The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09
Need of Greater Accommoda-
tons in the High and Graded
Schools and Proposed
Changes in the Courses of
Study Are Thoroughly Con.
sidered and Debated by Rep
resentative Citizens = Many
Men With Many Views.

Graded schools, high schools, fads
and frills, taxes, economy and waste, in
all their forms and conditions, from diff
ferent standpoints and from varied
views were discussed at the regular
monthly meeting of the Commercial
club last evening in connection with
the questions submitted by the board
of school inspectors.
The issues were clearly marked IN
the questions submitted for considera-
ton and referred entirely to the high
school question, but the preponderance
of sentiment was, to all appearances, In
favor of the graded schools, even
though the consideration thus shown
should result in the possible sighting
of the high schools.
Many caustic things were said of the
manner in which the schools are man
aged, the principal objection being to
what the speakers chose to term the
"fads and frills." The course of in
struction was ably and vehemently
defended by the superintendent and
the principal of the Mechanic Arts high
school.
At the conclusion Of debate that
was at times spicy, Judge j. w. Willis,
chairman of the club committee having
the matter in charge, fairly outlined
what will be the report Of the COM
mittee, when he said:
Should Retain Music and Drawing.
Education means the drawing out of
the latent faculties, and 1 believe that
the development of the musical and
=, IN
its full capacity. I would like to see
the day when the Americans will be as
great in music as are the Germans and
the Latin races. Music and drawing
should not be eliminated from the
schools. The teaching of German, de-
sirable as it may be, is impracticable
at this time. 1t is also impracticable
to abolish any of the existing high
schools at present. II the Cleveland
and the Humboldt were abolished at
this time the people Of the affected dis
tricts would arise in mass and elect
mayor who would stand pledged to ap-
point a school board that would restore
the schools, possibly in increased eff
ficiency. 1 would wish that we were
rich enough to pay the teachers twice
what they are getting, as they earn
fully that sum. If we were able to ac-
quire the wealth of Carnegie i would
favor the pensioning Of these teachers
in their declining years, for they de-
serve such consideration"
AW Perry, second vice president of the
club called the meeting to order, and
introduced Judge Willis as the princi-
pal speaker of the evening, without
going into detail as to the object Judge
Willis prefaced his remarks by read
ing the questions of the school board
relating to the high school question,
which, briefly summarized, were:
l. Should new high schools be erected?
g Should the Mechanic Arts high
school be converted into a strictly school
of technology?
8. Should the present high school dis
trictS be abandoned?
4. Should the system of outlying high
schools be extended?
In part Judge Willis said:
Will Cost Much Money.
How far can we call upon taxpayers to
change affairs? It cannot be done with
out the expenditure of large sums. OF
money, and the money cannot be raised
who will be called upon to foot the bill
Such things must be considered primarily
in a case of this kind. At the present
time. must admit from personal knowl-
edge that the schools Of st. Paul are
eXcellently managed.
Coming to the point and considering
what can be spared from the system it
must be admitted that it is not the kin
dergartens, which have proven their worth
through statistics. 1t is shown that few
kindergarten pupils have been arrested
and none convicted
AS to the grades it is evident to my
mind that the course of study could be
greatly simplified. The multiplication of
subjects is too great for the child. The
children should be taught to be more ao-
eurate and compelled to master the sub
Ject under consideration Business men
who come from the high schools are so