The Minneapolis journal., 1901-09-07
NEW HIGH SCHOOLS
There Are Now I2o Schools Receiv-
ing State Aid.
INSPECTOR G. B. ATOMS REPORT
Aid From 800 to $500
Amply Proven.

George B. Alton, state inspector of
high schools, in its eighth annual report
to the state high school board, teetities
to most prosperous year in the high
schools of the state. Fourteen additional
schools were added to the list of those
receiving state aid, making total of 129
now in this class. The new schools are
Arlington, Atwater, Blooming Prairie.
Browns Valley, Elbow Lake, Fertile,
Fulda, Hallock, Hector, Howard Lake,
New Richmond, olivia, Sherburne and
Wheaton. There are now but eleven
counties in the state that have no high
schools as yet, viz: Beltrami, Benton,
Carver, Cass, Cook. Isanti. Kanabec, Lake,
Lincoln, Pine and Roseau.
The wisdom OF increasing state aid from
$400 to $500, and again to 1000, has been
amply proven by the results, says Mr.
Alton, as there has been general move
ment for Improvement in facilities and in
struction. Speaking further on this score,
he says:
Public opinion is strongly agitated as to
what a high school education should be, but
local sentiment is almost unanimous for the
maintenance OF high schools. do not be-
lieve there is a high school town in the
state in which board member could be
elected on an out and out anti-high school
platform. While an intelligent public policy
must always be in favor of liberal support
for normal schools and for a state university,
l am free to assert that state aid to high
schools ranks next to aid for rural schools
as an efficient means of bringing education
home to the people.
AS to the cost of the high school fea-
ture of the educational system in COM
pariSon with its results, Mr.. Alton says:
So far as l can collect information, salaries
in Minnesota are comparatively moderate and
l am safe in saying that in proportion to
f1,nfv. &1N
volume Of work accomplished, our high
schools are the cheapest schools, cost the
least money, of any schools of their class
on the face of the globe. The briefest COM
parison of our high schools with academies.
normal schools, preparatory departments Of
colleges and schools of business, will show
that in point of quarters, janitor service,
number of instructors, and salaries, the peo-
pie are getting more for their money, dollar
by dollar, in the high school than in any
other. corresponding school at home or
abroad. Instead Of admitting that high
schools are an expensive luxury, we are en-
titled to maintain that they are an econom-
cally administered necessity.
The total number of high school stu
dents in the state last year was IA 4,170,
an Increase Of 1,268 over the previous
year. In proportion to population North
field has the largest enrolment of any
yates last year, little less than 12 per
cent of the total enrolment.
The facts Of the enrolment by sub
jects give some interesting pointers on the
present trend in education in choice of
subjects. Seven years ago Greek was
taught in twenty-five high schools, to-day
in but twelve. Physiology, Photography,
French, astronomy, free hand and mechan-
ical drawing and manual training, either
show but slight gains or a loss in popu-
larity in the same time. On the other
hand German, rhetoric, English classics,
English literature, English American and
ancient history, Latin and the sciences
show a large gain. The study
of English is not held in such ia
vor, Mr.. Alton states, that he is not
far from being able to announce
that every student in the high school sys-
tenn is studying some English classic
daily. There is no tendency under the
present system of optional studies to set
aside difficult subjects for easy ones, he
declares. The decline of freehand draw
ing he can not approve Of He regards
it as a serious symptom. OF the Ian
guages German is making the largest rel
ative gain in student favor, having in
creased by eighteen high schools and 600
students in the past year.