Evening star., 1942-07-27

leJ JdIlcy SO AWAY CO SCIlOOl lOT TWO
or three years and Mother gets ac-
customed to the thought of her be-
ing grown up and entitled to the
privileges that go with it, and Janey
comes to perceive that Mother is
a pretty smart old gal, after all, and
knows lot about men, even II she
did marry Father. And so they are
able to meet harmoniously on the
common ground Of womanhood.
So much as to the advisability Of
sending girls OF to school, consider
ing it as general proposition.
Specifically, the wisdom Of doing so
depends, I think. upon three things.
First, on whether the girl is college
material. The fact that Janey
clamors to be sent to college is no
indication that she thirsts for know
ledge. Half the time she wants to
go only because she thinks 1t is
the smart thing to do, and because
the girls she runs with are going.
and because she has heard alluring
tales of dormitory frolics. and not
because she has any designs what
ever upon the higher education.
And she will come out just as In
nocent OF culture as she. went in.
Unfortunately, parents are rarely
able to distinguish their geese from
geniuses, but before they invest a
large number of their hard-earned
dollars In q college course for Janey
they will do well to take her school
reports into consideration. and also
try to recall whether they had to
scourge her to her homework, or
whether she leaped at it and got
more thrill out of working out q
problem in geometry than she did
out Of going to the movies. If she
barely made her grades and got
through High by the hardest way, it
would seem to indicate that Nature
intended her to carry the key to a
cozy little cottage instead Of wearing
. Phi Beta Kappa one.
The second point to consider in
deciding whether to send Janey of
to college Is the family exchequer.
If there is plenty Of money, by all
means let Janey go If she wants to,
whether she is highbrow or lowbrow.
It disposes OF her. as has been said,
during the stormy. adolescent years
and makes for peace in the house.
hold. It is rust one Of the luxuries
in which her rich family can afford
to indulge.
But it becomes q tragedy when a
poor family practically starves itself
to death to send . girl Of mediocre
ability to college in the fond belief
that they are giving her advantages
that will magically open the doors
Of success to her. In this country,
where We have . fanatical faith In
the power Of college diploma, 1t is
pitiful to think Of the poor fathers |
and mothers who work their fingers |
to the bones, who do without the |
food they need and the medical at
tention that would save their lives,
to get one for Janey, only to find out |
IT Is just scrap OF paper, after all.
And, lastly, whether parents should
send Janey to college depends, to
q great extent, upon whether she
possesses that strange Intangible gift
that We call "TT" for want Of a
better word. If she is homely and
lacking in. personality; II her Fairy
Godmother didn't put the come
hither look In her eyes and she Is
plainly destined for single blessed
ness, give her all the education she
can take.
But If she is one OF the girls whom
men flock around as bees around a
honeypot. 1t is foolish for her parents
to sacrifice themselves to give her
what we call educational advantages.
Indeed, q college degree is a handi-
cap instead Of help toward getting
a husband.