Abilene weekly reflector., 1901-06-20
High School Courses.

" a. Atouu Va MoA ov"o seS~
before the alumni there the other
day an interesting paper on the rels-
tion value Of high school courses. lts
arguments applies not only in Marshall
county but throughout the state. He
says
"You cannot transform the public
school into an academy. 1t is still
a public school. You cannot make
it a stepping stone into any par
ticular university. Experience shows
this 10 not success. A very small
proportion Of the school population
10 taking advantage Of the higher
branches In our school and we are
sending away to higher institutions
. very small number Of graduates.
While In the face OF this, young peo'
pie from our city, pupils from our
schools, and even graduates attend
other schools offering instruction in
bookkeeping, higher arithmetic, etc.,
and giving business education and
training. What q great dispropor.
tion between the numbers OF young
people leaving our community for
the State University or similar insti.
tutions, and those entering business
colleges or similar schools! Therein,
! submit, lies the great cause for
lack Of enthusiasm in our high school.
We are offering the pupils two or
more years work in the high school,
which to their practical minds is un-
necessary or distasteful. We have
heretofore compelled them to study
Latin and similar branches, the value
Of which minds greater than ours
have argued. We have raised the
course Of study to prepare for uni.
versity entrance and a very small
number have taken university work.
The majority have taken up business
advocations. By so doing we have
pushed back a very large percent
who might have been enrolled as
graduates and been thereby benefited.
At the same time believe 1t has i'm.
paired the efficiency Of the schools.
l venture the assertion that II the
views Of the patrons and pupils Of
our school were canvassed, the ma
jority expression would be, Give
US q good business education and
thorough instruction in the common
branches 1ten should any desire
higher education let them enter the
high school adjacent to the university
they select, where the work is carried
on under the supervision and in the
spirit Of the parent institution, which
has always been found more salts.
factory.
"This is commercial age and all
institutions have felt its inroads.
Commercial colleges have hourished,
normal colleges have been success.
ful and just recently one Of the great
eastern colleges offers higher com.
mercial course. 1t is plain to see the
lesson In this.
"What inducement is there to q
healthy boy anxious to be in the busi-
ness whirl on bis own responsibility
to take up the stady Of Latin verbs
or similar workP II he we're prepar.
Ing for a thorough college course
you might make him see the utility
Of it. But nothing appeals to him
but that shows that 1t will be q sub.
stantial aid in earning bis daily
bread. Yet | believe nine-tenths Of
our young people see our course Of
study in this light. For my part
would rather see twenty young pso-
pie graduate from our school In q
comparatively lower course Of study
than half q dozen from the present
course. believe 1t would mean
more to our community and more to