The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-04
HE BLAMES SCHOOLS
Congressman Tawney Makes Deduc
lions From Failure of His An
napolis Candidates.
He Says Their Failure Shows SER.
Gus Defects in Minnesota
High Schools.

Because his principal and three alter
mates, all high school graduates, failed to
pass the entrance examination for Annap-
oils. Congressman J. A. Tawney is said
to be about to start an investigation Of
what he considers woeful deficiencies in
the present state high school system Of
Minnesota. According to T h e j r
al Washington correspondent, Mr.
TaWney Is coming home Immediately for
that express purpose. He says the trou-
BILE with the state high schools is that in
stead Of equipping young men and women
who cannot afford a more liberal educa-
ton for the struggle Of life, the high
schools are really simply fitting schools for
the state university. If it were not so,
says Mr.. Tawney then his proteges would
certainly have been able to pass muster
on such a practical test as is demanded by
the Annapolis entrance examination.
Mr.. Tawney Is quoted as follows:
1t is shown upon examination that the average
high school graduate in Minnesota is woefully
deficient In the common branches. In the lower
grammar grades there is some elementary in
struttion in grammar. geography, United States
history, arithmetic, spelling and the other com
mon branches. The pupil who receives this in
struction is usually about 12 years old, some.
times younger. and the impression this prelimi-
nary course leaves upon his mind is necessarily
vague 1t Is not reinforced In the high school
years. and when he comes to graduate from
the high school he has the nierest smattering of
the common school branches. If he goes thru the
up. but If he does not-and this Is the case
with the large majority of our high school gradu-
ates--he is very poorly equipped for the strug-
gle for life. Now think that there should be
an elastic high school course. finishing course
so to speak, and that all pupils who do not In
tend to go thru the university should he per-
mittsd to take it. This idea of making the
state high schools stepping stone for the state
university may be all right for the state untver
sity. but it is playing havoc with large number
of best boys and girls every year, and that is
~ r3yoIn
The four boys who failed to pass the entrance
examination for Annapolis were required to have
Il percentage of '21a out OF total of 5 in the
| common branches. They failed in spelling. in
arithmetic. in United States history, In geogra-
| ply, In elementary geometry, in algebra; in
| fact, in nearly everything The reason was
that they had taken these studies, or nearly all
| Of them, in the lower grammar grades, in an
| elementary fern. at time when they were too
young to grasp their meaning. In the high school
| years these studies should have been renewed in
more mature form, but instead OF that the high
school course covered mass Of rubbish which
was of no use whatever when 1t came to the
| making Of q practical test such as the Annapo-
| lis examination involved.
don't know what can be done: but propose
that all Of the facts shall be laid before the edu-
Gators Of the state. and before the fathers and
| mothers who have children ready for the high
| school. or almost ready. They are vitality con-
cerned in this matter as the state as whole Is
| DIR. G. M. Jordan. superintendent of the
Minneapolis public schools, was averse to
being quoted at length on Mr.. Tawney's
| interview. AS a member OF the state high
school board, he says he prefers to wait
| until formal communication has been
received from Mr.. Tawney before airing
his views on the subject DR. Jordan does
not believe. however, that the representa-
/ tives position Is well taken.
1.-THE inference from what Mr.. Tawney
/ says said Mr.. Jordan, SIS that geography
lis taught in the state university. II 1t is,
II never heard of 1t before =