TEEN-AGE PROGRAM
(1943)

I am happy the teen-age committee, Mr. Houston, chm., Dr. Bert
Nash, and Mrs. Deal Six, have decided to continue with the teen-age
activities until the last week of August, sees 7

At their committee meeting last week, I submitted a possible outline
of duties for the game-dance party on Friday evenings. Mr. Hobbs at
high school told me that he was starting a popular band and that they
would be playing in about six weeks. If the conmittee could have this
band play at the Friday party, perhpas for the last party of the season,
it would be a good send-off for the orchestra, and a good climax ending
for the teen-age series of parties, |

The tennis lessons under Miss Frances Davidson should be finished
the last of this month. There should be a small tournament within the
class. However, I talked with Mr, Houston about the idea of interesting
some tennis men like Mr, Docking and Mr. Keeler in forming a tennis
committee to sponsor a city-wide teen age tennis tournament in August.
Two separate brackets could be made to encourage beginners as well as
more advanced players, The tennis courts at Corbin Hall would make a |
fine place to run off a week's tournament. Good publicity on the finals
in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles should bring out an audience,
(More recreation selling points, )

The girls' softball has gathered impetus within the last two weeks,
LaVone Jacobson and Kathryn Schaake are in charge. The girls’ teams
play on Monday nights, I would like to see baseball get enough interest
aroused so that next year (before Jr. High & LMHS is out) a girls! soft-
ball league could be organized. e.g. A team from North Lawrence, a couple
of Hill teams, a couple of teen-age teams, possibly an older team, etc,
The girls love to play and, if handled correctly, the game is excellent
recreation,

The ideal situation for the teen-agers would be to have a
open to them every afternoon, and at least twice a week in the evenings,
A place where they could play gemes, drink pop, and visit, A place just
"to drop in" after a swim to soci » True, the young people are busy
working, but to have a wholesome place to meet if for only a few minutes
a day would help solve their problem of ‘where to go when we do have the
time’, Some towns do have such teen-age places run entirely by the
young people themselves, In a few cities, the youngsters have fixed up
their own building, made booths, soda fountain, etc. 7

During the winter months, it seems just as important to me that |
both junior high and high school students are given an opportunity
to have a wholesome place to dance and play on a week-end evening.