The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-02-16
AVERY GOOD
ARGUMENT RAISED

tdUcy WY Az 49, . W. ~
Mr.. p. r. TrubshaW,
Valley City, N. Oak.
Dear Sir:
A short time ago I read an edlto
rial in the Daily Times-Record con
rerning the use of the High Schoo
Gymnasium for school dances ano
uarties where dancing is allowed
The opinion expressed was unfavor'
orable to the present restrlctlor
against dancing and this statement
was made: "Class parties and dances
are as much part Of the school &C.
tiyit;es as the course of study pro-
vided" Also, "all members OF
class are present whenever any sucn
party or dance is given. feel NOR
al]y bound to protest against these
statements because of the issue al
stake and because l cannot endorse
either one. Furthermore, it is only
lust that we who are opposed to the
school dances be given an equal op-
po1tunity to publicly present our ar
z,uments against them. Were the
only parent in Valley City opposed
to them l should not hesitate to
take this stand: but the present re-
striction proves that there are many
of MS. Nor do we base our opposlt-
ION ON "the expense of heating and
cleaning the gym after a party.
That is the smallest part of our con-
cerr
I shall try to make plain to you
the reasons why we do not believe IN
school dances and why it would DC
absolutely wrong for them to be al
lowed in the H. S. gym.
First: Under the present ruling
parents may rest assured that thell
children will be able to freely and
safely join in all the games and
pleasures of any school party, chap
eroned by teachers, that may be CIV
en- in the gymnasium. Youth Graves
and requires reasonable amount OF
clean, whole social recreation
But who can prove satisfactorily
that dances are either clean or whole
some? Where is there an example
at a boy or girl who has been moral
ly, mentally or spiritually benefit
ted by any of our modern dances !
Who can guarantee to any parent that
his boy or girl shall not be ruined,
body or soul, or body and soul, by
the cancerous influence Of the dance,
even tho it be a school dance? This
ruination may not be evident to the
ayes Of the world but from the eyes
of Almighty God it cannot be con-
eeaIed. Satan has so fortified his
covert practices and has so many
willing human agencies to help hlm
in the ruination of our young people
chat we scarcely realize the serious
cess, OF the situation nor the depth
of The warnings that come to us from
all over the land.
It is bad enough that dancing is
being taught to our girls in the Ply
s1cst Education classes. We certain
ty do not want it at the school
parties where boys and girls mingle
together.
Second: If dancing is again made
q part of school parties held in the
High School gymnasium there are
some students who will have to be
entirely deprived of the opportunity
Of n1ingling socially with their school
mates So much for "all members
being present whenever a
dance is given. At present, those
who feel that they must dance may
rent hall for that purpose and it
IS understood by those who come that
there will be dancing. This is their
which we are not in
serfering.
But in barring school dances from
the gym we are doing nothing that
will in anyway harm anyone. No
one can truthfully claim that any per
son has ever been harmed in any way
by refraining from dancing: but
there is overwhelming proof = that
dancing has caused, and is causing.
she- moral and spiritual downfall of
thousands of young people.
Third: Neither the Bible nor sa-
cred songs form a part Of the daily
program of High school any more ard
seldom are they found in the grades.
Why, pagan might attend a pres
American High School fer
months and never find out that we