El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-23

II most unfortEaate that the principal and students
Of the high school have become involved in the recent
difficulty. Il is matter be regretted, not alone foI
the effect It VIII have tie high school itself but for
the effect it is likely have upon the pupils in the graded
schools
The Herald does approve Of mutiny anywhere; II
believes in discipline and order but there times when
the proper methods not taken to bring these about
Ne principal ever conducted school satisfactorily If
he did have the good VIII Of students Boys girls
OF high school age big enough to think for themselves
They be led but they cannot be driven IF they have
anything II them they won't be driven There is not
father mother N Fl Paso who would be proud Of
daughter who would be. They be encour-
aged things that wrong but when they made
their wrongs and admit them and promise reforma-
ton, they must be given chance Boys and girls have
much right to expect "a square dea from teachers and
parents as teachers and parents have night to expect
honesty and square dealing from them No bargain
be bound By party to a contract
In the original trouble the students were clearly to
blame In fact most Of them aunt that they were; they
admit using the pIerogatve Of applause 10 hecs certain
speakers The principal within his province when he
took them to task He had right to demand that aP-
plause cease as long as it disahused
But when he reached understanding with the stu
dents he should have lived up his agreement until they
gave him to do he agreed Friday that they
might applaud He told The Herald that this
agreement with theafter they had accepted his author
ity and had agreed not to abuse the right.
To issue an order Monday morning against applause
after having agreed permit again treating
students fairly Then follow with the
Of pledge which every student asked to sign
"
apt expression.
II seems sort Of beneath the dignity Of high school
superintendent insist that his pupils must sign the
pledge which he requested them to sign. rather, de-
manded that they sign upon pain Of dismissal from school
# they refused Read IT:
4 pledge myself upon my honor to obey all the
Instructions Of the high school
Il further pledge myself to conduct myself
properly the high school premises
Sounds very much like the old tcz question which the
lawyer enjoyed asking the witness; Now answer me yes
II have beating
Failing sign the pledge, student placed in the
position Of saying she refuses to obey and refuses
TO conduct himself herself with proprety Signing it.
boy girl is taking pledge which every boy OF girl
with self respect lives up to without such pledge
It is not such pledge sefrespecting boy girl
should be asked 10 sign Of insnuates that he
been what he she pledges herself to be- The
presumption is that they going to abide by the rules;
nobody has right TO mpute wrongful motives TO man,
woman, boy girl until there is proof Of such motives
Least OF all should principal Of school impute such
motive after he has once accepted the word Of his
dents that past inracOns Of rules viii be repeated
until they prove BY word action that they are not
abiding BY their agreement.
The boys girls admitted to the principal Friday
that they had abused the privilege Of applause They &C
ceded his authority; admitted that he had right to
plomugate enforce rules Then he told them that
be permit applause again He told The Herald he
had agreed this; said Ben Howell Of the student body
had suggested method that better than he had
advanced for controlling il and that be would permit It
again
To issue order Monday orbddng applause IN face Of
the acknowledged promise Of the Friday before not
fair to The They should have been given op
psrtuuity to I've up to their agreement
The Fl high school erected for the purpose Of