El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-05-08
SCHOOL GIRLS
NEED MATRON
Mothers Agree on This, But
Fail to Agree on Uni
fern Dress.

tives Of all the women's clubs in Fl
Paso and tie mothers who have chill
dren in tile city schools, held in the
chamber Of commerce building Mon
day afternoon, it was decided, with
the opposition OF a very few. to sup
port to the fullest extent the plan Of
the school board as presented by
trustee William D. AIayfield providing
for the employment OF a matron be-
/ ginning with the fall term OF school,
whose duty it should be 10 care for
the moral and conventional lnstruc-
ton Of the girl attendants of the high
school.
The meeting was called by Mrs. ..
I 4. Critchett, president Of the Fedora
/ ton Of Women's clubs, at the request
of Mr. Mayfield, TO discuss the adVis-
ability of employing a m2trons the Sc
! lection of Z uniform dress Tor the
girls and the installation OF a two
years college course and two years
training course for teachers.
To Resign When Plans Approved.
As soon as have secured the ap-
proval of my present plans, which i'll
clude a girls stadium on the land
north and vest Of the high school.
which car be leased from the city.
intend 20 tender my resignation, and,
] Il possible, give my pldtc oli III
school board to woman memoet,
for which the women of the town
made such a splendid effort durinS
the last election and which I think
would be to the advantage of the
girls attending the schools" said Mr.
Mayfield.
SAYS Matron Would Help Girls.
In speaking of the advisability OF
employing 4 matron Mr.. Mayfield
said: AS the parents Of boys and
girls who are at times inclined TO be
frivolous and obliviOus OF dangers, any
thing that We can do Will certainly
be worthy of the effort \ matron at
school would act as an advisor and
an Instructor 10 whom the girls could
go for quiet, heart TO heart talks ana
receive aid in deciding their troubles
and ills which otherwise are not taken I
care of. There IS no reason why we I
should not have matron, as all other /
large schools have them
should Have Moving Stairway.
1t is the common practice of so 4
many good parents TO protect the I
child's innocence through the old I
fashioned way rather than instruct 4
her. and il is much worse when a 4
school board composed entirely of men
is placed over the destinies of the 4
girls when they know absolutely 4
nothing OF the troubles Of girls" said /
Mrs. Holguin. 4 personally know that /
the girls in the Los Angeles high
school meet the matron and have little
friendly talks ever so often I would
suggest that the board devise some ]
means oi getting the children up the
E-sh Steps such as the revolving
stairs which are so common in the
eastern department stores To the
girls, especially. at certain times OF
the year it would be worth more than
the cost"
Speaks For More PreeautiOn.
Are the children getting all the
moral instruction in the schools that
they should get and even if they are,
a little more precaution would be a
good thing" said Mrs Critchett.
In the high school OF Los Angeles
over IS girls violated the school laws
and the conventionalities of society
before a matron was employed, but
had assumed her duties only three
girls were found to have conducted
themselves in a disorderly manner"
'aid Mrs. H. T Ribler-
Mrs. William Wallace said that her
sister, who was matron in one OF
he tenement districts Of New York,
had great trouble with the Russians,
Who sent their children TO school with
heir clothes sewed on them, but that
after explaining TO the mothers the
lnsanitary method employed, il was
lot hard to get results
Instruct Girls At Home, Says.
I'VE must be careful that we don't
throw too much responsibility on the
schools, for in the % hours Of the day
he children are at home, or should be
It home more time than they are at
he schools" said Mrs. r. J. Tighe. /
The girls should have more instruc-
ion when out of school"
Mr.. Mayfield presented the plan Of
lavinS a Uniform, inexpensive dress
or all the girls Of the high school to be
worn during school hours and at other
lines at the discretion of the parents.
after examining samples of khaki /
lresses and skirts shown by the Popu-
ar and White House stores. the ma
Ielves in favor of neater costumes
5uch as black dresses and white
MILDLY" blouses.
Would Take a Vote.
Mrs. W G. Roe suggested that a
circular should be sent to the moth
rs requesting information as 10 the
orm Of dress they desired.
Mrs. Tighe suggested the mildly"
houses and dresses. saying that a
oarse costume destroyed the dainti-
ess Of the girl and detracted from
he pleasure which a girl experiences
When she is neat and clean.
No decision was reached in the mat
CT Of uniform dresses.
Defends the Girls.
During the discussion. Mrs. Y. del
'ampo said: IF the girls in our high
chool are becoming so depleted in
irtue, why are not the schools
lOsed? I think that this matter should
e taken up with the school board
nd the women who have made state
lents concerning the character Of
UT girls should be made TO prove
heir statements. It IS outrageous
hat these women, many Of them
trangers in this town, should talk
bout our schools in this manner"
In opposition TO the plan Of secur-
lg a matron, Mrs del Campo said:
What are those superintedents and
sachers for II not TO look after the
lildren2 Why are they drawing high
lIaries II they are not to care for the
lildren2 4 matron will simply mean
nnrher hiEh Sa1aried nerSon and an