The Washington times., 1914-09-20
YOUNG DANCERS BALK
AT CANNED" MUSIC
Pupils of Jersey City Schools
Demand That 0rchestras Be
Returned to Them.

NEW YORK. Sept. 0.-Trouble is
brewing over the public school dances
which have been conducted in Jersey
city for more than three years as the
result OF the efforts of the board Of edu-
cation to substitute. canned music for
the orchestral. The Introduction of the
record machines threatens to disrupt
the good work which has been accom-
plish4d bv the school extension COM
mittee. which has in three years sue
ceeded, with the aid Of the city authori-
ties. in driving out of the city all but
five Of the forty-eight public dance halls
which existed.
The city commissioner a few weeks
ago appropriated money sufficient to
maintain dances and Neighborhood
Center clubs in five schools during the
school fiscal year beginning July l.
About the time the appropriation was
made Superintendent of Schools Henry
Snyder announced that the board Of ed
ucetion. which has, through DR.. Snyder
and q paid supervisor of school dances.
asserted its authority over the dances
and the expenditures Of school moneys.
intended to install talking machines to
take the place of the orchestra which
has furnished the music for the dances
b3bSc AhCs "Oic sbdi tVo-
Dancers Enter Protest.
When this was announced to the
dancers at the three schools then run
ming weekly, they protested so vigor
ously that the members of the school
extension committee attempted to get
the board of education to reconsider the
matter. DR.. Snyder insisted upon the
talking machine manufacturers being
afforded an opportunity to try their
machines at the dances. The commit
tee begged that the experiment be not
tried in any of the established dances.
as the dancers threatened to cease their
attendance if il were done.
The committee unable to divert the
members Of the board of education from
their determine ton to install the talking
machines, reluctantly assented to the
talking machine being tried at the open
ing of school No. 2 in Brighton street
as one of the two new dance halls
The outcome of the test is being
awaited by the members of the COM
nlittee with fear.
It was as result of the evils aris
ing from the saloons with dance halls
attached that in May. 1911. the Holp
Name societies of Jersey City Joined
with representatives from the Young
Women's Christian Association, men,
bers of the Woman's Club. and others
in crusade to prevent the licensing
of such places. The result of the move
ment was the organization Of the school
extension committee, which obtained
permission from the board of education
to use the assembly rooms of three
school buildings for dancing. The COM
nittee. consisting of lawyers. doctors,
society matrcns. and social workers.
guaranteed to supervise each dance If
permitted to use each of the three
echoolhouSes one night each week and
10 furnish amUsements which would be
so conducted that any parent might
feel safe in permitting his son or daugn-
ter TO attend
The committee raised by subscription
sufficient to run the dances each week
for five months, and then the board Of
education in response to a general de-
mand that the permanenCy of the move
ment he assured. provided the means for
continuing the dances. \ condition "f
the payment of the bills from the city
funds was that the work would he as
strictly supervised by the volunteer COM
rIlittee as at its inception.
Committeeman Must Work.
No person can he member Of the
COMMITTEE unless he will give up one
night each week to the work. either to
attend a dance and see that the rules
are enforced or assist in the Neighbor-
hood Center work which has been start
ed in each school.
Admission to the school dances Is free.
Any person who will behave and obey
the rules Of the committee may attend
The principal rule is that there must be
no promisCuoUs intrOductons among
the dancers. Persons desiring to enjoy
the dance must do SO with their own
ncquaintances. and strangers are not
permitted TO solicit dances The tango
and all the modern dances of similar
character have been barred An,: per
son who is caught violating a rule IS
promptly elected from the school build
ing by members OF the committee
In the three years since the school
dances started the Jersey City plan has
become famous throughout the United
States. and the dances have been visit
ed ~ social workers from Chicago.
Cleveland. Denver. and other cities in
the West; NontClair. Plainfield. Pas
sale. and Other cities of New jersey.
and BROOKLYN. and dances run along
somewhat similar lines have heen start
% in most Of the cities named.
Tango Is Taboo.
The school extension committee found
early IN its work that the principal fac
Tor in the control Of Tho crowds al The
dance was the character Of the dance
music furnished A pianist. VINO was
o. member of the committee. and vio-
Iinist have played for the dancers The
music has been carefully selected to
prevent exciting the dancers 70 slip into
the dance steps which are taboo The
committee found that. rules or no ~ules.
here tango music was played the tan
90 would be danced. The waltz and
two-step, with slight variations, have
heen the dances favored at the school
dance halls. simple rule. which none
could misunderstood which was pro-
mtICated by the committee is: When
the dancers pass upon the floor the
members of the committee must be able
TO see gaslight between them"
Ladies First.