The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09

Nights Discussion of the School
Problem.
deficient that they could not compute
ordinary interest:
AS to the high schools. the influx OF
pupils should be checked by raising the
record necessary to secure admission, and
making the rule that every pupil should
be expected to show some marked talent
before being allowed to say I am high
school pupil
do not believe in allowing the great
mob, many of whom are utterly unfit to
master higher education, the free benefit
of the high schools. This cutting down of
the number of pupils in the high schools
would serve two purposes 1t would re-
duce the attendance to point that would
allow of their accommodation in the pres
ent buildings, and would further permit
of the using of more money for the grades,
which must be improved and maintained
at the highest possible standard.
Must Not Plunge Into Debt.
While the grades must be cared for in
the best possible manner, the city must
not be plunged into debt maintaining the
high schools. Although it is my own ward
/ must protest against the proposition adj
vanced that a high school building be
building that would fully answer the
purpose it would be necessary to expend
about $500, 600. / would suggest, if abso-
lutely necessary. the enlargement Of the
Cleveland and the Humboldt high schools,
the improving as far as possible the Cen
trail and Mechanics Arts high schools,
but the major effort the effort that is
most important IS the proper and ade-
quate maintenance OF the graded schools.
Otto Kueffner thoroughly Endorsed
what had beenEisaid by Judge Willis,
called upon the charter commission to
make full and adequate provision for
the graded schools, and concluded with
German in the grades. He pointed to
several cities where German Is taught
and contended that this is done with
out any extra cost eeae
H. A. Boardman also favored the
graded schools, saying:
The course in the grades should be
simplif1ed and the standard raised as to
edly opposed to the teaching in the grades
of any language other than English. If
there was no other objection the question
of expense would put it out Of the cues
ton. 4s's.'--
~ Pleads for Taxpayer.
E. G. Stringer argued for the tax
payer, and suggested that if the city,
through the school board, should enter
into the plan of erecting a number of
high school buildings, the result would
be that further burden would be
added to that already carried by the
taxpayers. He opposed the erection of
additional buildings, and thought it
would be possible to get through If the
buildings now in use are improved.
He approved the idea Of giving all pos
Sible relief to the grades and placing
them on good basis, believing that
the 100000 a year necessary to take
care of the natural increase in pupils
Is about all that can be afforded at this
time.
A. D. Smith was the first Of the
speakers to favor the erection of a
large central high school, contending
that this would vacate the Cleveland
and the Humboldt high schools and
the room that they now occupy could
be turned over to the grades. He as
serted that the penmanship Of the
scholars is disgraceful, largely because
the teachers are allowed to choose the
style they prefer. He did not believe
that a foreign language should be
taught.
Supt. Smith narrated the facts that
confront the school inspectors and
which caused the sending out of the
queries. He estimated that 500 addi-
.tional pupils will next year apply for
admission to the. high schools, and
they must be cared for. He believed
the school inspectors would decide as
do the people. AS to the grades, he
said that within the next year an adj
ditional forty rooms will be needed.
At the average cost this would mean
an expenditure of $4,000. For the
growth in enrolment an additional
100000 per year sill be needed. The
facts, he thought, demonstrated that
the school inspectors are in hard po-
sition. and came to the people for adj
vice.
Prof. weitbrecht, of the Mechanic
Arts high school, came to the defense
Of the public school system of the city,
saying that the great trouble with the
critics Is that they forget the limita-
tions of youth and do not compare the
present system with the graded schools
they attended. sAs to himself, he as
serted that the st. Paul schools are far
superior to those.i in his youth. He also
defended the Mechanic Arts school, as
serting that the demand from business
houses for graduates from the school
is greater than the supply.
Supt Smith supplemented this de-
tense of the school by asking that the
critics call at hts office and inspect the
work prepared for the worlds fair
Edward Vanish came out for great
central high school,, his reasons being
based upon economy. He thought the
Cleveland and the Humboldt high
:: should be abolished, as their existence
had caused the demand for a high
school in the Seventh ward. Their con-
tinued maintenance would cause other
demands. He did not think the people
of st. Paul were prepared to maintain
four high schools, but could support
one good one. He believed thoroughly
in concentration, but would maintain
and improve the Mechanic Arts.
L. L. May was of like opinion.