Evening journal., 1916-02-21
NO HIGH sCH00L pIsCRIMINATION.


II HERE appeared in the Sunday Star yesterday a
communication entitled "snobbery in High SCHOOL,
1t purported to have been written by student in the
Commercial Department Of that institution. The germ
Of it all was that students taking the commercial
course are looked down upon and Disseminated
against by the teachers and also by the students who
take the Lan-scientc classical and general courses
Among other things he wrote:
Lincoln said that all are created equal The
students at the Wilmington High School are not
There are four courses at this school, The Classical
Latin Scientific, General and Commercial Socially
the commercial student is looked down upon. few
examples to prove this statement
Room teachers so arrange the students OF her room
or his room, the may be- so that the CONNER
ca students the last TO leave the room. and there
fore sit farther back in the auditorium than students
the same term seniors OF the commercial course
not even in>the senior room. Not that one room
is any better than the other but It is the dignity and
honor attached to sitting in the senior room There
first term students OF other courses sitting on tue
second floor. yet second term student OF the CONNER
cial must be satisfied with the third floor
In one room in which sat, the commercial students
the last TO receive their reports and the last IN
the cloak room due to the seating OF the pupils OF ne
two other courses Of the ROOM have been told tnat
there is certain teacher in the school who does not
like commercial students and is always finding tauit
with them.
AS walking down Market street some time
with boy friend OF mine. he girl friend with
another girl coming up the street AS we passed my
friend spoke to the girl he knew but this girl turned
her head and remarked 10 her friend: Il wouldn't
think Of speaking to that fellow; why he is taking
The most serious part OF this thing is that the
mercal student Is beginning to realize his social posi-
tion in this High School. He is becoming discouraged
Can you expect a boy who Is looked down upon 10
take any interest in school affairs? Certainly not;
yet they always preaching school spirit He does
not how the ground around the school looks and
throws paper and other things anywhere.
The best way to have good feeling among and be-
tween all of the school is to let each course
take its in leading the school, far seating in
and the auditorium is concerned, and do away
with the snobbish idea which pupils Of some courses
have
Lincoln said that all men are created equal. The
students Of the Wilmington High School are not,-as
yet So wake up school authorities and get better
High School, OF the students by the students and for
the sudents7
Those accusations denied so emphatcay by
other High School students who have read them that
think the faculty of the school shouIe call upon
the student prove them failing in that to make
an open apology to the teachers and the student body
Certainly such an article should not be permitted to
unchalenged
Several senior students questioned yesterday assert
that there IS feeling among the Latin-scientihc,
classical general students against the commercial
students Emphatic denial also is made that there is
any discrimination against the commercials in the
matter Of seats or access TO the cloak room. All COM
mercals who are what known straight sens
iors"-that is who have nothing except senior les
sons-sit in the senior and with the seniors in
/ the auditorium. They are not separated from the
other senior students either Of those places In fact
in the senior room tney nave nhu thoooe
their own seats II they wished to sit by personal
friends.
When the commercial department was established
the fourth floor OF the building. the only vacant
was set aside exclusively for that department It
used exclusively by that department today The rea
son grades Of commercial students sit on the
third floor instead OF the second floor is probably be-
cause II places them nearer their class rooms the
third and fourth floors
In the matter OF class organization 1t is asserted
] the commercials not Disseminated against For
instance the secretary OF the seniors is CONNER
ca and the chairman of the seniors also belongs to
that department The commercials also repre-
sented on the staff OF The Whsp the school paper
fact before the February graduation at least six
Of the twenty-five members OF that staff were
cals the remaining nineteen being divided among the
Latin-scientfcs the classcas and the generals The
treasurer of the staff and still is the head of the
Commercial Department
The commercials not barred from any Of the
class functions and have club Of their own from
which the other students barred. Certain prizes
also are awarded exclusively the commercials They
also we're represented the caste of the senior play
| Five or six commercials the 1915 football
squad All commercials who came out for it stayed
which was not true OF the other departments. Two
OF them received their "w" and the others class nu
merals The coach who selected the team never ever
inquired what courses were being taken by the mel
he selected Several members Of the baseball team
also were commercials
In the present basketball squad, five OF the egh
members represent the Commercial Department. Th
glee club contains meny commercials. If the report
Of the commercials held back as is asserted. it
no fault of the room teachers who distribute tn
cards regardless Of classification. There is dis
elimination in the lunch or in the dismissal
classes.
We have doubt all the teachers II asked vii
deny emphatically that they entertain any preudic
against the boys and girls who take the commercia
course We also think that the attempt to arouse dc
partmenta misunderstanding and rancor in the Hig
School should be frowned upon by all persons inter
eeted in fhe institution.