New Britain herald., 1922-07-28
LIQUOR AND LOOSE DANCING CHARGED New Haven City Officials Take Up
 Alleged School Scandal

New Haven. July 2s.-Official cog | rizance of alleged improper condi- | tions at dances given in the local pub i lie schools was taken yesterday for the first time by a city board, so far as Is known in the history of such complaints, when the board of finance appointed a committee Of two of it's | members Ito acquaint the board of education with conditions surrounding dances being held in the public schools"
 The interest of the board of finance in public school dances began yes- terday with the receipt of a letter from William A. Watts, a director Of community service. declaring in favor of an appropriation proposed in the school department accounts to cover the cost of opening school houses for social and recreational use by citizens of the district.
 Member Tells Incidents.
 The action of the board followed a recitation by one Of the members came to his personal attention in connection with the dances at one of the school houses,
 The incidents mentioned by this member, which were unanimously condemned by the members as lm- proper conditions for a dance in the public schools. included the carry ing of liquor into the dances by young men, attendance at the dances by girls of tender age and automo- bile parties beginning when the dance is ended. He said that he was amazed at the number of autos Friday night dance and could not be- lieve that the occupants were com ing to attend school dance, until he had investigated.
 "No Money to Corrupt Morals"
 The members of the finance board were intensely interested in the mat ter. It was unanimously agreed that while the dances may be properly supervised within, there could not be proper supervision of the conduct of the young people following the dance, and that if conditions were as reported the board of finance cer- tainly was not going to appropriate money to corrupt the morals of school children"
 Mrs. Stewart Means who is head of the organization under whose auspices dances are now held weekly in public schools, said last night that complaints concerning the conduct at school dances were nothing but prop aganda" furnished by promoters of professional dances. It was a move on their part, she said to stir up busi- ness for themselves and to eliminate, lar school dances.
 Drinking Is Admitted.
 She admitted that young men had been discovered drinking in school halls on certain occasions, but de- cared that their bottles are promptly taken away from them" and the offender expelled and not permitted to come to a dance for some time afterwards
 Why she said, you'll find young men carrying liquor in all kinds of affairs, nowadays. You can't get be- tween 2aa- and 400 young people to- gether any place, but that you'll find some of the young men with bottles. Boys are drinking now more than I have ever known them to do. It's this prohibition. They drank in saloons before. but now. when they can't go there, I suppose they are carrying 1t around to dances with them"
 but f, rJ ,{, trouble at these dances, from this or any other cause, Mrs. Means said they had not the slightest.
 We have between four and six women who are trained supervisors, and one man, usually a supernumer- ary policeman, at every dance, and you can't wish for any better super vision than that"
 Regulations For Girls.
 Asked regarding the report of girls leaving the dances with brand new acquaintanc Mrs, Means said: "Probab bly, one night in three months we find that there are girls who come to pick up young men, but we have brought this matter to the chief of police and he says that this feature Is ID to the police department"
 Hard to Tell Ages.
 Mrs. Means said that no girl is allowed into a school dance who is lnder Is years of age. She de- dared that this rule was strictly but: You know, the way he girls dress nowadays, how diff ,ult 1t is to tell whether they are lnder or over 16. We don't ask or their birth certificates, but the supervisors take pains to see that lone whom they think is under age s permitted to enter the dance"
 Mrs. Means said that she does not hink the Board of Finance should