Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-02
WATERWLLE HIGH SCHOOL.
Marked Changes Made in The Several Courses
by Principal Nelson.

The changes in the high school course
have been completed by PRINCIPAL Oohn
+. Nelson. who. with his assistant, $ H.
Smith. has been at work on the courses
ever since the spring term closed.
Through The changes thai have been made
every course at the high school now fits
for some college. whether scientific,
classical or literary.
The courses that were fortmerly ar
ranged. while unusually good courses
had a tendency 70 lead the student AWAY
from college. rather than to il. Then. in
order for a person to fit for college, it
was necessary for him 10 select the nee
essary studies. Now the courses all tit a
person for college ana conform with the
requirements made by every college for
admission. There have been great
many changes within the past few years
in tho requirements for college the
changes having been made by the college
faculties. Where At ono time il was
necessary fur 4 student 10 have certain
amount II Greek in order % get into col
lege. it is not now necessary to have a
knowledge of that subject. but instead
something else may be substituted In
the past there has been no specia! cours:.
by which q person might fit for the Uni
versity Of Maine or any other scientific
college and it has been necessary for the
student 10 elect certain courses.
This has now been all changed The
regular college course of the High schoo:
that by which a student may fit for col
lege BY studying the studies that have
been required for a long time, gives th4
student the chance 10 fit in the usual
manner. There are some students who
have an adherence Of the old form Of
fitting for college. They have elaine |
that the time spent on Greek was waste
Of time. To these students the literary
course is offered. This course when com
plcted Will fit a student for Colby so that
the student may enter upon the course
leading to the degree of Bachelor OF
Philosophy. this being the new course
offered by Colby.
Again there is another class of Students
VINO have no interest either in The an
Gent Languages or the literary subjects.
but rather have a bent toward the sci
enccs. a course TO meet tie requirement.,
of these students has been prepared ana
University Of Maine Or other scientific
colleges.
While it has been the aim OF the school
to furnish courses that will lead to col
iege, vet the great mass of the students
who have no intention of pursuing their
studies beyond the High school have not
been lost sight of by any means and each
course furnishes the foundation for an
education and will fully meet the require.
ments of the students of that class.
one Of the disadvantages of the former
method was that the parents of the stu
dents had no idea of what studies tn,
scholars We're to take up. As a result the
students during the first year would en-
ter upon one course ana then. when 4
month Or more had passed. would change
their minds ana enter upon another
course. The result was that the students
would have several weeks Of back work
TO make up and some would never ful,r
make up the work.
This year. Principal Nelson has made
decided departure. He has had printed
the full course of studies of the High
school and will at once send them to the
parents. Another disadvantage has been
that the parents did not know whether or
not the students would be required to
study at home. Principal Nelson calls
special attention to this in his circular
ana states that each student il required
to study at home. This is made neces.
'ary through the one session plan that is
% be carried out during the coming YEAR.
rs in the past.
Another slight change is to be made AMI
that is in the English ana composition
There have been. from time immemorial,
complaints from all parts Of the State
hat the student after completing his
high school course could no. write decent
English. Especial attention is to be paid
o composition. English and elocution.
MI the courses have been gone over in |
he most thorough manner, ana Hon. S |
:. Brown. who has had a great deal of |
experience in school matters. has been
,ther members Of the board. In addition |
he courses have been approved by Pres |
Butler Of Colby ana Pres. Harris Of the
University of Maine.
The fan term will open, Monday, Sept |
!, ana viii con inue II weeks The |
curses are:
classical cOuiSe-FreShman year: First |
erm, Latin, algebra, physiology, Eng |
ish: second term. Latin, algebra, physi- !
al geography. English; third term |
,aesar, algebra. English analysis, Eng |
ism. Sophomore year: First term, Caesar, |
ireek, general history, English: second |
erm, Caesar, Greek. Greek and Roman |
history. English: third term. Caesar. al
zebra, Nepos. Anabasis. geometry, Eng |
ish. Junior year: First term, Cicero, |
geometry. English; second |
ERIN, Cicero. Anabasis, geometry, Eng |