The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-08-20
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or lneonsidsrsts


was to enter come fall, into that slightly elevated
system of calisthenes called high school. The ques
ton was, should Junior "eect' French or Spanish
for his modern language requirement We thought
of suggesting that he elect basic English, but we're
silent in Difference to long friendship with the par
ent Joneses.
This Junior now, is fairly typical specimen Of
his generation. He speaks jargon common among
the more added adolescents He never calls atten-
ton to a thing by saying, Look; he says Dig.
He does not describe person of whom he approves
dhese by the way, few by saying that the per-
son is good fine capable or all right ne says
the person is 'hep". Those of whom Junior, In his
adenodal way, disapproves, are squares Some OF
his companions are squares, and nearly all adults
definitely all teachers.
Along with Junior in the Jones home we ind
at such moments as she cannot contrive to be else
where-a high school junior called Sis. SIS has
other names striking If not poetic, all OF them
masculine but her home name is SIS. What her
baptsmal record shows as her name nobody seems
to remember 1t doesn't signify anyhow; people VINO
use their right names are squares; OF Such one
you cry,-iumping up and down as you speak,
dig that crazy squarel
Sis swings a mean jaw in managing her Autry-
gum; if there's double or treble flavor IN II, Sis
certainly gets it ALL Her language is OF the same
general character as juniors but, naturally, she
has better and more unintelliglble expressions at
her command Not that she uses them much on
Junior who in the main is to Sis noLeXlstent
wrath He sometimes gets in ter way and receives
a calldown in classic Calypso, but IN general sne
paws no heed TO Junior who is miles beneath her
iuniorate notice Junior his part has no time tor
Sis. she is crazy square Thus as we See the JoheSes
have a normal modern home life
Indeed Sis has few words for anyone about the
house When she is there she is usually pouring
her ant and angular vocabulary into the telephone
She may have spent all day with the current doom
companion IN school; she may have walked nome
with the same be- but she is hardly IN the mouse
with the armload of silly books the squares make
her carry till she is on the phone calling up the
boon companion for conference. Junior, 100 Is
telephone addict when he can get II. But ne mas
champion competition in Sis, and MS opportunities
are few. Both Sis and Junior, on the rare ana mo
mentary occasions when call manages TO get
in are ready TO rush for the telephone and IL Daaay
is wanted they are both capable OF the expression
given in current cartoon1 well OF all the crazy
things he wants to talk to yoa!"
In behalf of such young men and women, as is
manifest due and proper care must be exercised
One cannot for instance be preclpitate In decidhg
whether they shall elect French or Spanish Two
years back the Joneses spent many an anxious hour
before they decided the matter for SIS lhey chose
Spanish And so Sis has been taking French for
two years When Sis finds the sweep and scope oil
hiehschoolese inadequate for her nobler thoughts,
--even when jumping vigorously up and down and
clappng her agitated hands,-it IS comforting TO
know that she may slip into French. She makes
few slips however And the young Frenchmen OF
her acquaintance and favor are not numerous Her
customary choice for escort is crew cut young
lug with hot rod and cowboy pants put together
with rivets He is called Butch, Sis doesn't need
French to get along with Butch Butch IS sald,-
on preiudieed authority-to have once read book
and his friends claim that he actually knows, and
can SPELL some words of more than one syllable
Butch drives smooth car. Butch can soup up
ialopy Butch has his dreams of one day attracting
the interest of a motor-cop, and then leaving him
miles behind on the straightaway Butch viii be
a senior next year He has had his Spanish. The
commercial marts of good neighbors TO the
south will some day feel the impact OF Butch. His
fluent Castan will them and amaze
Butch too when and if.
But the pressing question of the moment is
that of a modern language for Junior Shall IT be
the ripping music of the Prado, or the more plerc
ingly logical and nasal chatter of the houeyards?
A nice point for decision. When one considers that
the subject in question is Junior the point becomes
very sharp indeed viii French sit we'll on person
of Juniors character? Will this mumbling adoles
cent who knows nothing whatever OF the structure
of his native tongue and very few of It's words, be
likely TO shine brilliantly and take profit from
sudious coming of the French irregular Verbs2 Or
will the undiligent Junior, who stands aghast at
the very statement of the uses of shall and ioi be
be a more polished product by rubbing up against
the smooth infections of the Spanish tongue2 Will
he not be confused by all the upsde-down ques
ton marks and exclamation points? Well on the
other hand, will he not be thrown sidewise by
having TO learn such expressions as, rs that the
man is Frehchman?" Dig that crazy frog!
Presently, however, the great question will be
answered Mother and Daddy will put their minds
to it, and Junior will fall in line. He is not the stub
born or wilful type like Sis. Junior will cooperate
not particularly because of docile disposition but
frankly because he doesn't know what the question
is all about He'll take in stride whatever comes
be II French, Spanish, or Yugosovak. All Ian
guages look alike to Junior including the language
supposedly his own. All are merely troublesome
things. They are courses" and one gets through
them. They lend culture not otherwise attain
able, they viii aid Junior in promoting good social
relations with Europe they will help him solve prob
lens in democracy; they will round him out and
make him educated square.
Yes, Juniors problem will be solved and settled
in the domestic forum Then. when Junior signs on
for French or Spanish or Cantonese dialects, the