May Arouse Interest
Mr. Greenhouses statement is ex-
pected to arouse especial interest
among members of the Southern Indi-
ana Teachers association now gath
cred in convention here. His state
ment follows:
ut Is exceedingly gratifying to note
the growing sentiment and actual
movement toward reducing the eX-
pense of commencement and its at
tendant functions in the public
schools.
The closing exercises Of the year
celebrating the completion Of certain
outlined courses of study have grown
to be almost white elephant all
over the country.
From the simple presentation of a
certificate testifying to the good con-
duct and scholarship of the pupil in
the work presented, graduation events
have assumed such proportions as to
cover almost an entire week of fes-
Invites. each one of which is in itself,
perhaps. entirely appropriate we're 1t
not for the fact that it carries with 1t
a vast expenditure of money to meet
what seem to be social demands.
NO one person or group of persons
IS responsible for this. Like many
other Objectionable features that &C
company events good in themselves,
the elaborate surroundings of gradua-
ton have insensibly increased from
year to year, until their dangers and
Injurious effects are very generally
l.
departments of public instruction are
making pleas for simplicity in com
mencement exercises and urging that
the hiring of carriages for graduates,
the practice of sending costly gifts
and flowers to the graduation plat
form, the extravaganza of dress shall
an be relinoushed.
Aiqh School Teacher Leads.
1y,or.
has taken the initiative in leading the
pupils to see for themselves how In
appropriate these extravagances are
and to declare for simplicity in the
graduation exercises of 1914. This is
an ideal solution of the problem
When young boys and girls are led to
declare the right methods for them
selves, the results must always be
wholesome and permanent.
THE state department Of public in
struction not only puts its stamp OF
approval on such movements, but
heartily co-operates in them.
Our public schools are the st
democratic institutions We have. ""cy
differ from private schools. from 20!
leges and universities in their si'i~;t
and intent, and the practice of bring
inc into them the necessary accom-
y
makes a sort of hybrid that is diff
cult to describe and define.
these schools we're created as 6
common meeting ground for children
OF every social group and should be
held sacred to their trust
The approaching spring months
already are sounding the commence
ment note and it is to be hoped that
not one school alone, but many
schools; not one group Of pupils. bu,
many groups of pupils. will declare
against an elaborate 1914 commence
ment.
we want to find on our platforms
girls and boys neatly. simply and
tastefully attired, as becomes their
ages. with exercises that so far as
possible are an expression Of what
the high school has added TO their
stature during the years they have
been a part Of it's student body.