The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-11-08


more by the bookkeeping and the COM
mercial arithmetic of the course than
by the orthodox subjects, the classics
and the mathematics, what occasion
for alarm is there3
Rather let there be rejoicing because
one more youth has determined to pre-
pare himself for better and more use
full citizenship. When you have once
succeeded in interesting a boy to take
up high school course, you will often
succeed later on inducing him to take
up many of the purely culture sub
jects.
1t now remains for us to consider
what the business course should consist
Of. In the first place attention should
be given to bookkeeping, commercial
arithmetic, commercial law, and ele-
mentary economics. The common
branches, more especially arithmetic,
geography, and the history of our
country, should be thoroughly review
ed. This is very important for the
reason that when these subjects are
completed in the grades the pupils can
not have acquired more than child's
knowledge of them. Yet no subjects
are more essential to practical, useful
citizenship than these, and there is
every reason why they should be given
due weight in the practical course we
are now considering. Then, too, for
the high school graduate who wishes
to engage in teaching in our rural
schools review Of the common
branches is most essential in the high
school course. The failure of 40 per
cent to pass the comparatively easy
examinations given to the teachers of
the state is largely to be accounted for
by the fact that the applicants have
not as a rule made study of the fun
damental branches after their minds
reached some degree of maturity. 1t
would therefore seem highly advisable
to combine the features of the pros
pective teachers course with those of
the business or civic course. This
could be done without making ,neces-
sary any material addition to the or
binary teaching force.
Modern languages, especially Ger
man, French, and Spanish, should be
made prominent in the course of
which we are speaking. In the.case of
German and French, no argument
seems necessary. The Importance and
value of Spanish is rapidly increasing,
for the reason that our dealings with
the Spanish speaking people to the
south of US and in our new possessi ons
are daily growing. A fourth modern
tention, namely, English. Much has
been done toward improving our high
school institution in our mother ton
que. 1t is probably in our grades that
our method of English instruction is
most open to criticism. But gradually
technical grammar has been forced to
abdicate the sway which it has held so
long, and common sense methods are
gaining more in favor
Other subjects which naturally sug
gest themselves are, penmanship. me-
chanical drawing, and business prac
tice
In addition to the subjects enumer-
ated, almost as much of history, litera-
ture, and science may be given as in
the ordinary high school courses. Only
mathematics and latin need suffer to
any appreciate extent. 1t will be
noticed that have not attempted to
arrange in any orderly sequence the
subjects named. In fact, such a course
must be largely adapted to local condi-
tions, Many helpful suggestions may
be obtained from the recent reports of
ex-State Supt. Lewis and Inspector
Alton.
To the proposed course some will at
once raise the objection that it does
not contain enough culture and mental
discipline. If this charge can be es-
tablished it is a most serious one. But
it has always been difficult to prove
that latin has any advantage over
German or any other representative
modern language, SO far as culture and
mental discipline are concerned.
None of the subjects named. if pursued
in the right spirit, and with the pro
per application, will be found wanting
in culture value In other words, dur
ing the first year or two of high
school work it does not matter so much
what the boy studies as that he does
study something.
From the standpoint of utility and
practical preparation for life the con-
est between the advocates and oppon-
ents of this course of study is one
sided .one No one will undertake to
question the utility and practical bear
ings of the business course as usually
outlined. And yet this is the second
of the two great criteria of all educa-
tional plans, the first having already
been discussed under the head of Gull
ture value. 1t may be argued, of
course, that to the future scholar, law
yer, or doctor, latin is of much more
Importance than any one modern