Evening journal., 1903-08-27
AN EDUCATIONAL CENTRE.


AN EDUCATIONAL CENTRE.
A glance at the calendar will remind
many a parent that he must soon de-
eide an important question relating to
his boy or girl. The school year has al
most opened. and the educational prob
lem is pressing. OF course, to most
Wilmington parents the solution will
be found IA our public schools which
are beginning to realize the modern
idea of the system. But there are
many in the rural communities who
feel that the local schools are made
quate. and many parents in the city
believe that in private schools there are
greater opportunities for advancement
and for personal attention. For these
persons the important question Is to
select the school.
There are preparatory schools all
over the country, and almost every hill
top Of New York and New England is
adorned by one OF these institutions,
and their advertisements are very al.
Turing But we believe that we are
voiclng the sentiments Of most educa-
tors who have no personal axe TO grind
when we say that the work In prepar-
atory education should be done at
home whenever II Is possible. The
small colleges all over the country
flourish because they are filled with
men who are taking n course prepara-
tory TO post graduate work at the great
universities.
The reasons are not far to seek. In
the first place, there are good prepara-
tory schools in almost every commu-
nity-probably as good In our own city
as are to be found anywhere. Then,
too. the boy or the girl of the age to
attend such n school is infinitely better
of when kept in touch with the home
life and home influences Frequently
we hear parents say that a course In
distant institution will broaden the
pupil and give him new views Of life,
and that he may make acquaintances
that will be valuable in after life. This
may apply TO mature students who are
ready for the college or university, but
il is overbalanced by perils In the work
Of preparatory education.
1t is only proper TO say that right
here in Wilmington are as thorough
preparatory schools as can be found in
the country Their standing may be
overlooked by those who aresthipklRgl
Of sounding names, picturesque -ioch-
tions and great enroilmehts. f,Fie
Friends school has done an unostenta-
tious, but splendid work for years, and
many a man at college has had oeca-
sion to be thankful for the thorough
training which he received there, which
made his advanced work easy. Then
we have our Military Academy, which
has become a source Of pride 10 our
people. It is an institution that should
be encouraged, both for its thorough
work In the class rooms, and for the
thoroughness OF the military discipline
which encourages obedience and prop
er department
Besides these we have two business
colleges Of high standing, which Is re-
cognized I'm the number of students
that are enrolled from other states
The constantly growing demand FOL
I. experts in every line Of business calls FOL
all the competent graduates from these
institutions. So Wilmington for work
below the college grade and the profes'
sionai schools may be regarded as al
educational center, and there is no oc'
casion for anyone to pass beyond th'
borders Of the city or State to secure
the best advantages that preparatory
schools can offer.