The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-31
ROSE ABOVE pARR
DID THE ASSOCIATION ON RE
PORT TOUCHING HIGH SCHOOL
WORK.
ST. CLOUD MANS PROTEST
DIDN'T STAND IN THE. way oE AZ
ADOPTION OF BROAD RECON-
MENDATIONS.
POWERS OF THE STATE BOARD.
The Committee Thinks They Should
Be More DfscretiOnary-Meet
ing of Association.

session of high school council and
county superintendent yesterday were
the report Of the joint committee APP
pointed a year ago to submit a plan
extending the elementary work Of high
SCHOOLS and an exceedingly able paper
from President Cyrus Northrop on ''The
training Of the Scholar" The repre-
sentatlves hall was fuller than at any
previous session, and no point either in
papers or the discussion which followed
escaped the close attention Of the edu-
Gators.
Supt A. E. Engstrom opened the ses-
sion with paper which expressed more
FULLY than the report could his views
on Normal Training In the High
School, He urged that Minnesota
should. as New York has done throw
around the common schools some addi-
tional protection, and to that end ha
begged his hearers to agitate the ques-
ton. There was and is a crying need.
he thought, for the better preparation
of the $500 or 5000 young persons who
annually enter upon the work Of COM
mon school teaching, and high schools
must be induced-nOt forced-to do this
work. The law, passed two years ago,
| providing for means with which to do
| this work Of preparation, was of the
right kind, If not perfect, and might be
amended from time to time until 1t
met the requirements.
Mr.. Engstrom outlined with clearness
| the plan which should be followed, and,
while there were those present who dis
agreed with him, his views on the SUBJ
5ect were we'll received.
Supt j. r. Tormey, Of Winona, fol-
lowed with a paper on "The Function
of the High School, a subject which
was discussed by Supt. J. w. Lewis, of
Hastings, and Supt. w. W. Vande-
water, of Becker county. Following
upon this came the report OF the COM
| mittee referred to. The committee Is
made up as follows: From the high
schools, chairman, Supt. Frank Al.
Weld, Saltwater; Supt. c. NJ. Boutelle,
Marshal, and Supt. H. 8. Merrill, of
hutchinson; county superintendent,
Supt. A. e. Engstrom, Goodhue county,
chairman; Supt. w. w. Vandewater,
Becker county, and Supt T. B. Nickel
Wy, of Dakota county. The report fol-
lows:
Your committee would respectfully report
that high schools might do more than is now
being done for the benefit Of those who de-
pend on these schools alone for preparation
Tor teaching IN country schools. That this
work should consist, first Of ALL and prin-
cipally, of the thorough mastery Of the
common school branches. together with such
additional work as the local authorities with
the approval Of the state board may pre-
scribe That this course should be open to
members of the senior class and to teachers
OF some experience holding first or second
grade certificates That the laws should bs
so amended as to give more discretionary
powers to the state board in charge Of thia
work. The following powers should be dele
gated to said board:
First-To prescribe further study in thfa
department.
Second-To prescribe the requisites for adj
mission TO the class.
Third-To prescribe the minimum and ths
maximum number Of pupils to be required in
a class
Fourth-To determine what high schools ara
prepared for the work required and to au-
thorize such to enter upon the same.
Flfth-To prescribe the qualifications re-
CURED Of instructors in these departments
and to certify to the qualifications of such.
Sixth-That the law should be so amended
as to be in harmony with this report.
The report, which was read by Super
intendent Engstron, caused consider
able CONSERVATION, and SuDerinten-
Diet Parr, of St Cloud, was on his
feet In an instant to explain that he
could allow no such action to be taken
without making a protest The mat
ter was argued pro and con, and Mr..
PARIS vote to table the matter was
lost and the report finally adopted
Further than that by vote, the life of
the committee was extended year in
order that the members might secure
such legislation as is suggested in the
report.
Superintendent Engstrom in the face
Of considerable opposition, made a
determined stand, and carried through
the measure, the credit for originating
which Is due in a great measure to
Superintendent J. H. Lewis, of Hast
ings, who a year ago agftated the mat
ter before it became so generally dis
cussed. A resolution changing the
makeup of the state library board to
two city superintendent and one coun-
ty superintendent to be appointed by
the governor, and the state superinten-
dent as a member eX-offcio was laid
over until today for consideration.
President Northrup spoke at length
concerning the many branches Of in
struction in this state and the progress
which had been made in the schools,
both in and out Of the large cities. He
believed the first essential was good
teachers, after which good buildings,
with adequate apparatus might be con-
sidered
The curriculum of the high school
should make good rational logical
thinkers out of students.