The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-04-30

standard of social, political and edu-
cational ideas among the masses of
men. To the boy Of fourteen two
interests struggle for mastery in his
nature. These are the influence of
commercialism, which offers him a
tempting remuneration for his SER
vice as he is, and the desire for
higher education and all the future
advantages he knows to accrue to
the man of liberal education. If on
account of immaturity the boy fail
to see that higher education means
a life of larger possibilities, greater
usefulness, and wider opportunities,
and if the parent because of an often
unconscious lack of sympathy for
the same sentiment fails TO encour-
age him, then the average boy Is lost
to higher education and either he or
his parent has dug the grave of his
highest possibilities.
He does not see that there is re-
ward offered for all who are faithful
to the requirements laid down to
those who seek higher education.
Nov comes the question of con-
sidering means of securing and hold
ing the boy in High School.
/. There must be something of
practical use and interest in the
High School. In this city one-twen-
ty-fifth of the enrolment is in the
High School. In Boise the fraction is
tenth. In some cities it Is more
Manifestly something is wrong
Where are these boys and perhaps
girls2 Are they in the Academy or
Institute? A few are, and if 30,
well and good, for they are being
reached and elevated by the benign
influence of higher education. But
how about the rest. Many of them
may be earning an honest living and
even famassing wealth, but who
knows what possibilities have been
buried because the portals to wider,
| fuller and richer life were closed.
Others are wasting away life in
idleness and shiftlessness.
Much that ls in our high school
course is ill-ftted for the boy who
does not expect to enter college
Shall the high school be run and
maintained for two or three per cent
Of the graduates who later go to col
lege or shall it have the better aim
of preparing and saving our boys for
a better manhood, lofter type OF
citizenship, and nobler ideals. Let
mechanical drawing, bookkeeping,
commercial law, political economy,
science of agriculture, mineralogy
and like studies be offered the boy
who does not expect to follow pro-
fession. These are important and
will interest him.
/ Ii. Let the High School recog-
nize the demands of boyhood in
reference to physical activities. Tt
all who have studied the psychology
of school athletics it is plainly seen
that this is important in holding
and saving the boy for higher things
Those things which aid In attaching
the boy to the High School, must b.
regarded not as diversion but {
necessity.
Ill. The sympathy and esteem
which is extended to high schoo
by the community has much to dc
with keeping the boy in the school
Nv. Let the high school streug
then itself by contributing LIBERAL,
, to the elevation of the social life anc
literary culture of the community.
} And how may this be done2 Lee
courses of lectures be given to bring
patrons into a closer touch with the
high school. Let business men
doctors, lawyers and ministers b,
asked to visit and address the school
These are the persons who ought Il
: be and are able 10 advise those who
are preparing for Iife's struggles.