Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-08-23
To Keep Boys at School.

high school there was graduated
last June a class of nineteen, of
whom twelve were boys. This fact,
in the light of results in the Mineral
Point high school, from which iu-
ring the four years under Professor
Jolly only zee boys had been gradu-
ated, while forty girls completed
the course, struck us as remarkable.
Therefore, we addressed letter 10
q friend at Whitewater, hoping to
gather information that might be
used to remedy the difficulty experi-
enced here of keeping boys at school.
A courteous reply came, from which
the following are excerps:
"The average age of our gradu-
ates is about 10, probably tritie
under. The average of entering
classes is probably l5, ranging from
l3 to Is or 10. What we call the
grammar department lies next 10 the
high school, and furnishes ample
preparation. Latin, German, geol-
ogy, etc, are taught in the grammar
grade, and students pass direct into
the high school.
"Prof. Walker tells me that the
teacher has to do good deal to en-
courage boys to keep them in line.
Boys don't memorize as well as girls,
usually, or show off as well in classes !;
they usually prefer the practical
things. So he watches their spec
ialties, and tells them that as they
get into physics they can learn the
fundamentals of pharmacy, mechan-
les, etc, or that as they reach other
departments, they will be helped in
preparation for law, journalism, etc.
He also makes good work on the
part Of boy in the wood shop or
laboratory, to offset some little
weakness in the classroom; all
within reasonable limits, of course,
but for the sake of encouragement.
"When boy gets really tired Of
school and says he wants to drop
out and 60 to earning money--get-
ting c!oyed with school work-the
practice is not to hold on to him too
hard, but let him go. Then watch
him, and after a time try to lead
him back by jndicious suggestions,
perhaps to his parents as well. Such
a boy in couple of years, if a
good, sensible fellow, will be almost
certain to come back, and then work
like Trojan till he graduates"
1t appears that the age of gradu-
alton in Whitewater averages about
the same as here, but the preparatory
department, which with us is the
jumping off place of so many boys,
is avoided there, as also in many of
TIE most successful schools Of the
state.
The methods adopted TO keep the
boys in school are what command
our first attention. The statement
of Prof Walker, "that the teacher
has to do a good deal to encourage
the boys" = = that che watches
theirtendencies, etc, signifies much.
With such intelligent, active inter
est taken in him by the teacher,
boy who might otherwise give up,
it is easy to see may be carried
through.
For the present let it sufii ce to in
quire: has this policy been tried
with the boys Of Mineral Pointp Has
our school board made any proyi-
sion whereby "good work on the
part Of a boy in the wood shop or
laboratory" can be made to "offset
some little weakness in the class
room?" Later on this subject may
be touched again, the object being
y learn why SO few Of our boys
finish the high school course, and
with hope that inquiry may lead
to correction Of the regretted defect.
Notice 10 Republicans.
The undersigned. a resident of