Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-29

needs of everyday life. This objection, the
committee is convinced, has its basis and its
strength in an ignorance Of present college re-
quirements and an over-estimate OF the practi-
cal advantages to be derived from the study in
public schools of the so-called business branches
Within ten years the colleges have changed
their attitude toward the public more than
the public has vet realized. Take, for example,
the Harvard requirements for admission The
boy or girl who has mastered them has as SUBJ
stantisl and broad foundation for Liberal
education as four years of study can give.
WHY HARvARD2
After discussion of the changes that have
been made respecting Harvard requirements
as 10 Greek and Latin and modern languages
the report goes ON TO say:
The committee disclaims any intention to
discriminate among the various colleges of the
country. They have discussed the relations ex-
listing between the Washington High School
and Harvard College. because the Senate reso-
luton limited the discussion to that question.
II, therefore, the Washington High School
authorities shail maintain four years course,
ton was begun and if they shall amplify the
work so as in reality, well rs In theory, to fit
boys to take the examinations which Harvard
holds each year in Washington, then by SO
doing the school will be brought up to
standard of efficiency Sc ,ond to none in this
have the knowledge, first, that they have, IN
their schools, a well-matured course Of in
struct1on, and secondly, that even If for good
and sufficient reasons their children shall be
prevented from taking college course, at least
they will have acquired the broad and solid
foundations for private study and for becoming
intelligent and useful citizens.
In this connection it may be unnecessary to
suggest that even IL the grade of the High
School should be raised to the Harvard standard
all the pupils in any given class would not be
fitted to enter that college, even should they so
desire. A class differentiates Itself, and In any
school Of high standard there will always be
those In the graduating class who, although
they might have worked faithfully, would not
be able to pass the examinations OF the most
advanced colleges. 1t il the average scholar
that should be provided for.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The committee, had they not been forestalled
by the school authorities, would have recon-
mended that the course Of study In the Wash
ington High School be heightened to four years.
They now recommend that the four years.
course be maintained; that the courses of study
be arranged as to provide an adequate
preparation for the many pupils who desire to
enter colleges Of the highest standard; that
entrance from the grammar schools to the high
school be guarded by suitable tests Of fitness on
the part of the pupils to pursue high school
work, and, in a word, that the school be brought
to a condition of thorough efficiency and to a
place in the first rank of secondary schools.
The committee desire to say that they have
found no reason to criticise either the superin-
tendent of schools or the principal Of the high
school. The Washington High School is un-
able to do the work which high schools in other
cities equal in size to Washington are doing,
largely because of the theory which obtained
some six years ago among those having charge
of the financial interests of the District in Con-
gress. The deterioration which was then
worked has not yet been repaired, notwith-
standing the urgent recommendations of DR..
Lane to be allowed to better the work, and
very jealous efforts on his
part to make the very best Of what he had to do
with.
The committee, as stated in The STAR, rec
maintenance Of the four years.
course already established in the school, COM
mended the management and suggested that in
future no effort and no pains be spared to make
the Washington High School a credit to the
capital of the nation, for this means the better
ment of the whole school system Of the District
of Columbia.
In tables which accompany the report "a
shown the number Of students from this city
whose names are on the books of the various
colleges of the country. In local colleges there
are 125. in other colleges there are 140, in col
leges exclusively for women there are twenty
five.