The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-05
Commencement Economy Pro-
gram Becomes State ide.
"Wear the Ones You Have"
Girl Graduates Slogan.
MISS WOOSTER TAKES AL..ooNA Il
Sends Letter to Schools, En-
bOdying Hackney's Plan.
School Boards Also Asked to
Furnish Pupils Invitations.

Wear the ones you have" will be
the commencement slogan for the
sweet girl graduate in Kansas this
year. Acting on recommendations of
Ed T. Hackney of Wellington. federal
fair price commissioner for this state.
a fight is to be made on costly COM
mencement gowns in an effort to re-
duce the high cost of living. Miss
Lorraine E. Wooster, state superin-
tendent of public instruction, has sent
a bulletin to superintendents and prin-
cipals of high schools embodying
Hackney's plan.
Is State Wide Campaign.
The campaign for commencement
economy will be statewide. 1t will
be conducted in an effort to save par
ents of students expense burdens and
to prevent embarrassment for students
who cannot afford the fancy, fluffy
things displayed in the fashion maga-
zines. Hackney recently urged upon
the state superintendent such course.
He argued that a free and unrestricted
privilege in the purchase of COM
mencement gowns often caused many
young people to leave school rather
than face embarrassment on the big
night"
Now the graduates are being urged
to wear just the things they possess
Vi 10 make over IOEE&f ROWHS.
| 1t is bit rough on the fashion stores
and the dressmaker ladies. but it
means a reduction in the overhead
expense of graduation.
Anther feature of the states COM
| mencement week economy is a plan
to eliminate personal expense of grad
\ yates for invitations and announce
ments. School boards are urged to
purchase a sufficient number of in
vitations and announcements to meet
demands of graduates and to make
an equal apportionment of them.
Fixing of maximum prices for grad
uating dresses is another plan urged
| in the letter which went from the
state house.
Miss Wooster's Letter.
In her letter, Miss Wooster said
THE commencement season is nearing
and several thousand girls and boys ar
planning to graduate from our high schools
anu many from the grades.
These occasions too often cause an un
usually heavy expense, and in many in
stances mean a serious embarrassment
both financial and otherwise, to those stu
dents of moderate means. whose parent
cannot afford the expense of providing
costly clothing for the commencement time
or the expense of costly invitations.
~"For this reason, especially in thes
times of high prices, I trust school board
and superintendents will not only urge bu
goods for commencement dresses. Wher
possible girls should be urged to max
their own dresses; this being especially ad
visable in high schools maintaining domes
tic art classes. Certainly in no other wa.
could there be a better demonstration o
the practical value of such courses in on
schools.
Dresses which they have should be use
when possible Also girls should be taugh
to make over old dresses where possible t
do so.
This is one OF the ways in which tn
high school can show that 1t offers valu
able instruction in thrift and home aids
We should not only teach. but should ais
practice the spirit of thrift and sensibI
economy in dress, etc, in publ
schools.
II wish to suggest that you ask you
school board to furnish a reasonable nun
Der Of invitations to each member of tn
graduating class, that all pupils may shar
. alike without personal expense