Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-02-24
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL S.


some Interesting and Timely Remarks ~
an Able Instructor.
To the Editor OF the Republic:
| was pleased TO See even the brief sum-
mary of the years work in our public
schools. In my judgment the superinten-
dent and his faithful corps OF teachers
make good record. 1t is better than
expected to see, on account of the numer
GUS matters which must have tended TO
embarrass the work.
But that of which would like word,
relates to the recommendations coming
from Prof. Weir and the High school.
These are timely and should be empha-
sized.
Those flights of stairs carry one back in
memory to dormitory life on the fifth floor
of Wittenberg. The city will hardly need
A gymnasium for the class of citizens who
are required to traverse these walks. This,
however, might be called an advantage,
And then when you get away up there
| once. above the steam cars, railroads, busy
streets. with charming view of rolling
plains and winding streams, you enjoy it
and think 1t is a delightful place for that
purpose But since this matter was
| dropped as not to be remedied now, | leave
| ii and take up the more important-the
matter of the adjustment of the public
| school and college courses.
! This should be done sOOn-shOuld have
| been done long ago. Much time could be
save to those who enter college BY an ar
rangement that would not at all injure the
schools There is at present no adaptation
either in the grammar grades or high school.
The best time to leave the schools, as they
now exist is at the close of the Is grammar.
In three years the student can be regular
freshman He is about as well qualified as
he would be by taking A grammar and
then spending three years in the prepare
tory. A change might be made whereby
two years after A grammar would admit to
freshman without embarrassment or with
less than three years spent in the llgl
scho pl now admits. The interest of large
class .of students would seem to make this
a necessity. Why may it not be done?
Then with those who wish to
continue longer under public instruc-
ton. better arrangement of the high
school studies should be made. Very
many could testify 10 the un-
satisfactory curriculum as it now
stands. How often have | seen dis
appointment on the faces of those coming
to Wittenborg for admission. Enough
time has been spent, and doubtless enough
work has been done, to make them sophO-
mores and they find themselves poorly pre-
pared ltOr the freshman or any Of the
prescribed courses. This state of things
should not continue longer. The college
and the public schools have common aims
and common interests, and should be made
to harmonize. We hope that those con-
cerned. from both sides of the creek. will
meet and devise plans that will be for the
good of students, schools and college.
| have no doubt that our schools are
managed rs economically as any; and Yet
one can hardly help but notice the dif-
ference between the experience of education
given by the public and of that given by
charitable institutions. In our high school
the cost Is about $40 for each student; ct
Wittenberg it is $40. And this holds good
on up to the universities. While the ap-
preparation made TO our own universities is
insignificant, to all three hardly more than
to the secretary of state, still the expense
is more than at charitable colleges. Other
states are eXpending large sums on their
universities. Kansas apprOpriates about
Sl00, 900 annually; Nebraska nearly the
same: Iowa has bill before the house now
appropriating Sl33, 500 to her university at
Iowa City; Michigan gives this year SID
900 to Ann Arbor. But these are only OBJ
servations. and not intended for criticisms
on state schools. Ali this money is well
spent and augurS better advantages for the
intellectual training of our young men and
maidens. W. S. HOsKINsON.