The sun., 1900-06-26

Ine experience OF the teachers, the i'm
proved methods Of instruction including
better text books and generally better sp-
pliznces in all the schools, must be re-
garded az eliminating in tie production
Of a higher standard OF scholarship in
the High School graduates. Forgetting
the glorie= Of the past therefore We safely
and reasonably conclude that all in all,
the commencement exercises were better:
that they represented a broader and
ripper scholarship than ever before. That
too was the sentiment Of all the ad-
dresses. The School Board and faculty
Of the schools, including all, are to be
heartily congratulated upon the success
OF their work-the primary and grammar
school teachers no less than those Of the
High School.
Unless the schools are as harmonious
units working together the High School
would be useless possession. Happily
these grades in the schools follow each
other in harmonious relationship, and
the results which follow is the sending
out Of the High School every year band
Of really well educated young men and
young women to be added to great mass
Of responsible citizenship Of the coun-
try. We take it that these graduates
from the public High Schools are in a
peculiar sense the leayen Of righteousness
in. and being always renewed and in
creased, that is to leaYen the whole
lump 81 our state and national Life. IL
this yisw OF the results OF public educa-
;ion, It must not be forgotten that the
great mass Of the scholars of the public
schools DO not reach the High School
commencement exercises. For these the
primary and grammar schools must sui-
fee, and because they must 60 suf-
fee for the larger number they become
relatively more important. These schools
should be of the very best. There should
be no lack Of anything in them, cost what
it may OF money and care, that will in
crease their efficiency. Care for the pri-
mary and grammar schools is not only
the only way to care truly for the educa-
tion Of the masses of the people, but ii is
the best way to provide for and increase
the efficiency Of the Public High School.
Push the pupils OF the grammar schools
up and the High School standard must
60 higher. There can be no stops within
the limits Of possibility; such stop any
where would limit the opportunities OF
the masses Of the people for the attain
ment of that which is alone, and of its
self, the irresistible leveler OF human
inequalities.
Political equality is thing OF the law,
a legal proposition that ia as yet very
far from practical realization. and it can.
not be realized until all the people are
brought to practically one mental level.
Absolute mental equality ie apparently
not attainable: thousand and one things
conspire to prevent it; but there is this
possibility, to bring the whole people tc
such level Of mental requirement and
development, as to practically abolish
the evils OF our present and apparent
political inequalities.
The necessity Is therefore on the people
the masses-to force advance along the
line Of popular education with all pos
sible speed. The facilities for popular
education cannot be too good, nor car
the opportunities for the education O
tie peoples children be too great. These
truisms apply here as elsewhere. Della
ware needs all the educational influences
that can possibly be brought to beal
upon her body polite. She needs
thinkera and workers of high capacity
now, as she possibly never needed then
before-shs needs them to touch arigh
the new century that is just dawning; tc
grasp its opportunities and apply it
spirit OF transition and expansion to he
local affairE.