Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-05-11
FISH OR CUT BAIT

n
the teachers of the public schools from
dancing during the school year, but II
would seem proper subject for edi-
torial opinion. Any effort to stop the
teachers or anybody else from engag-
ing In indecent dancing certainly should
receive the entire support Of the COM
munlty, and will. However, the Ora
phic believes that the ministers are
proceeding ON a wrong assumption In
taking Il for granted that Superiptend-
ent Martin and his teaching staff as a |
whole favor or encourage any kind OF
dancing.
The public schools have held numer- |
Gus social functions during the past
school year, but the Graphic does not
know OF single instance whore dane
| ing was INDUCED in or which excluded
any pupil or teacher ON account OF
their attitude toward dancing. No
doubt some OF the teachers dance out
of school hours, and II Is quite possible
that some frequent dances and indulge
In forms of dancing that are repre-
hensible from the standpoint Of public
dec0rum. If so. these teachers should
be eliminated at once from the staff.
Charges can be easily brought against
them without asking that the teachers
as n whole should be restricted In their
personal liberty because OF the I'M
proper conduct Of few
II Is doubtful II any great number
, of persons can be found who are willing
. 10 say that the influence of the mod
. ern dance Is inimlcal 10 the highest in
: terests of the young life of the cem-
munity," and, II II is, why not prohibit
/ the young from indulging In that form
OF amusement? It would seem that
liz Is hardly "up to- the teachers Of the
: publics chools to furnish the only good
r examples since parental influence Is
p quite as constant and potent. In other
a words. the community responsibility
I for good morals cannot be shifted tt
r the teachers successfully, and 1t Is al
i ways Just and right, as well as good
public policy" TO place the blame fol
o Ill social conditions where IL belongs
n IL Is true, of course, that the public
: schools at the present time offer the
% only constructive social program. Be
: fore attacking 1t, II would be reason
l. able TO offer better program. Wha
= program do the churches offer tina
q does not exclude more than half tn
Il people of the communityf
I" Judge Ryan of the district court hai
lust called attention 10 the fact tina
Is Deming has more than its fair share o
$, Juvenile delinquents, and he scores tn
No parents and points out that they are re
sponsible under the law and that,
ic they don't correct conditions, he vii
| have them In court. There Is no AT
{, tempt here to shift the responsibility
m He didn't blame the dance nor tn
10 teachers.
d IL has been common knowledge tina
n dances are held frequently by some o
,r the young people of the city that ar
not properly conducted from the stand
10 point of decorum. The tendency o
10 these dances has been, IL Is said, al
10 that the ministers of the city intimate
a. An attempt was made to hold dance
o. under the auspices of the Communit
n Service that should be patronized b.
the good matrons of Deming as chapa
rones. but II was impossible to clair
for them the recognition which,
y, would seem, they deserved as a sui
stitute for the unrestricted dances {
which the young people resort. Con
&c munity Service planned social pre-
le gram that should take In all othe
ie forms Of legitimate amusement as
H. substitute for the dance, but could no
u overcome the opposition and claim CO
Is operation. Hence the unrestrlcte
ie dances go on and no one offers pre-
ie gram that will eliminate IL by offerin
=, more Wholesome entertainment
~ 1t has been pointed out that the pres
u ent chaotic condition has resulted In
y, ,e alarming spread of social disease
III among the youth OF the community, n
IN least physicians so inform the Graphic
81 The health, ms well as the morals q
u the community Is suffering. At th
y present time the public school is th
-, !, only institution that Is attempting I
~ meet the conditions; it Is the only IL
y stitution that Is able TO even assembl
~ the people OF the community, because
oi invites and actually obtains the pre-
IL ence of black and white and brown.
W. does this because it Is fair to thel
" and is engaged In work that Is clearl
le Of highest social Importance.
IL The Graphic believes that the In
portance of the present social work {
the public schools is so great that
, should not be embarrassed by faction,
chickering's or useless restrictions.
IN the ministers of the city will preseI
ns n program that will interest all IL
al members OF this community, II is b.
r. ieved that the present school exec
no tive. Community Service and all pul
m lie spirited citizens will join with the
/ Il .ttw 10