Morning journal and courier., 1882-03-17

About six years ago the Legislature of Wisconsin made provision for the establish ment of high schools throughout the State, and appropriated S25, 900 annually for their support. The plea for this action was that thereby higher grade of students might be prepared for the State University and so ob- viate the necessity Of a preparatory depart ment in that institution, and doing the same for the normal schools enable them to devote more time to strictly professional training. The Legislature wisely restricted the grant to five years, with the expectation | that if the trial thus made showed favorable results the districts would themselves sup port such schools witheat State aid or else the Legislature would extend the support. 1 The Milwaukee Sentinel does not think much of this plainly questionable plan. It says; ''The number of so called high schools is yearly on the increase, with corresponding | ly increasing number of high school schol- l ars but whether there is any real increase of scholarship is not SC manifest, nor that the ends sought have been attained. The State provides no supervision for these schools, and the State Department of Educa tion has no knowledge of their work except what comes from the parties receiving the bonus, which of course is entirely e Pdrt6. The State University and the State normal schools have each their boards of regents, and it seems only the dictates of common pru- dence that before a continuance of this gift by the State of $25, ,O0O annually is granted and that mainly to cities and villages well able to support such schools themselves that the benefit to the whole State from their establishment be most clearly demon strated."
 There has been good deal of snesring at the questions asked by the examiners of ap plicants for clerkships, etc, in the govern ment service. This sneering is uncalled for, if we may judge from an examination re- gently held at the New York custom house. The applicants were first required to write from dictation, which tests their knowledge of spelling, punctuation, and so forth, as well as their handwriting. Then followed few simple problems in arithmetic, and the following questions in American geography, history and government:
 GEOGRAPHY.
 l. What large seaport of the United States is situated east of Boston?
 g. Name the States and Territories on the Pacific coast?
 3. Which of the United States produces the most rice, and which the most sugar
 4. What two large rivers of the United States flow into the Gulf of Mexico?
 HISTORY.
 1. What historical incident near Hsrper's Ferry, Va, prior to the rebellion, had an i'm portant influence upon the secession idea in the South?
 ?. Name four of the most important bat ties during the Revolutionary war.
 GOVERNMENT.
 l. How are United States Senators chosen, what are the prescribed qualifications. and how long do they serve?
 ?. How is the number of members ot the House of Representatives determined?
 Besides these there were only five senten- ces containing false syntax to bs corrected, and the applicant was also required to write a short letter. This examination was for cerkships. Those for inspectors were of about equal difficulty, but tho questions were different. For night inspectors the examina- tion was less exacting.