Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-07-26
PREPARATORY SCHOOLS.
What is Really Needed,
Nh, EDITOR:

Mr., EDITOR:
As thi, is the season at which most
parents consider the merits OF various,
schools, their proximity, character,
discipline &c,, | wish 10 say q few
words us regards Il character OF schools
that seems TO have become obsolete in
our State. Yet it is such that | hc.i.
tate not to place it above most iusti-
tutions Of learning, hot Only in inme
date results for good, but IN lay !ug Il
foundation for future rcqulsitiOn, the
importance OF which cannot be- over
estimated. The value OF such instruc.
ton is more wildly impressed upon
ouc'c mind, by Il careful and unbiased
examination OF the various catalogues
OF our many schools and female cole
gsS. How many strictly preparatory
Schools" will YOU find in the State of
Miss: There may be some, but. per
hopS their principals will not deign to
suffer the ign3miny that might be en-
gendered by such nomenclature. Any
school OF the least importance must
not open its doors, or issue q prospcc-
tus, without having as an appendage
TINT patent aud Inspiring little word
college" Perhaps, they feel the he.
cessity of such Il term.
a preparatory school proper is one
in which It's pupils are fitted TO enter
upon a more extensive aud arduous
course: a school. the curriculum OF
which has been especially arranged,
with reference TO future prosecution
under q much higher and more COM
plete system Of inspection under spe.
cialists. Its profession is none other
than to do elementary work, recog.
niziug the fact that such work must
and does precede true scholarship, and
is an indispensable element in acquis.
ition. Here II is that the foundation
is laid, upon which future develop.
ment depends very largely and the ex.
tent of the same is determined by the
stand taken.
What an apprentice is to o mechan.
ic, what childhood is to youth, such is
this school to the college, the one O
necessary and precedent condition tc
the other.
BY some II is termed a High School
by others, Academy, but how few arc
confined strictly 10 the purposes ..ot
their organization. Their success tc
get possession of the principal or boart
Of trust, an inordinatc desire TO ex,
tend the course, 10 include this and
that, to take up every side issue. unit
IT becomes a matter of subtle nicely Il
determine whether, upon examination
of prospectus, 1t be a College proper
or incipient University This is very
true of many Of u female colleges
What an extensive course, what grea
professions, what an amazing amour
of work they propose TO do in so limi
ted n time! By a comparison will
our Universities, they propose TO d,
the same amount as well as characte
work and In much loss time. Tn,
question arises, are they equipped an,
prepared; can they. DO they substauli
ate their claims? If not, they are no
only untrue 10 themselves, but mis-
leading to the public. and that by
pOcbtifV ut', INV hiuou hIOic uUUl
IN themselves, how much more faith
full to their patrons, wero they To con
fine themselves 10 a limited course o
instruction, aud execute their promis
es TO the letter. Candor cannot an,
will not be dispensed with in the cias
room, less than in any other depart
ment 0fiifc. Our State is sadly in nee,
. of such schools as will prepare youn,
ladies aud yonng.mcn for a higher ed
/. nrat:on at Universities. Ten sue
schools IN different portions OF tll
State, with limited courses, arrange,
with a view TO subsequent work a
Oxford. would furnish such an impc
d. tus TO University interests, as has new
or been known. The degree and char
actcr OF instruction. impaired in sue
schools. would easily ii students I