New Britain herald., 1915-01-14
COMMUNICATED.
Parent" Comments Upon Lack of
 Courtesy and Modcsty.

Editor Herald-
 In these days of vocational and pre- vocational schools and all the other modern methods of education, there are two courses of study which l should like to see added to the curri- culum of our Common and High chools, namely courtesy and modesty, because, I believe as result of my own observation that there is d cry ing need for the study of these two subjects among the school children of New Britain
 As a parent, l am heartily ashamed to compare the conduct and manners children of our southern states or the northern children of thirty years ago. The behavior of some children towards their elders is often insult ing and most disrespectful and how we parents will put up with the mod ern ideas of courtesy is more than I can fathom
 If we attempt to correct or instruct our children regarding their manners we are told that mo other children have to say Please and Thank you and teacher doesn't make us say it."
 Isn't it about time teacher got onto her job and endeavored to instill some ideas of courtesy into our children and then it will be up to us to back her up, both by precept and exam pie.
 among Grammar and High school girls, am led to believe they should receive special instruction and eX- ample from their teachers as well as parents.
 Young school girls should not be allowed to attend dances and theaters with the apparent unlimited restraint which they do. I recall one instance which came to my attention recently, which will illustrate how the glitter of the footlights will displace desir able knowledge: High school girl upon request, correctly named every member of the Lyceum stock com pany but could not name the vice president of the United States.
 The chances are that eighty per cent of our High school girls could give a correct list of all the latest Hops and glides, etc, but how many could tell the name of the present lieutenant governor of Connecticut?
 As to the immodesty of the school girls dress, allow me to quote from the current issue of Prank Eeslie's NY to be blamed if they dress immo odest- ly. A school superintendent at Au- burn, New York. has spoken recently upon the moral menace in the i'm modest" clothes worn by school girls. President Taylor of the board of edo- cation of Newark. N J.. touching the same problem, declares that pupils learn neither modesty nor economy from looking at the dresses worn by some of our teachers and even sug- gests that a uniform for teachers may become necessary"
 The way the teacher dresses has great Influence on the questionable school girl, but nine times out of ten if she did not get the example in "im- modest" dressing from the teacher she would get 1t at home from her mother and big sister We are not dis posed to place too much blame upon a young schoolgirl. She doesn't know any better, and how can she be ox- pected to considering the example her teachers and elders set? If mothers had been more true to the traditions and ideals of American motherhood, this era of immodest dressing would not have gotten it's hold upon the younger generation. When 1t comes Spfn I ov,tc and presidents of school boards feel called up to speak of the 'imm odest'' clothes worn by young girls, the checks of mothers should crimson with shame. A girls greatest charm Is not good looks, but modesty. If mothers won't help their daughters to retain the charms of maidenly modesty. 1t may be necessary to ap- peal to the school auth critics, but we hope that time has not yet come.