Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-06-21
Why Boys Quit School.

the high school commencement last
week the types said: "Boys should
master everything preparatory to a
high school course in three years"
The clause as written was: "Boys
should master everything prepsra-
tory for the high school a year
earlier than they do, and with prop
er effort many of them could cover
the prescribed high school course in
three years" This correction is
necessary to an understanding of
what the writer designed to express.
The TRIBUNE's remarks and sug-
gestions upon the regretted fact of
SO few boys attaining the high
school degree of education, were
made with the expectation that the
views presented would meet strong
opposition and unfavorable criti-
cism, and in this we are not disap-
pointed. That the writer is even
called crank upon this subject is
not surprising. When condition
exists that all men see to be bad,
but for which none have remedy
to offer, he who calls attention To it
and demands its correction, is gen
orally regarded as pessimist or
hereto. But the crank Of today is
often the reformer of tomorrow.
1t is said in answer to our COM
ments that the boys graduated from
the Mineral Point high school have
averaged less than 10 years of age.
Admitting this to be true, the ques-
tion, why 50 few complete the course,
remains unanswered. The average
age of pupils prepared to enter the
high school is Is or more. Add to
this years for the prescribed high
school course, aud the age at gradu.
alton, if all reach it, will average 10,
as stated. At this stage the proper
ton of boy to girl students is about
equal, From there the disparity
begins, and grows until the morti-
flying result of an average Of 50 per
cent. of girls is found in all the
graduates of the school from its or
ganization. Here is support of our
statement that boys leave school at
l6 to II, and that the average age at
which they would complete the high
school course, if all prepared should
enter and 60 through, is 10 years.
Why so few continue, and what
can be done to remedy it, are ques-
tions demanding consideration. To
lay all blame upon parents will not
do. We still believe that within
the school is much OF the trouble. !
1t is said that there is nothing to
impede boys advance faster than
his class if he has the capacity and |
to do so; that he is at
liberty to take up additional studies
to those prescribed for each year,
and may thus progress faster. Who |
is to see that boy is capable Of do
ing this? The teacher ought to
know whether or not boy is doing
all he can, and if it appears that he |
is capable of carrying one or two |
studies more than those prescribed
for his class, insist that he take
them. In this way, beginning in
The grammar department, much may
be done to advance the more capa-
BILE and industrious. But to insure
the greatest good to the greatest
would not a Encouragement |
Of the curriculum Of the schools, |
distributing the studies so that they
would cover two years less time, be |
better? Educators Of prominence
in the state recognize the necessity |
Of something being done to secure
more general education of the boys, |
and the more the subject is agita ted |
the sooner may we hope to see tn e
object attained. Until it is, our
graded and high schools are not full
iliing their mission.
A DAUGHTER of Mr.. Moses Ste
phenson,of WaIdwick,while visiting
with a sister in Chicago, was last
Monday evening struck by moving
train and injured so that she died |
the next day. She was walking by |