The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-10-23
"A WORD ABOUT The SCHOOLS.
Continued from first page. !

recognition or LABOR
Another still mora fundamental rea-
son why schools should lay stress upon
a general training as we understand
that term-a training for those who do
not go to colleges, that the very large
majority of students are not preparing
for college but leave the work in the
upper grades. during or at the close of
the High School course. 1t would seem
that the justice of the situation demands
that if it is not possible to arrange a
curriculum suited to both these classes
of students, the larger class should re-
ceive first consideration. AT present in
nearly all schools the reverse condition
obtains In large measure that condi-
tion holds for our system as well. Not
that the present plan is radically wrong,
but that it is incomplete. believe that
we are able to give not only the neces-
sary preparatory college training, but
also the training that shall best fit the
large majority of young men and wo-
men who enter upon the on-profession-
al walks of life.
] The movement to give consideration
/ to the training Of this class of students
has found expression in various forms
of work and it has resulted in the gen
eral misunderstanding of the true ma
ture and parpose of manual training,
/ for in nearly all cases only a partial at
tempt could be made in this direction
which was naturally mis- construed. In
some cases the subjects have been chos-
en- unwisely and they were labelled
''fads" 1t is true that there are today
many so-called educational "fads, both
as to methods of instruction and subject
material They are some of the many
results which are naturally an out
growth of the tendency to make the
curriculum more nearly adequate to the
present needs and demands.
The course of study of the High School
arranged on the semester basis, which
was adopted by the School Board
a few weeks ago provides for general
course, and two college preparatory
courses, one for the college of engineer
ing and science and the other for the
college of classics and history. The
small laboratory space and meagre
equipment will not permit thorough nor
extensive work being done along the
lines of science and III general the
class room space is too cramped for
proper handling of classes. These con-
ditions have obtained under the term
plan and when the class from the Sth
grade comes into the High School in
February next, rs will be the case here
after under the semester plan, matters
will be still more difficult to adjust
properly, as that condition will necessi-
tate more classes and thus more room
and within year larger teaching
force. assume here that it is generally
understood what benefits accrue to the
students by the semester plan. Instead
of making up a whole years work in
the case eff a failure, student has the
opportunity, at the end of half year,
semester, to do the work over i'll case of
lack of power to carry it on, and so loses
only half year. To meet this necess'
ity alone would make it imperative that
more room be secured next year, and if
we wish to give proper recognition tc
the training discussed in this paper, as,
l feel, we ought to by all means, it is
evident that something must be done
1t is the purpose of this paper to present
the proposition early enough, so that
provisions can be made and plans pre-
scented at the next annual meeting, tC
meet these existing contingencies. The
needs briefly summed up are these, more
class room space, laboratories and the
necessary equipment, manual training
department and gymnasium. TIL,
provisions for the manual training de
partment should include first the shops
anu hCCbSSOTItS lOl tuc DoJb
for logically the boys come before the
girls in this, since they are to be the
bread winners, when they leave us t.
become citizens of this or another com
munity The present work for the girll
could be continued and later when the
course had been nodded to meet the I'm
mediate needs of the school, manua
training could be offered to those wish
ing to take it which naturally would in
clude the number who are not prepar
ing for college.
We are very much in need of d gym
nasium. A course of physical training il
as necessary as any other and to get the
best results for all the students it is moi
sufficient 20 encourage foot ball or other
games only which last but short time
and benefit only small part Of the
students, and usually the students
who do not need much of that sort OF
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