Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-09
WATERVTIILE.
THE POINT SYSTEM
Will Be Adopted by the High School
in September.

IN September.
The point system, so-called, which is
in use in several places in the State
will be adopted in the High school here
at the opening Of the next school year
in the fall This gives opportunity for
a wider choice in studies and allows a
student to fit himself for any particu-
lar course he wishes to pursue in col
lege or to select a course that will end
with the High school. The point sys-
tenn is now used by most of the col
leges as a basis for admission, each
study being arbitrarily credited with a
certain number of points q fixed total
being required for admission. The
value of any study in points is the
same in nearly all of the colleges and
this valuation is given here in the
High school.
The school year will be divided into
two equal parts, a course of study be-
ing completed at the end of each half,
but the terms and vacations will re-
main the same as in the past. In the
course as arranged in the first half of
the first year the student will be re-
quired to take English and algebra and
will be allowed to select two others
from Greek history, Latin and arithme-
tic, the choice being supposed to be
governed by the profession or calling to
which he intends to devote himself in
life.
In the second half of the first year he
will be required to take English and
algebra as in the first half, but will
have Roman history, Latin and botany
from which to select his other two
studies Thus in the freshman year
each student will pursue two required
studies and two electives.
In the first half of the second or
sophomore year the student will be re-
quired to take English and may select
three other studies from plane geome-
try, medieval history, Latin, Greek,
French and physiology. In the second
half of this year English is again re-
duired but modern history is substitute
ed for medieval and zoology for physi
OlOgy.
English is required in both halves of
the third or junior year, but larger
number of studies is offered from which
to select the other three. In the first
half there are algebra, English history,
Latin. Greek. French, German, physics
ana physical geography. In the second
half of this year algebra is omitted and
American history substituted for Eng
Iish. the others being the same.
In the fourth or senior year nothing
is required, the student being allowed
to select any four from the following.
First half-English, algeria, American
history. Latin. Greek, German, chemis-
trv and astronomy; second half-Eng
lish. solid geometry, civics, Latin,
Greek, political economy, German.
chemistry and geology.
1t will be seen from this course that
tho student is allowed much greater
choice in studies than formerly, the
only ones required being English for
three full years and algebra for the
first wear. This will allow student to
prepare himself for any college which
he NAV wish to enter or any scientific
school to which graduates of secondary
schools are admitted, while if he so de-
sires he may select q course that will
end with his graduation from the
school.
The elective studies are placed in the !
lowest grade in which they may be
chosen without special permission, but |
pupiIs of an upper grade may select
any study in q lower grade. For in
stance. a senior may have one study
with the freshman, two with the
minors and one with the seniors, pro-
vioIed he has not taken them before.
Students of the first year, however,
win naturally not be allowed to choose
as they desire from the upper grades,
for the more difficult studies that re-