Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-01-11

the late action OF the Board, relative to the re-
strtcfion OF the preparatory instruction to
the public schools of their own cities or dis
tricts. This is further step towards the
abandonment OF all preparatory work to the
schools OF the State. It Is based upon the ex-
pectati0n that our several high schools will
generally SO ARRANGE their courses OF study
able time, and thus I'LL the chasm between
the common schools and the University. This
has already been done to some extent, with
excellent results, and l submit whether the
State might not advatageously lend its aid, to
limited degree, towards the high school tu-
itton of pupils OF such neighboring districts
and towns as are destitute Of the advantages
Perhaps the most inevitable conclusion to
which study Of our school system leads is
the necessity that its various departmental
agencies and appointments should form aux
lllary parts OF harmonious whole-that its
successive steps should constitute regular
gradation from the alphabet to collegiate ma
turlty, and that like the rills and streams,
which, however differing in character and va
rying in course, reach common goal in the
ocean, the primary instruction Of the common
school SHOULD lead, by easy stages, to the
crowning scholarship OF the University. All
dictated by the enlightened policy which
quli6es the citizen for the duties demanded OF
him and which sows and nourishes according
to the bounty of the expected harvest. In
nothing is supporting unity Of design and
action more essential to success. To adhere
to isolated plans, or to persist in uuplanned
efforts without definite aim, is to voluntarily
sacrifice for each the advantages which might
otherwise be combined for the whole and it's
parts.
To the end desired it is, therefore, es-
sential> that in every stage OF instruction and
in every variery OF school, the purpose or, at
least, the possibility of this ascending contin-
uity should he constantly in view, and, es-
pecial!y, that the finishing course elsewhere
should fit pupils for freshmen at the Univer-
sitv. This is essential to the highest efficiency,
whether in the lower or the higher branches.
1t would save the time, labor and means now
comparatively wasted in special preparatory
schools, and furnish perennial supply Of
pupils to push forward, without interruption,
The advantages are obvious to all concerned !;
and although, unhappily, the majority must
tall out by the way, diverted by the exigen-
cies of business pursuits, it should ever he a
leading and cherished object of our education
al system to afford, at least, a standing oppor-
tunity to the more fortunate land persistent
tor an unobstructed pursuit n lhe pathway
OF learning from the Beginning to the end of a
complete education.
invoke at your hands such fostering care
of the educational interests of the State as
will ensure a growth commensurate with
proud material development and be adequate
to the wants OF an expanding future.
STATE FINANCES.
An exhibit of the financial transactions of
the year and OF the present condition of the
State may he seen in detail in the report of
the State Auditor, the general statement of
the same being as follows: