El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-28
WANT To DANCE
IN HIGH SCHOOL
Members of Faculty and
Pupils File Petition For
Social Center.

In the high school Will enhance good
fellowship among the students. and
7 stimulate enthusiasm for the institu-
ton. a petition signed by 157 parents
or high School students. was sub
mitted 10 the school board at the
monthly meeting in Bailey school
{ Monday night requesting that social
; activities, including dancing, be re-
stored in the high school. under proper
chaperonage and restriction. The Pc
tition was submitted by a committee
I Of five OF the high school faculty and
I five students. and was supported by a
Z representation at the board meeting
/ Of six women and score Of boys.
IN stating the grounds for social
center in the high school. Mayo Sea
mon, chairman OF the social commit
B tee. said that. in q survey Of 60 repre-
q sentative cities. 40 were found to have
adopted this practice. He continued
Make Them Like School.
let the scholars think that the
high school stands for social further
auce as we'll a. education. and II VIII
encourage their devotion 10 study.
As il is now. most fellows think Il is
only a place in which to grind for
learning
AT present the boys and girls 90 TO
the Women's club TO hold their
dances. which cost them an average
OF 81 for every occasion. Why can
not we have the high school for these
dances. ana in that way give those
fellows a chance 20 come to the
dances who otherwise could not at
ford 10 pay the dollar2 Dances in the /
high school would not cost any more
than the expense OF the music.
We do not want TO hold these
dances every few days. and we do not
want TO compel any one to attend
them. But we do want to hold them
now and then under the supervision I
OF the principal. with proper chaper-
onaCe and with a written approval on
each occasion from the parents OF
every boy and girl attending. Those
who DO not care 20 attend. OF whose
parents object 20 their attending, can
remain at home. so that there viii be
no coercion
Precedent Quoted.
It was nointed out in the petition
that dancing was permitted BY the
school board Of 1914. under certain
regulations. including signed letters
from the parents OF those attending
Dancing had been discontinued in the
high school some time ago. owinV 20
objections from different neoDle- The /
matter WIS brought I'D afresh by the
social committee several weeks ago, Z
who later became reused in their ef-
forts to restore dancing after de-
nouncement OF the same was made I
from the pulpit Of one OF Fl Pas0's Z
churches.
Rev. Milo Atkinson, representing l
the Minis erial Alliance. appealed 10 I
the board to continue its policy in not
allowing dancing. saving that there /
are contentious reasons as wei as re- I
HEious rea SONS for Il. and that while /
the Ministerial Alliance Is not opposed I
to dancing on the whole. il is opposed 4
to make II a definite feature OF the
high school
Rev Henry Van ValkenburEg speak
ing on behalf OF the Ministerial Al
lance. said that the protest was not
made on a religious basis but on the
effect it would have in broad sense
1T viii be a temptation 10 many
children. and we all know that there
is a wave sweeping over the country
along these lines which is being
strongly fought a-ainst by educators
The argument Of bringing dancing
hack TO the high school 70 stimulate
enthusiasm for studies, is without
much merit"
Cites Church Dances.
Mrs F. r. Seamon. in counteract-
ing the protest OF the alliance. OF
which Rev. Fuller Swift was one OF
the supporters, said that DR.. Swift
had invited some OF the students TO
come 10 St. Clements church to take
part in dances In this she was sup
ported by Dan White. who stated that
he himself had been invited by Dr.
Swift and that he had been invited
by the secretary Of the War Camp
Community club to attend dances. He
also stated that one church was CIV
ing dances IN its parish house
Another appeal was made by Mayo
SeaUon in which he asked whether
there was ever a president Of the
United States tnaugurated without an
elaborate ball He further cited that
the government had approved OF dane
ing by encouraging the var workingl
societies in giving dances to the SOL
diers- He he ended his plea with the
assertion that the graduating class Is
not allowed 10 give a dance under the
practice in most other cities, and said
that all they ask for is the reestab-
lishment Of a social center in the nigh
school under proper restrictions, as
In line with furthering acquaintance
goodfellowship, promoting enthus-
Iasm. and aiding those who can not
afford to pay 10 dance outside
The board decided to give the mat
ter consideration and TO report its
finding later
The names on the social committee
petition were: Margaret K Stevens
Stella Brick. Gertrude Evans. Eliza
beth R0utledge and G. A. Kinney, Of
the faculty; and Malcolm Webb, Har-
land n Irwin. Winchester Cooley, Ben
r Howell and Dan T White, IT., OF
the students
n/oo0 w y