The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-18
FACTS FOR IA whey
Success Of Minneapolis High School
Pupils Answers His General
Charge Against Schools.
Frank Lagerquist Not the Only One
to Pass Exams Without Spec
ial Training.

The recent attack Of Congressman
James q. TaWney on the high school sys-
tenn Of Minnesota has called forth storm
OF protest thruout the state. The resent
@ment over his structures has been pro-
snounced In Minneapolis, where there is
plenty OF evidence that his reflections on
the high schools were unfair.
& MT. TaWney declared that the high
schools We're simply fitting schools for
the state university, and failed to equip
graduates for the battle Of life, because
four applicants sent up by him failed to
pass the entrance examinations for Ann
apolls. AS they were graduates Of high
schools in his district, Mr.. Tawney con-
GUIDED that all high schools in the state
looked alike and included them in his
sweeping criticism, declaring that there
was need of a radical change.
Frank Lagerqutst, North Side High
senior has passed the entrance examin-
atoms for Annapolis with high honors
recently without any private tutoring or
special training
1T was all the result Of the good in
struct1on Frank received in the public
schools, commented Gust Lagerquist of
~ First avenue N, In telling to-day about
his sons success.
The statement of Mr. Lagerquist is no.
tably justified by the facts that his son
took no studies outside Of a hieh-schoo
course, and was able nevertheless, tc
pass the severe Annapolis examina tior
more than six months before he had beer
graduated from the North Side high
school.
Frank was born in Minneapolis less thar
eighteen years ago. His father, 701 Ell.
Wood avenue, a native Of Sweden, manu-
1actures elevator machinery at 1928 First
avenue n. He attended the public schools
only; first the Grant school and afterwards
the North isde Hibh school
q A Public School Product.
He laways wanted to go to the navy
said Mr.: Lagerquist But he got all his
education in theictiy schools, except thai
ne studled practical mechanics in my fac
tory. He took great interest in his
BOOKS tho he wouldn't study at night
ne used to set an alarm clock to wake
MN up at 5 In the morning, if he hac
any lessons to attend to at home.''
sometimes he's up at half past 4. W.
| never urged him to do it. He simply
| wanted to get on. He spent all his after.
moons down here at the factory. He at.
tended to my correspondence and worked
! IN the shop. He is good mechanic fo1
| his age. ~
| senator Nelson secured him an an.
po1ntment as a candidate for Annano]is
frank wouldn't have been graduated from
me North high until next January. Blu
te, soI tnis chance and he took the men.
lal examination at st. Paul last month
us very hard one, they say.
| Two weeks later he was notified that he
mao passed-they didn't give his standing
| linen ne was ordered to report at An
napol1s for the physical examination
Kne" ne would go thru that all right
hes a Dig, strong boy. He weighs 13!
he was accepted He wrote that he wa,
going to enter the AGA dernv new $3.50,
ing 1>e 'A N'l I
More Pupils Who Passed.
| Professor William F. Webster, prinoi
PAL or the East Side high school, now sun
plies the names ebf four former n,,ni1
! at that school-ons- Of them an under
graduate-who had no difficulty in get
| ting. into West Point or annapolis. Clyf
| tord Game, now a lieutenant at Manila
had no trouble in passing the entrance
examinations to West Point soon ate
his graduation from the East Side hig]
school. -. - re
Allen S. Keyes took the examfnatio,
for West Point three day safter bein,
graduated from sthe East high school
! and without any preparation whatever
aside from that which he had received
by d1ligent attention to his studies II
that school. He stood third among thos
who passed the rigid military test, and il
|
capacity in New Mexico.
William Pye Is one Of Professor Web
ster's boys, who acquitted himself cred
1itably at Annapolis and is now an office
in the navy. .@-.sgT
l William Folwell, son Of Professor W
W. Folwell Of the university, had ever
less preparation than the others. He lef
the high school when only a sophomore
and afterwards took a special course q
the university for a short time, but wa
not there long enough to add particular
to his fund Of information
AS Professor Webster says, what h
might have learned at the universit,
could have In no way prepared him TO
the entrance examinations for either tn
military or naval schools, because it is tn
high school course which grounds the stu
dent in the knowledge essential for ad
mission to those Institutions. Mr. Fol
well enlisted as volunteer officer in tn
war with Spain, afterwards took the ex
animation and is to-day the youngest frs
lieutenant In the regular army.
Professor Webster Speaks Plainly.
II am not Dragging about the particula
} advantages of the East Side high school,
: said Professor Webster, "as prep schot
for either Annapolis OF West Points bu
as it was included In Mr.. Tawney's gen
eral slur, I feel that it Is time for m
~ Spedh. Lie IllSn SCHOOLS OF mime
} apolis, ST. Paul, Duluth and Winona ar
about on par in thei refficiency an
what applies to, one should apply to all.
The truth Of the matter probably
J that II Mr.. Tawneys applicants had bee
selected with reference to their speci.
fitness for entering Annapolis rather tina
thru q political pull the result wou]
have been different when it came to til
| examinations. It is too often the case tbs
tho sons Of wealthy men-boys who ha,
. shirked all thru high school and failed
Z take advantage Of their opportunities, WI