The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-08
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
The High School Course

TO the Editor Of The Journal.
It Is not within the province Of a layman
to folloy In oil its details you suggestion In
regard to O complete course of study for our
view, 1t seems to me, the following studies
should form q part of the high school course,
named IN the order Of their relative I'M
First-Penmanship. Not the; spencerial.
copybook style with its heavy shading, and
ornate capitals, which, sltho fair to look
vertical style which, while plain, is not suit
able for rapid work; but bold, round, clear
style, which can be read on the run "a
style hard to describe but easily recognized.
By far the larger proportion of school chill
dren are lamentably deficient in this respect,
and, if am correctly informed, no attempt
the defect.
second-A thoro training in common arith-
metic, commercial arithmetic" if by that
| ton, subtraction. multiple alton, common
| fractions, interest, discount, percentages
the ordinary calculations that enter into our
daily life. It is now taken up at too early
| an age and children are not we'll grounded
| In this elementary work I am aware that
this statement has been questioned and cases
cited to prove the contrary, but ny expert
ence teaches me that it is, on the whole, true
Furthermore, have observed that even
with those who can reach correct results, the
often seemed to me that the rule by which
an example was worked" was the most
complicated cumbersome and awkward that
could we'll be devised. Take, for instance,
the multiplication of common fractions. The
usual mode of handling them would not be
tolerated for one minute Mt the desk OF bill
Third-spelling and English composition.
me advantage, not to say necessity, of pro-
feiency IN these branches is SO obvious as to
scarcely require comment and yet, for some
reason, the training given pupils in these
studies does not seem to gain the desired end.
can think of dozen young men within
Nf oa1 tr,po %L1~S. 49,
bright and capable, who are seriously handi-
I capped by their inability to write in proper
i form simple business letter. =,
Fourth-Geography. Not the kind that
drills into boys mind the details concern
ing the highest mountains and longest rivers
in the world, hut comprehensive knowledge
CT our own state and the northwest: its rail.
way systems, principal cities and towns anC
their location with reference to each other
and the trade centers of Minneapolis and St
Paul S~. =. =, =. n,
Other studies might be ircluded, but thi.
will suffice to suggest tie. training which, il
seems to me, every boy who expects to fgh
ever else he has or does rot have. These
are the things he meets the moment h,
leaves school, and if the school does not, teacl
knocks at the cost of much time and money
The insufficient, training slong these line
srggest very plainly to me the cause Of tn
c1al standpoint, the four years of high schoo
is wasted time 49,.
Win all que RESPECT TO Professor Harte
Journal, Aug. g. I would omit any stud,
Of bookkeeping and commercial law
The knowledge of either of these branche
that could be acquired in six months woul
he of the most superficial kind. Young me-
are not at all likely to be given position
Where the knowledge thus gained would b
CT any special use. and, while the stud
would DO no harm i am Of the opinion tina
the time could be much more profitably spent
In place Of commercial law, as it is usual
taught, would put course of training O.
. ordinary ~ all
such as checks, drafts, notes. receipts etc
Elementary work, 1t Is true, but needful an
neglected. The average hoy or girl Of twent
cannot even properly fill out the. printe
nothing Of drawing an o1igiral che or notin
an incorrect Endorsement.
Just how these changes can I've mad;, wit
due regard forStlfe rights and interests {
those who wish to fit themselves for colleg
and those who profess to look with horrc
upon any phase Of the subject of educatio
that takes into account its commercial va.u
I leave to those whose training and exper
j. ence justifies their undertaking the task
w. S. Wingate.