Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-03-25
A Plea For the High School.
By Dr. Christian Johnson President of the Board wlar

are not generally so, without normal
training or experience in practical
teaching. On the osher hand I utter
~ deny that an examination by ques-
tlons and answers is in any sense a
test Of such qualification. Examina-
lions are useful a. whips to keep lazy
students at work while pursuing reg
ular courses of study, but the real test
OF students requirement is the
amount OF systematic work done dur
ing the course under competent in
structors. And the real test of a
teachers practical ability to impart
knowledge to the young is actual sue
ces>ful work in the school room. This
repeated examination of teachers is
child's play, and is only a passing
feature until the state gets full sup
ply of material fully qualified from
the start.
Again you say, ''It-the High
school curriculum isregards the
common branches in order to force a
few students through the course ready
to enter the university"
Is this charge true? I think not.
Our American theory of public po.
Icy is to so shape our institutions,
chief among which are our schools,
as to extend their benefits to all rich
aud poor alike. We especially want
to give the poor boy and girl of ener.
gy and talents chance to rise in the
world, to be able if they have the grit
to ascend to the highest stations OF
life. Now in order to give them that
chance, the door to the higher institu.
tions Of learning and to the profes.
sional schools, must be open them
But now. a-days all higher institu-
tions of learning, technical and pro
fessional schools demand as a pre-.
liminary education a first class high
school training. The state university
does not establish that Gu stom. It is
rather established by common custom
all over the country.
Now then here is where the extreme
value of high school diploma to 6
student becomes apparent. When hi
or she is in possession of that, they
can 60 anywhere in the United States
at once, or years hence, and get thu
full credit of their four years. worl
in the High school by being admitted
| uyif nv0 INC
technical, or professional school
; Our youths, boys and girls before II
and 20 years of age do not know wha
they want to do. But about that time
} when talents, disposition and inclina
tions take substantial form, then thu
time for the preliminary High schoo
education is forever past, and unless
they have already got it, they are
barred from what might be the great
est career to themselves as we'll as o.
the highest service to mankind in gen
} eral.
Fifty years ago it was different
Then q man with q common, or nc
school education could rise from OBJ
sc,irity to the highest position in the
state nation and the professions by
sheer force of character. Not so now.
At every door to a career, to the ar
my, to the navy, to the civil service,
to law, medicine, engineering, teach
ing, manufacturing, commerce, every
where stands the sentinel and de-
mands the educational requirement OF
today-and the regular full course
high school diploma ia the only recog.
nized passport accepted everywhere
in this country. This is the reason
that We must keep it as it is on par
with the standard all over the United
States. To trim it to suit local whims
or peculiar conditions would be a
fraud on our graduates.
But suppose the High school grad.
uate wants to become farmer, an
artisan, q clerk, or housewife, or
| what high school studies has he OF
she wasted their time and talents:
On absolutely none except possibly 8