The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1919-10-18
STATE SUPERINTENDENT AGAINST
ExrRAvAcANT SOCIAL FUNCTIONS
ISN'T SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY
Extravsgances Of Oar School Fol.
lies Are Turning Children Out
MithFriviIous Ideas

FsttAt stsWS~~
superintendent Johnson, state SUI
perIntendent OF public instruction,
has started campaign against the
social extravagancies OF our schools.
Mr.. Johnson took his first whack at
the viper in letter issued last Mon
day. He promises that there are some
more volleys to follow.
In an account OF the letter, dated
at Lansing. the following outline OF
the letter and OF Supt Johnson's in
terview after II was issued is contain
ed.
"The social session at the local
high school opened last evening with
brilliant formal party given by the
Spenda Lota Dough Fraternity"
This is news item that will never
again appear in print II Thomas E
Johnson. superintendent Of public in
struction has anything to say about Il
and he has quite little to say in a
letter sent out Saturday TO every coun-.
" commissioner and superintendent
OF schools in. Michigan.
Fathers are refusing 10 send their
children 20 our high schools" Mr..
Johnson sass. mot because Of the cost
of text books and other necessary
things, but because OF the high cost
OF things that are getting mixed into
our educational system TO the detri-
ment and also TO the exclusion of ed
ucation.
BIase at ~.
I'VE are graduating blase young
persons OF II who have nothing be-
fore them 40 far as social life is con-
cefned. Parties where .he young
girls wear evening gowns of beauti-
ful texture and modern cut, where
the boys have to pay for taxis. cors-
age bouquets and the like, produce
NO better time than the simple affairs
We enjoyed when we we're young.
II constantly bear reports OF the ex-
lstence OF high school fraternities
They may be so constituted as 10 avoid
the law. but they transgress IN spirit
| believe the school officials OF Michi-
gan can handle this situation. Won't
yon write me pledging your support
10 campaign 10 do away with the
unnecessary impediments OF the mod
en high school"
Frills and Fond MctAcrs-
1--WE haven't made anything safe for
Democracy" the state superintendent
said in an interview given out with
the letter. "If we are going TO turn
our schools over 70 foppssy and false
notions OF society. From she gymnas-
ium suit 20 the graduation dress. too
much Is being epent on incidentais.
A duck gym suit Is as good "a one OF
serge and q simple dress iocks as
we'll at graduation as any other. but
school girls and fond mothers insist
On frills.
"If half ths money that IL being
spent on altogether wasteful and In
many cases harmful social affairs In
an effort 10 attain style and class
we're added to the salaries OF the
teachers of this state. we would have
an educational system 20 be prosd Of.
Detroit Not werpa
"The situation is bad in Detroit. |
but worse In many OF the smaller cit
les OF the state. ! do not know who
n most responsible. think fathers
that are too Sissy have something tC
do with II and mothers more. High
school. fraternities. masqucrading un-
der other names. have most OF all, and
ehey derive much Of their power from
the Relationship existing between them
and the fraternities at the University
OF Michigan. am going 20 see that
the law against high school fraterni- |
ties Is strictly enforced. and am go
ing TO work on the commissioners and
superintendent until the high schools
return 10 the ways OF democracy"
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