Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-06-19
COUNTY HIGH scoHoL.
Editor WORLD:

made relating to the advantages offer
ed by the County High School, it's
missions and influence, l am con-
strained to give some additional testi-
mony on the subject. In so doing l
will quote briefly from two of the
most prominent professional men in
Kansas.
Prof. S. NJ. Cook, principal of the
Dickinson County High School, has
had the management of that institu-
tion since its opening in 1890 After
three years experience in the work
ings of the school, in lecture deiiy-
cred at Altamont, Kansas, in the
summer of 1893, he spoke at length of
the liberal support and patronage it
had received from the beginning and
of the advantages it afforded. Elk
tracts from this address will prove of
interest to your readers. Speaking
of the cordial support given Prof.
Cook says:
Whatever tends to encourage
Young men and women to gain an ed
ucation is worthy of our cordial sup
port. From personal conversation
and careful inquiry | am convinced
that rs per cent of the students who
have during the past three years at
tended our county institute would
have completed their education in the
district schools. This is partly due
to the fact that parents supporting
the high school as they do. feel an in
tefest in it and are DESTROYS of secur-
ing the advantages for their children.
| am positive that there are more
students by far attend than there
would be if the institution was con-
Quoted without cost to the people of
the county.
''Without such stimulouS, the ma
jority of those attending the county
high schools would have otherwise. as
/ have said, have received no SecOnda-
ry or higher educational advantages.
But because they are within easy
reach of home and are thus practically
under parental control and Supervi-
sion. and because parents can easily
visit them as frequently as they de-
sire they are more ready to send them
away from home and at an earlier age
than under conditions where they
must enter school more remote: the
frequent home visits tend to keep the
patrons in touch with the school and
stimulate many needless boy unin-
tereSted in his education to emulate
the example of those with whom he
has been accustomed to associate and
with whom he still so frequently
praise for the school and the privi-
legeS it offers do not fall unnOticed
upon his ears
sBut aside from its direct benefits,
there is, 1t seems to me, reflex lnf1u-
enceS which are of incalculable value.
Not only are those attending the high
school benefited, but in Dickinson
county the many whose school life
closes with the district school have
felt the force of the earnest efforts of
those ambitious to thOughtfully pre-
pare and enter the high school. The
standard of the work in the district
school has thus been raised and Il
healthy rivalry aroused among the
teachers who practically enter into
competition with their neighbor
teachers as to who shall best prepare
their pupils for the entrance eXamina-
tions for diplomas which are uniform
throughout the county. The teacher
no longer feels it necessary to spend a
considerable portion OF his time upon
the few who in many cases desire to
do advanced work which properly be-
longs in the high school course, but
can devote his energies to the legiti-
mate work of the district school.
Thus in its reactionary effects county
high school has with us proven sue
cess, greatly strengthening the work
in the district school. and arouSing a
new and hitherto unknown interest
IN primary ana grammar ScnOOI Work.
ut has had the earnest support of
some of the best educators of the
country They have greatly aided
the principal in his efforts to bring its
advantages before the people. The
teachers of the district schools them
selves are glad to be given an oppor-
tunity to review during the spring
term the branches which they must
teach and to pursue additional higher
work in preparation for a more adj
vanced certificate. We have given
them every encouragement to attend
the high school. arranging our spring
term as far as possible with reference
to their interests. If few have
wished to study branches not in our
course for that term. we have, if pos
sible, accommodated them. We have
tried to inspire them with an earnest
desire to complete a course of study.
We have thus so interested them that
they have not only attended the in
Stitution themselves but have urged
their pupils to prepare for the exami-
nation.
But. again, our students have been
most earnest workers, and while them
selves DrOfitinp fully by the inStrur-