Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1898-03-09
Our High School.

Previous to the session of the
 Eighteenth legislature, all high
 schools of the territory were run
 under clause of the school law,
 which reads: Classes when sufficient.
 ly advanced may pursue ia the dis
 cretion of principals, the following
 studies m addition to those pre-
 scribed by law: Algebra, physics,
 universal history, political economy,
 geometry, geology, chemistry, Latin,
 and Spanish. subject, however, to the following provisions: First, such additional studies shall not be taught to the exclusion of those ,numerated in Section Sl of the s, hoOl law; second, school trustees ar, not authorized to employ special teachers to give instruction in any particular branch.
 The high school of Prescott seems to have been run under the above clause up to the present time. The course has never been extended over more than two years, and all the teaching has had to be done by one man, who was also expected to look after the supervision of both build ings, work which in itself would require one mans time, if we'll done.
 Past graduates @ from the Pres colt high school have never been able to enter Berkley, Oberlin or any other reputable college to which they have gone without spending at least two years in some preparatory school. There are at the present time young people away from Pres colt pursuing high school studies at a cost of about S3,0OO a year to our citizens, and there are more than twice as many at home who are not able to go away who would be glad of aD opportunity to pursue these studies.
 The full high school course might be taught in Prescott with the as sistance of one more teacher, which would cost the district less than one third of what is now being sent away, and would afford opportuni- ties to those who are not able to go away. This extra teacher cannot be hired with grammar school funds under the present plan. Indeed, 1t IS possible for any board of trustees or county superintendent, or board of supervisors, who may not be as friendly to our schools as our pres ent officers, to suppress even the two years of high school course We now Ihave. I call attention to the fact that this Is precisely what as done at Flagstaff last year.
 The eighteenth legislature passed a high school 1ct. modelled after the ] California b;gh school law, allowing any town of 2u00 or more inhabi- ! tants to establish and maintain a high sChool. Prescott is peculiarly 1 situat cd to take advantage of this | law, As no new building is needed, ! and the expense to the district | would be confined to the salary of | one teacher and a little apparatus.
 There have been enrolled in the :. high school the present year thirty seven pupils. But two or three of ! these are planning to leave us next year, having 6nished the present course. There are about sixteen ex- pectiug to enter next year. IT the district takes advantage of the high school act and places our school on a proper footing there will be fifty of our og chi dren iu our high school in less than two years. It will be an honor to our town ard will attract people to us, instead of our brightest young people away when they still need home Nor do we care to miss our sons and daughters at their at .ractive age from our town society.
 Says one, Il think you have teachers enough in Prescott now" Dur teachers are certainly doing all hey can, and doing it well. An intelligent knowledge of the situa- ion is all the objector lacks.
 "Will 1t not be an opening wedge O further increase taxes hereafter7" Not if the growth of Preso ott ceases where 1t is, and We raise no more |, children. If, howev>r, our noun , ain city continues to grow as it 1 deserves, We hope our high school ( will be wedge that will split wide l pen the narrow sides of all who 1 would deny our young people the 'altry sum needed to give them the ( ,randest inheritance of every Ameri- | an child-a good high school edu- , ation-while we furnish S3,000 to i ,urn at Fourth of July celebra- , ioD, or like amount to some thea CT company to come here and i leprave the children's morals.
 F. s. HAFFoRD. ;