Education: A Profession

Hear Superintendent W. F. Webster, of the Minneapolis Vocational High School:

"The American women have decided for themselves that they want bobbed hair . . . The new style. . . has created a new demand for a particular kind of service. This demand is as real as is the demand for dressmakers or milliners. Thousands of young ladies are taking courses throughout the country to train themselves as beauty specialists, particularly in hairdressing and manicuring. . . The environment is not of the best. It is a profession. There is no reason why the schools should not teach the profession to these girls and young women. . . . It is just as important as work and manual training."

Mr. Webster was urging the establishment in his school of a beauty specialists' course. More than SO would-be bobbers and manicurists having registered, there was every indication that the Board of Education would bear him out, even at an estimated expenditure of $10,000. The course's Chief opponent was A. P. Ortquist, President of the Board. Said he: "It is criminal to spend the taxpayers' money to teach girls to bob hair and clean fingernails."

Said a minister: "It is the function of the schools to train young folks to earn a livelihood."