Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-02-18
HIGH OR COMMERCIAL SCHOOLS
lhey Are Very Useful, but Should Not
% Maintained at the Expense OF the
| Common Schools.

common schools.
Portland News.l
There is again discussion in San
Francisco of the Public Schools cues
ticn, and Portland may profit by it.
Upon the subject the Bulletin saws:
The Commercial School is a useful
institution, but there is no reason why
1t should be considered before the pri.
mary pupils are provided for. The
Commercial pupils have had nine or
ten years Of schooling at public en-
pense. Two or three hundred out of
the several thousand who have gradu-
ated from the Grammar School cor.
,'nued one or two years longer to fol
low special study. There is no OBJ.
lection to the maintenance of the
Commercial Schools or the High
Schools, but the Department should
hrst provide for the primary classes.
1t should not only see that the little
children have room, but that their
schoolhouses are made comfortable.
1t may be aquestion whether the pub
lie should teach book keeping, teleg-
raphy, Latin, Greek, painting, draw
ing and other accomplishments, bu.
there is no question whatever as to the
duty of the public to provide comfort.
able school accommodations for every
child in the city who may desire to at
tend. But it has been the persistent
rule Of the Department to use the
money at its disposal in polishing
of the higher schools and to present
to the public the case of the lower
schools, which in many cases are
poorly provided for. The Department
has always money enough for luxur-
les, but sometimes nothing for neces-
sites.
lthas been for years and it is still a
moot case among able and earnest
friends of public schools whether the
course of instruction should 90 be-
yond the Grammar School and into
the higher branches Taught in the
High School, embraelng Latin, Greek.
the modern languages, scientific
studies and Commercial course. The
High Schools are the costly schools.
Investigation has proved that the
larger number Of pupils educated in
these schools arc the sons and dauoh-
tiers Of parents who are amply able to
send their children to colleges and
sem!naries, in which tuition is paid
for out of the private purse. The
cases are comparatively few in which
the sons aud daughters of the poor, or Of
parents in comfortable circumstances,
pass through the High School course,
and launch into the world in prufes
slona! career. The consequence is tina,
the many poor are required to pay
the tax for the superior education OF
the sons and daughters of the rich,
which Is oppressive upon them; while
the tax to the Iich is insignificant in
comparison with the sum 1t would cost
them for tuition of their sons and
daughters at private institution.
Things are SO shaping in our coun-
try that as between merit aud money,
the latter commands the situation, and
this Is the thing that citizens in the
'umbler sphere of life should ponder
md take deeply into account. 1t is
he pride Of the poor parents that their
sons and daughters shall be eligible to
all the educational opportunities and
advantages which are enjoyed by the
sons and daughters of the rich in the
public schools. They do not take into
account that teachers are mortal and
inspired, Influenced and swayed the
same as others in any walk of life.
The poor man has small voice in the
tholce OF teachers. That is controlled
oy the rich. And it is very natural
Tor teacher, as it is for one in any
other position of appointive order, to
Ass the hand of the patron. But af-
er the full curriculum of the High
School or of the University shall have
been mastered by the student, and
graduation has been accomplished,
he race for active life begins. Take |
he case Of the son of the rich and the
on OF the poor man. Say that IN
scholastic merit and natural qualities,
he son of the poor man excels. He |
las graduated with highest honors.
A position is available. Upon his
merits the son of the poor man applies
or it, and his father and admirinc
all of them in the ranks
If the poor-back him. The rich
ather of the less worthy boy also APP
lilies for the place for his son. He
'as other rich men, influential friends,
o his back. In zine cases out Of ten
he rich man is preferred. The poor
nan has been taxed to the extre mity
# his means to educate not only his
WI bright boy, but also to pay for the
ducation of Il dull boy who was
referred to him for the position.
Md in many instances the poor faith
r learns that he has loaded his son
With learning which the young man