The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-03-27
Cynthia Crey's
LETTERS

Dear Miss Grey: This is rather
a belated contribution To tho list OF
replies TO Rebels" heartfelt query.
but. not taking tho paper regularly.
| did not become interested In the
subject until Just recently.
The replies published In your
paper from all sorts and classes OF
people of both sexes discloses the
fact that there arc many "desir.
able" young men. aud that these
men are longing for tho compan.
ionship OF nice young women. II
Is sad. indeed. that there IL no way
In our society. except by accident.
whereby these young men and
women may meet
II Is commonly said that Tho
young people to-day are not wat
they used to be. that the boys are
no longer gentlemanly. and that the
girls lack modcsty and lady.like
manners, and II il attributed TO the
careless training OF parents. In
reality. believe II springs more
than anything else from this very
isolation OF young men and women
OF which Rebel" complains.
Tho boys who find opportunities
for tho society OF nice girls. com.
paratiyeiy scarce. not because nice
girls are scarce. but because. not
being bold and forward. they are
harder. to find. often drift into
the sporty attitude and satisfy
themselves with tho company OF
chickens. while girls like Rebel"
who find Il equally hard 10 become
acquainted with decent young men.
ara tempted 90 become bold and for.
ward In order 10 make themselves
noticed.
All readily agree that these con
ditions ar. iamcntable. but few eug'
gest means To remedy H. Only ono
practical suggestion was offered. II
| remember rightly. which was that
people who were situated 80 they
could do so. might open their homes
now and then to gatherings Of young
people This. think. would be
very fine. as far ms II would go. and
any who would do Il would be amp
" repaid In gratitude and In Joy at
seeing the happiness they would
lcreate; but this could hardly be
systematiEed and carried out gen
orally.
To remove this condition. II II
obvious that our young men and
women must be given better oppor-
tunities OF enjoying each Others
society. The many replies printed
In your paper show that business
life offers few opportunities for
making good acquaintance. and
they also show that tho average
modern city home Ia able to do but
little better.
when the home becomes inefii-
Client In any OF It's duties. tho re-
sponsibiilty Is shouldersd by the
schools. This has been dono in
tho case OF domestic science. man
ual training, etc. and II now seems
high time for tho schools TO lend n
hand in guiding the social life of
the young folks. The children OF
the grade schools arc yet too
young. OF course. but tho high
school catches the boys and girls
Just at the age when they are be
ginning TO take an interest In each
other. and a little guidance at that
time works wonders.
Even tho scarcely any social &C
tiyi,ies are under tho supervision
of the high schools at present. one
will find very few high school stu.
dents In Rebels" predicament---
without desirable acquaintance
among the members OF the oppo-
site sex. Merely the daily associa'
ton OF the boys and girls Ia enough
to overcome this difficulty TO a
great extent
II our school authorities. instead
of considering segregation in high
schools. which would force hun
dreds more young folks into 'Reb
els" trouble. would work toward
Introducing seml.frequent afternoon
and evening social activities fol
the students. under the supervision
OF the school. they would. II seems
TO me. be doing an incomparably
better thing.
AZ 10 the matter OF the high
school not reaching nearly all OF
the young folks. have this 90 say
that when attendance at higt
school IL made compulsory. as II
surely will be in time. II will reach
nil. and until that time. each par
cat. acting individually. has II In
his or her power 10 see that II
reaches all OF his or her children
at least.
What We learn out OF books.
our teacher used TO say. IS about
the least important part Of a high
school education" When all par
ents begin TO understand what that
means. they viii all send their own
boys and girls to high school: wher
the boys and girls understand what
IL means. they will not have to bs
sent-they will want 20 20: and
when the school authorities rise &c
their responsibility OF guiding tins
social growth OF the students. M
we'll as their mental growth. this
Increasing sporty" attitude will II
a large measure disappear. ant
there will be no more Rebels
wondering whether or not Hoot
girls are out OF date
INTERESTED.