The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-02
An Interesting Conference.

President Edmund ]. James, Of North
western university, is an educator of ideas
and energy, and the latest demonstration
he has given of that desirable combina-
ton is the calling Of a national confer
ence on secondary education and its
problems This conference will meet In
Evanston Oct. 80 and 81.
The call for the meeting suggests ten
topics and every one Of them will greatly
interest those numerous persons who are
now engaged in considering the problems
Of high schools. Among the topics are
religious instruction in the high schools,
the position Of Latin ,and Greek In their
courses, the imitation .of the social fea-
lures Of college life and2 the feasibility Of
arousing public spirited citizens to con-
tribute to equipment and support Of pub
lie high schools as theya now do to acad
emies and seminar1es.
] The last mentioned Is a topic that has
often been considered in these columns.
There seems to be no reason why, once
precedent should be created, men of
wealth should not be. Just as willing to
contribute to the betternent of a state
lAAioIAkuIAoil aS VI d pbIVdlC lllStltullOu. 1Ic
fact that there are so few contributions Of
that sort Is doubtless due to the idea that
the state institution. whether school or
university, having the wealth Of the state
behind 1t, does not Mcguire and should not
expect private aid. But the state has
many channels thru which to dsburse
Its revenues. and there,are many valuable
aids to education which,it does not feel it
can afford. tho they would be gratefully
accepted and we'll used,if provided by pri-
waite generosity.
The topics that will attract the widest
land deepest interest, however, will be
those dealing with the relation Of the high
school to the university, and these are
thus stated in the call:
Should the public high school be looked
upon primarily as a school to prepare
young men and women for the college and
university? Or should it be viewed as an
independent school with it's own impor-
tant ends and aims, to which preparation
for higher institutions must be strictly
secondary? -
If the latter is the correct view what is
the effect Of the, system of accredited
schools adopted by the state universities
and the leading private universities in the
tend to subordinate. the high school and
force, it into the position of mere prep
aratory school for these institutions?
II this view of the Independent charac-
ter of the high school is a correct one,
should sthe college frankly recognize the
altered situate and accept any curri-
culum which the high school works out
as suitable for it's purposes as also suit
able prepa sation for the college and uni
versity? s
The public will be curious to know what
view professional educators will take of
these subjects. The general public's mind
as to them is tpretty we'll made up 1t
feels that the high school courses should
be shaped with view to the peculiar ends
and aims of formal education that NAV
not go farther. 1t would then have the
state, universities adapt their courses so
as to fit the high school courses. In this
manner the high school graduate will be
well equipped for life if it is not
possible or desirable for him to continue
his formal educatbon and, on the other
hand. the university will be open to him If
he desire to go farther
President James has done the cause Of
educat ton great, service in calling a. con-
ference to discuss such pressing prac-
teal educational problems, and it is not
possible that the, conference will be other
than beneficial.