The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-06

HIGHER EDUCATION.


In his recent commencement address
to the graduates and pupils of the high
school Of tho city the chief justice of
the state took occasion to comment with
disfavor on the absence of boys from the
graduating class of the year. lie con-
fessed that it was not with pleasure he
regarded the yearly exodus of young
lads from tho public schools for eastern
institutions of a similar character. 1t
was a practice that carried annually out
of the state thousands Of dollars which
might and ought to be kept at home.
Worse than that, it implied a confession
of weakness. For, in seeking the rea-
sons that underlay the deportation of
public school educational armor, when
he laid his finger on the fact that the
high school system did not prepare our
boys to enter Yale or Harvard, Prince
ton or Cornell, without a course of OK
tended study. To obtain that extended
course they travelled to schools of repu-
tation in the eastern states that make a
preparation for the university the OBJ
iect and aim of their curriculum. In
some respects we believe that the chief
justice was right. Much, of course,
may be said of the prestige conferred
upon any educational institution by
years OF laborious endeavor and sue
cessful effort, but we are sure that Mon
tanians are proud enough of their state
to keep their sons and their dollars at
home if both of them will do as much
good here as elsewhere.
The Judge suggested the establish
work of the present high school, and to
attain to the coveted standard. That
idea is a good one and sooner or later
the board of education may feel able to
grapple with the suggestion. In the
meantime, we believe that the
rungs that are wanting in the
educational ladder might be supplied by
some of the sectarian institutions of ed
u~cation already in existence in or near
the city. That the people Of Helena are
willing to take hold Of such a PROPOSE
ton and help it along both with infu-
ence and money, the recent movement
for a Congregational college proves. Be-
cause that one body was content to nib
bic coyly at the bait, we hope that the
idea has not fallen through. Such a re-
suit would be a public misfortune.
What can be accomplished by ener-
getic effort in this direction may be seen
at Faribault. To-day the Minnesota
city stands high as a center of educa-
ton. Seven colleges and institutions,
with over one thousand pupils in at
tendance, is a splendid testimony tc
western educational enterprise. Shat
tuck school sprung from very humble
beginnings, but now it owns the Shum
way hall, erected at a cost Of 100000
Shumway Memorial chapel, costing $780,
900. and many other fine buildings
Students are attracted to the city from
all parts of the union, and every inter,
est naturally reaps the benefit. St.
Mary's hall, again, the foundation of
Bishop Whipple, is one Of the best
schools for girls in the country, and has
in attendance ll5 pupils from all parts
of the northwest. The divinity school,
and the establishments for defective!
are amongst the other educationa
s%trongholds Of Faribault. There is nc
good reason in the world why Helena
should not accomplish what Faribault
has done. We believe that our citizens
can beat the Minnesota record, splendid
though it is, if they set their minds t.
it. In the grand educational race, Hell
ena cannot afford to lag behind her com
petitors, if she hopes to maintain her
status as the center of all that is mos
%quickening and energetic in the state o
Montana.