The Cordova daily times., 1923-03-13
Daily Neus
 Letter General News and Gossip From Abroad.

TODAY Destruction of democrati
 ideals by cIiques in public school
 is charged by legislative committe'
 following an investigation of Mis-
 souri schools, writes Douglas c
 TinsIey.
 1 KANSAS CITY, Mo-, March 13. - Motor cars, silk stockings and Greel letter fraternities in high schools art making snobs of students and destroy ing the democracy which, theoreti cally, is the cornerstone of the public school system.
 This is the charge hurled by an in vestigating committee of the Missour Legislature which is probing asser tions that the greater portion of $50, 000,000 annually appropriated by the State to the upkeep of Kansas City's schools goes to auxiliary quarters fol the accommodation of the city's schoo | children
 Senator David M. Proctor, leading the investigation into the alleged squandering of the school funds on Sewing circle, athletic auditoriums and canning factories" while thou sands of children are receiving made quate educational training because of lack of quarters due, charged the con dition to spending of school money for fancy frills" instead of new build ings and "old-time education" and branded Kansas City's high school pu pills of today as milk feds"
 "The trouble with the schools to- day. he declared, "is that there are 1 too many silk stockings, motor cars and Greek letter fraternities none of which is conducive to democracy They're getting too many frills in the public schools. The parents expect the schools to take over the training of their children. If their mothers wouldn't gad about so much to mati- nees and card parties the school wouldn't have to provide auditoriums and gymnasiums for the children's health and look after their entertain been a breaking down of the disici- pline of the home, and as result the burden of discipline is being shifted to the schools, and this is responsible for many of the extra features that are being added"
 Charges were made that many high school children ride to and from school in expensive motor cars and that the Board of Education has been buying fifteen-acre sites for high schools in order to provide parking space and garages for high school stu dents who drive their own cars.
 It was revealed during the investi gation that instead of the public schools being democratic institutions where all meet on a common basis fol the time being their student body is divided into cliques, with their vari ous societies, Greek letter "frats" ant other discriminating associations that the poor boy or girl whose par ents are persons of moderate means i Followed" out of membership in af fairs of the motor operating" 'sill stocking brigade" and that no effor is made by many teachers to see tha this system of "class rule" is discour aged or prohibited.
 l The result, it is charged Is to de stroy the democracy of the common educational system, to wound the pride and feelings of the poorer students and to instill in them a feeling of re sentiment and rebellion against the so ciety that tolerates it.
 Recently a 19-year-old high school 1 student who was working his way 1 through school turned bandit and was killed in battle with police follow, ing his robbery of two gasoline filling stations. He was model student and considered of irreproachable charac' ter. After his death it was revealed that he was much worried because of lack of money to keep up with the Societies" of his fellow students. and