The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-18
FACTS SIFTED OUT
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADU-
ATEs AND THE STATE UNI
EERSTTY.
REGISTRAR J0HNSoNS SAY.
EXPLANATION OF THE INCIDENTS
THAT HAVE STIRRED ST.
PAUL EDUCATORS.
PROF. SMITH MAKES CORRECTION.
misunderstanding About Higher A.
zebra md Solid GeOmetry-Is-
sunnce of Diplomas.

Supt. of Schools Curtis called on
Registrar Johnson, of the state uni
versity yesterday afternoon, for an eX-
PLANTATION. o. J. Smith, principal of
the Central high school, had furnished
Supt. Curtis with formal statement
as to the cause of the seemingly large
proportion of the graduates of that
scnoOl who entered the university this
fall but We're conditioned in higher
algebra and solid geometry. The ex-
| PLANTATION in brief is this:
Nearly every university in the coun-
try has a different list of requirements
for scholars entering it, and in the high
schools it is necessary for the students
to elect which university they desire
to attend and then prepare for it by
taking up those studies The Uni
versity of Minnesota now requires that
its students come with preparation in
higher algebra and solid geometry and
last year those of the high school
scholars who had decided to attend the
~" took up those studies; others of
them did not take this preparatory
course, but were simply graduated in
the common course. Afterwards some
of them decided to spend at least
year in the university.
Last June, Registrar Johnson had
notified Prof. Smith that hereafter no
student would be admitted to the uni
versity unless he had a certificate that
he had taken all the required studies.
and also enclosed a package of these
certificates. None of them were sent to
the Humboldt or Cleveland high schools
Instead of following this out, Mr.
Johnson, this fall, admitted all high
! school scholars who had diplomas, and
there is where the trouble began. In
| some cases the scholars did not have
even these diplomas, and they were
told to get a note from Supt. Smith as
to whether they had been graduated
| In. cases where Mr.. Smith was asked
| if the students had taken higher alge-
bra and solid geometry, he answered
| that they had not, meaning the higher
algebra as was taught in the university
| preparatory course Then without
asking these students to pass an eX-
animation, the registrar Immediately
conditioned them in those studies.
These statements were admitted by
Registrar Johnson, and it is probable
that the algebra condition will be re-
moved.
Prof. Smith said to G 10 e report
er yesterday, that he wanted it dis
tinctly understood that the St Paul
high schools are the equal of any in
the state; their graduates go to uni
VerSitieS all over the country and in
! fact nf than n 10 o,1 Iii
year. and a most flattering letter was
| received from the faculty there COM
| mending these high schools There is
one thing that should be changed, said
Prof. Smith, and that is the issuing of
diplomas, which literally mean moth
ing. Instead Of them there should be
issued certificates Which show on their
face just what the student has done
| and what studies he has completed.
That would then be documentary proof
of his ability to enter any college that
the requirements had been complied
whit would mean something.
In connection with this subject Prof.
Smith sent the following letter to the
G. l o b e last night:
To the Editor OF the Globe.
1 desire in the most public manner possible
| to correct an error in the article in today S
! Dispatch upon the subject of conditioned pu-
pills from this city in the University of Min
I nesota. did not say that solid geometry was
not taught in the Cleveland and Humboldt
high schools; nor did I say that the principals
had said so. l did say that the principals
stated that they had not taught Olney's ad-
vanced university algebra. l also stated
that in certifying pupils to the university
understood advanced algebra" to mean Oh
neys, and had acted accordingly. Mr.. Bry-
ant stated that his pupils had taken solid
geometry. | am unwilling to be a party to
any seeming or possible injustice towards my
fellow workers, whose earnestness and enthu-
sasm | commend and who have my good
will and good wishes. l have no doubt that
the Dispatch will correct its otherwise good
report in this particular. Very respectfully
A. ]. Smith
PrincipaI Central High School