The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-02-24
has set good example for the future
Jor this kind of legislation that should
serve as an enduring precedent.
AID THE COMMON SCHOOLS

| AID L HI CoM MOIN SSHOOIS
Speaking of the bill to increase the
state high school appropriation from
$500 to 81, 1000 the Alexandria Post
News says:
| "Mr. Jacobson wishes to Increase the
appropriation of state high schools of
the first grade from $500 to 81 900 each.
This is we'll enough if it is done merely
to help these schools incidentally be-
cause of the increased expense incident
to having to accept pupils from any
part of the state without tuition But
| if it is thought this extra 81, 900 will
enable the high school to take the
place and do the work of normal
schools it is a mistake The high
schools will be no better and no worse,
will do no more and no less, because of
this aid than they do now and they
cannot ever take the place of the nor
NAL schools, nor should they try any
more than they should try to take the
place of the medical schools"
While we believe everything possible
should be done to improve the high
schools, yet we are Inclined to believe
that the Post-News in this instance is
correct that the high school will be no
better and no worse, and will do no
more in the way of preparing teachers
than it is doing now, Nothing that can
be done will make the high schools take
| the place Of the normal schools in the
training of teachers The high school
has field of it's own. 1t is, if YOU
please, a general purpose school, and
we believe that the sole aim should be
to make it more and more practical for
the hundreds of boys and girls who are
unable to prosecute their studies any
farther 1t should not be subordinated
as feeder for the university or for col
leges but should be made practical
school for the masses, and it's course of
study ought to have but o aim, and
that to how best fit the young for the
practical work of life. Fortunate in
deed, is he who can go farther than
the high school, but such are the excep
ton, and not the rule, though it is one
of the glories of this nation that those
exceptions are yearly growing more
and more frequent The high school
has it's own work to do, and it is a
great and glorious work. but it can
never be benefited by the desire of
those who would have it ape the nor
| mails. 1t is not designated for that
work and cannot do it without serious
ly interfering with the work it should
do.
AS regards the jacobson bill, we are
inclined to believe that the suggestion
of the Owatonna Journal that it should
| be changed to benefit the common
schools, and those high schools that
may be weak and are having a hard
| struggle for existence. AS mat
ters stand now, the high school, as
class are in good shape and are be
| coming more and more efficient. 1t is
| the schools below, the lower grades,
that need more attention and should
| be made more efficient. The majority
of our youth never reach even the high
school, and the school where they re-
ceive their education should be made
! the best possible 1t would be most
| fitting to concentrate attention and aid
upon the common schools for awhile,
| and in the meantime stop this senseless
ellous y between the high school and
| the normal that few are trying to
create.