Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-24
A PERTINENT QUESTION.

Why is it, THAT so few boys, as COM
pered with the number of girls graduate
from our High Schools? This is a
question which school officers, teachers,
and interested parents throughout the
country frequently ask themselves.
And, no doubt, it has been asked many
times in Grand Rapids.
1t is question that has been of con-
siderable interest to me and the sub
ject of much thought, on my part. l
have reached some conclusions, which,
[ think will satisfactorily explain the
predominance of girl graduates.
! Can it be because more girls than
boys are born into the world? Certainly
not. Then we must search existing
social conditions and the government
of our schools for the real causes.
Frequently the financial circumstan-
ces of a family render it necessary for
the boy to procure employment, and
depend upon his own exertions for a
| livlihood, Notwithstanding an ardent
desire for an education. Others, strong
in their self-will, voluntarily withdraw
from school. In most cases these boys
who withdraw, are the sons of profess
iOnal men, who leave school in direct
opposition to the expressed desire of
their parents that they remain in school
and complete the course of study.
We grant that these two reasons as
held by some, are important. But in
our opinion they do not occur with
frequency enough, to be of much
weight. There are other reasons that
more adequately explain this great
falling off from the ranks of the boys.
First. Some boys of sensitive natures
between the ages of IA and Is years,
are stung by the ignominy of fear of the
ignominy of corporal punishment
administered by their teachers, and
taking an aversion to the school where
this punishment is inflicted they strive
to escape its thralldom.
Second, The opportunities that are
offered to the boys Of our state, to earn,
if not livelihood, still a tempting
amount of pocket-money. Even in
cases where there is no real necessity
for doing so, the desire and opportunity
to "earn money" prove stronger than
advice of parents and love of school.
Third. The American people are
greatly addicted to worshiping the
self-made man. Without intending
any disparagement to the self-made
man, for he deserves great credit and
should be honored, we maintain that
this is one of the most cogent reasons
that we have to urge. For the boy is
tempted to despise, as his father may,
the benefit Of good systematic higher
education, and launches out in life to
carve a name and fortune, patterned
after his ideal, and usually is found on
a level with men of whom seven do not
make half dozen.
And why should the boy desire a
higher education, or even see the nee
essity of it, when at the fireside, at the |
bar, in the press, from the pulpit or
lecture platform, he hears eXtolled the
virtues and greatness of the self-made |
man? We are too prone to depreciate |
the worth OF a college bred man and
quote him at low par
Fourth. A great many Of our schools |
might with propriety be termed ''girl
schools" The delicate girl and robust
boy sit side by side at school. The frail |
girl is too often held up as an example |
to the healthy boy, who, in his physi-
cial strength despises that very frailty.
Female teachers are in the majority, |
and the boy, just when he needs exam
piles of true manhood, mans actions,
and ways of thinking, is deprived of
them.
May hope that some one entertain
ing different ideas will communicate
them through these columns?