The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-25
The New High School.

The New High School.
In more ways than are usually
thought of. Scranton in particular and
he entire community of Northeastern
pennsylvania indirectly, have reason to
EEL proud OF the new high school yes
terday dedicated TO the purpose Of
popular education. 1t is magnificent
Init of architecture, bringing together
in one symmetrical pile the best
thought and the latest inventions of
those who make Il business of minis
tcrinG to human needs. From ma
terial StandpOnt ii is a glory to the
city and = fit companion to the noble
Euildn" which ii confrontS. That our
people have in so short period of de-
Velopmcnt reached point indicated by
the construction within sight of each
other Of free public academy and II
free public library is testimony to the
broad growth of Scranton to which the
rhetoric of eulogv cannot add cmpha-
sis. All the fine words which genius
supplies in sterilization Of the public
school fall inadequate before the true
significance of the objective fact.
Vet in this particular instance of pub
lie enterrrise reaching out to perform
paramount duty there is an element
If timeliness and of appropriateness
considerably in excess Of the average.
If we pause to think of our community
tn a1pp,p1al laupan a r,Nnntinu
place of the tides of immigration and a
battle ground as it We're, of contend
ing forces which have in them great
possibilities of veal or woe for the fu-
ture of our beloved land. it will dawn
upon us that perhaps of all the splcn-
did things which this splendid city has
achieved for itself and. for humanity
in the comparatively brief period of its
corporate existence nothing yet has
been half so pregnant with large bone-
fits for all coming time as the giving
to the young of this superb temple Of
selfimprovement The Imagination
speedily looses itself in the maZas Of its
own far-reachinG fancy in its attempt
significance Of the opportunities thus
placed within free reach of the thous-
ands who in years to come will receive
knowledge within its walls.
Not many years ago to have had the
means of culture here supplied to the
thousands without cost would have
fallen within the privilege of the very
few, and these would have paid for it n
large equivalent. 1t is poetic to think
of our great men of pioneer days burn
ing the pine knot during midnight
struggles to gain the merest rudiments
of a book education. 1t appeals to our
sensibiities and at once arouses our
sincere sympathy. We rejoice to know
that now and then from out the COM
mon mass there rose. here and there,
in those olden days, men great enough
to break through the combining barriers
Of humble circumstance into the realms
ordinarily open chiefly to the rich. But
if we permit our thoughts to go back of
these inspiring exceptions to the human
background of only average men and
women, to whom the door of self-ad
vancement remained all too effectually
closed, we are likely to get firmer
grasp upon the significance of the ad-
vantages open to the multtudes today.
and open at so low cost that in all
this city there need not of necessity
dwell one boy or girl shut off from
genuine and ample culture
AS we have hitherto said, in COM
menting uDon the new high school, it
is an institution which will supply to
the receptive pupil as much school
learning as any ordinary per' N will
ever need. 1t will not compl, any
good pupils education. Education. ev-
er ends. But it will, with proper and
expected vigilance and discretion in its
supervision. give to every capable at
tandant the requisite start ana render
it possible for the bright graduate to
contend in the competitions of every
day life with the graduate of any col
lege or university, upon terms Of hon
orable equality. 1t will also be a great
factor in unifying our city. No MEM
ories are SO rife with the lessons of
fellowship and democracy as are the
memories of the public high school.
The bringing together, in one receptive
place, of the bright young men and
women of all portions of Scranton will
have a tendency to accelerate the in
evitable welding of the municipal sec
tions into a compact and harmonzed
whole. These are but few-a very
few--of the considerations which invest
the exercises of yesterday with mem
orable and hopeful interest in the
minds Of intelligent Scrantonians. We