Show I Students in Arms Against Jazz Jazzy tendencies among Chicago's high school pupils are to be suppressed suppressed sup sup- suppressed pressed by the pupils themselves their leaders having decided on this course after atter an alarming state of affairs had been brought to their at at- at Other methods having failed fail fail- failed ed d we are told an appeal to parents parents parents par par- to save the high school girls and boys bos from rom the effects of jazz music shimmy dances lovers lane Jane automobile sides rides and immodest est dress was circulated by Superintendent Superintendent of Schools Peter Pete Peter Morten Morten- son A troublesome three percent is held responsible for what is described described described de de- de- de scribed as a serious situation and the seven ninety-seven per cent comprising the better element Is said to be determined determined de de- de- de to enforce a stricter standard standard standard stand stand- ard of morals among the offending few For two years wo we are told li lithe in inthe inthe the Chicago Journal principals and teachers have been studying the complaints complaints complaints com com- plaints that the present-day present school schoolboy schoolboy boy and girl are deteriorating mor mor- ally All sorts of expedients expedients- school dances community centers and socials socials have have been tried In an effort to check the students' students Increasing inI increasing In creasing tendency ot of worldliness I and finally it was decided that the I c cause us of m most st of the tho h trouble lies within the tIle home and that It is there that initial reform must be started I Recently several scandals are said to have been disclosed and It was discovered discovered discovered dis dis- dis- dis covered according to the Journal that there were organized systems promoting immorality among high school students In his appeal which Is endorsed by the high school principals principals prin prin- and deans Superintendent holds that the greatest force for good in the school is the sentiment and public opinion of the main student body and the students students students stu stu- dents with their parents are urged to cooperate with the school board In setting standards and in ill restraining restraining restraining restrain restrain- ing the less responsible In defining the causes which have been productive productive productive tive of so much trouble and scandal c nd l the statement as it is quoted In the Journal sets forth We believe the modern method of dancing has done doue much to break breakdown breakdown breakdown down respect for womanhood We feel that no effort on our part can counteract this evil unless the parents realize the danger and help us maintain the tho standards We believe that jazz music has done much to corrupt dancing and to make It Impossible for young young people people people peo peo- to learn the more refined forms of jf dancing at the same time vitiating vitiating vitiating ing their taste for good music We believe belleve that the unrestricted use uso of tho the automobile is an another ther demoralizing demoralizing de de- de- de moralizing influence and that parents parents par par- eats who allow boys In their teens to take tako high schoolgirls joy riding are doing much to break down the moral standards of the community accordance I We believe that In with the state law pupils should re refrain refrain re- re re-I re frain from smoking Extremes in dress are I ble We Wo believe that mothers should know that modesty and simplicity simplicity sim sim- In ht high school girls' girls costumes cos- cos I cos-I umes are most helpful and uplifting to the school ideals We believe that young people of high school age ago should keep early hours and devote ote five evenings of the week to their high school studies I We believe that parents should be invited to share In the tho patronage and chaperonage of all nIl school In as much as our greatest concern concern concern con con- cern Is to 1 preserve reserve the wholesome elements In the characters of of our young people and to insure a development development development devel devel- into a strong manhood and anel womanhood with a will to combat evil the superintendent feels that he has a right to the active e support of the parents In these matters of standards and Ideals But the students didn't wait for their parents to act They began at once we are old a concerted movement movement movement move move- ment looking to reform The students students students stu stu- dents can enforce the rules of the schools and the proper standards of conduct better than any anyone one else said Fred Bennett a student leader as he is quoted In the Chicago Dan Dally Daily News If a boys boy's father or the principal or a teacher tells him to quit smoking he gets sore but if a a. student whom he respects tells him he ho thinks it over pretty seriously seriously seriously seri seri- and probably quits The same psychology is in is girls according to this young philosopher philosopher phil phU- If a girls girl's mother tells her that her skirts skirt's too short she laughs and says everybody wears them that way way way-it If the principal tells her her skirt Is too short she gets made but If I tell her well her well she thinks that over OTero In our school there ther are only about three per cent of ot the tho students who cause difficulty but they get written up In the papers and give the school a bad name naD- The work of mora moral will not be left to the students without assistance Recognizing t that at mere prohibition only creates a A Asire do- do e- e sire for tho the thing prohibited the superintendent su au- has decided In ding jazz to encourage the taste r for forI r I I good music by having daily dally mur ca programs given by orchestra P lee clubs bands and soloists e. e school assembly halls Expressly noting as did Superintendent Mor- Mor tenson that seven ninety-seven per cent of the high school pupils are normal sensible young people and insisting insisting insist insist- ing that the harm caused by the offending offending offending of of- fending three per cent should not bring general reproach on the whole student body the Daily Dally News says say editorially Youth Is Impressionable and the tIle thead bad ad example of even a small elements element is s likely to have undesirable effects We are living at a pretty fast clip said a noted educator the tho other day To none Is fast living more Injurious physically and morally than to the young oung Rational recreation Is essential ea- ea but It Is Js notorious that the theUne theine theline line ine of moderation propriety and aDd decency is too often orten at dancing lancing and other parties and that hat some parents tolerate or acquIesce acquiesce acquI- acquI esce in forms of amusement and modes of dress that offend good taste aste or right conduct Educators can do to correct or prevent excesses but parents parents parents par par- can do much more Tho The home may undo or nullify the work of the school In regard to behavior speech and manners J Parental responsibility ty can not be shifted and ought dot ilot dotto to be evaded Many of the tho par parents parent who lament loss of authority over over their children have never nevel really tried I to exercise It with anything like I method firmness or reasonable coil coil- con con- h I f Sororities and fraternities the theda da ce youthful liberties with the automobile automobile automobile au au- au- au and certain types of games and entertainments entertainments- while entertainments while the conditions conditions conditions con con- complained of or under these headings are pale as compared to the revelations of Hollywood remarks remarks re re- marks maries The Christian Centry Gentry they ought to be shocking enough to the respectable father and mothers of youth To subject adolescent adolescent adolescent cent character to the moral overstrain overstrain overstrain over over- strain of such customs is community pur- pur blindness |