The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-08
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOLS
SUPERINTENDENT JONES TELLS OF
THEIR GROWTH.
In His Annual Report He Makes Rec
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Interest,"
ing Facts About Them.

odptA tCi0C Va
Jones, who is not only thoroughly ac-
quainted with the growth and development
of Indiana's school system, but knows its
needs as well. has prepared the following
interesting article on the growth OF high
schools in the State:
1.-THE most remarkable development In In
diana's school system during the last ten
years has been it's high schools. There are
within the State III bona fide high schools
in which instruction is given during periods
of two, three or four years. we snould aoa
to this number about $50 others In which
some high-school work is done in the sub
jects of algebra, physical geography. bot
any, beginning Latin and general history
these schools may not be properly termed
''high schools" though they give. in many
instances, satisfactory instruction, for the
reason that much more OF the teacher
time is given to the classes in the common
branches.
1.-THE development Of the high school is
due to the following:
81. The system of careful grading, classi-
fication and promotion of the common
school pupils. This system has enabled
most schools to graduate the pupils from
the common school work at the age of
fifteen, whereas the system of a few years
ago admitted of c-ommon-school work 10
the age of twenty-one. The necessity for a
school to train the child in the home COM
munity during a few years succeeding the
completion of the common school course
became apparent.
GRADES OF WORK.
'2. The necessity for a different grade
Of work during the secondary period of the
child's life than that pursued during his
earlier years. The peculiar traits of mind
and body require greater freedom In the
selection Of studies. less restraint in dis
cipline and larger latitude for investigation
and inquiry.
"3. The abandonment of college prepara-
tory schools. This has thrown much work
upon the high schools and can be well done
by the army of college graduates who go
directly from the colleges to accept posi-
tons in the high schools.
"A. The larger requirements for admis-
sion to colleges. They will no longer ac-
cept pupils into their student bodies with
out a thorough preliminary training: The
high schools have accepted this work and
have grown accordingly.
SO. The development of science. The APP
plication of science to nearly all trades and
professions has called forth a popular de-
mand for local instruction in that subject,
thus in casing the sentiment for local high
schools.
sc. The natural pride Of one community
to equal in school advantages those of an
other community has created a sort of con-
tagious high-school spirit
~. The operation of the new t~ransfer
law. No other force has had such an i'm
11Nh ~ olOE
the high-school spirit. The new law re-
quires a transfer OF school funds to accom-
pany the transfer of children. This ex-
odus of school funds, though not great,
in most communities has caused trustees
to build and equip high schools to avoid
the transfer of the funds, though the adj
ditional expenditures for buildings, and
the small attendance, do not justify such a
policy. The result Is that just outside of
many large cities and towns there are high
schools poorly equipped, poorly housed and
poorly taught, when first-class accommodate
tions may be had within the limits of the
inside corporation. Something should be
done to regulate the establishment of these
schools and TO prevent, IL necessary, the
vicious practice of equipping a high school
except where the conditions admit of 1t.
INSPECTION.
1.-THE Legislature should either define a
high school or authorize the State Board
of Edcation or the State Department Of
Public instruction to do so. This would
recessitate an annual inspection of the
high schools of the State, not for purposes
Of interference with local school notions.
but to require that the high school stand
ard, within certain limits, be maintained.
This is not an innovation, inasmuch as
the State Board of Education already re-
quires an inspection of high schools as a
prerequisite to the issuance of a commits
sion and as a condition of the transfer of
a commission from a superintendent to
his successor. a legal standar for all
high schools and an annual inspection of
commissioner high schools are the two
great necessities in connection with secon-
cary education in Indiana.
1.-THE department publishes, for the first
time, a full table of statistics relative 10
the high school. From the table, school
authorities may obtain data with which 10
compare their local expenditures, per cap
ita cost, and the salaries of teachers. The
most important points for the year clos
ing June 80, 1900, are as folows:
Number of graduates from the eighth
grade (the basis of the high schooD. 10, 71e
Number of township, town and city
high schools, not including many
grade schools doing some high
school work ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. III
Number Of commissioned high schools. l5t
Number of graduates from commits
stoned high schools 2,S15
Number of graduates from noncom-
missioned high schools. 1,0sa
Number of pupils enrolled in noncom-
missioned high schools. ............. Is, 79f
Number of pupils enrolled I'm commits
m~issioned high Is, 45C
Average cost per pupil In noncommis-
m~issioned high schools. $40. CT
Average cost per pupil i'm commits
stoned high school. ................. $3.50
Numbers of teachers in noncommis-
stoned high SlS
Number OF teachers in commissioned
high Scncol Hs
Average wages per day for high school
teachers. from &.12 to A.55. (See table for
average in each county,"