The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-28
SCHOOL QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

SCHOOL QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
We do not see why those in charge
of the school interests of the city
should continue seeking for an answer
to the questions that have puzzled
them while developing a general
school policy for the future. The list
of queries that they made out has
been commented upon by the press of
this and other cities, and has been laid
before and discussed by commercial
and other representative bodies in st.
Paul. The amazing thing about it is
the substantial unanimity of opinion
everywhere.
we should not have believed in adj
vance that on subject in which ev-
erybody feels an interest, and where
interests generally vary so widely,
there would be such strong and
general harmony as to essentials. The
school board and the other school au-
thorities might feel perfectly justified
in going ahead without further inves-
tigation, and with entire confidence
that they are consulting both the fixed
public opinion and the general educa-
tional interests of the city.
What that policy should be is well
demonstrated in the report of the COM
mittee on education of the chamber
of commerce, as it had been declared
previously by the Commercial club
and as it has been settled upon wher-
ever this subject was up for discussion.
AS citizens, parents and taxpayers the
people of st. Paul have made UP their
mind what they want, and their de-
cision is heartily to be commended.
We can practically cover the whole
topic by series of brief quotations
on pertinent points from the report of
the committee referred to.
"By economy and care the standard
of the schools can be maintained under
the conditions as they now exist"
Should any curtailing Of expense be
necessary it should apply to the high
schools, rather than the grade schools"
Ground should be purchased and adj
ditions made to both the Central high
school and the Mechanic Arts as soon
Il 70, hot
pose.' 1--WE are averse to the pro-
posed erection of new high school,
either in the Seventh ward or the Mer-
Ram Park district" cit would be a
most desirable thing to reduce the
present attendance at the high
schools" ga positive limitation should
be fixed as to the time in which any
pupil is allowed to receive high school
instruction, and definite authority CIV
en- to the principal to enforce this con-
diton." 1--WE heartily indorse the man
ual training department" eve do not
feel that the public is called upon to
provide general instruction of a char
acter that practically overlaps the in
struction offered at the universities. -
cit is obvious that shortening of the
high school course one year would lessen
the number of pupils in attendance by
one-fourth, thus relieving the present
overcrowded condition" 'It is an open
question in the minds of your COM
mittee whether the curriculum is not
too large in the high schools, as well
as in the graded schools, accuracy
and thoroughness being
sacrificed to obtain a superficial knowl-
edge of a large range of SUBJECTS
1--WE would not recommend the study
of any language other than English
below the high school"
We find no necessity of enlarging
upon a catalogue of excerpts that COW
ers the ground so completely and sc
admirably. The Globe has already
expressed itself fully on several occa-
SlOIlS LII lEG uldll6I VI Jul oSlAOO1 pOi-
icy, and finds scarcely anything to, dis
sent from in this declaration of prin-
ciples. The problems" that confront
us are nearly all artificial. Such diff
culties as there are arise from an in.
clination either to perpetuate old mis-
takes or to intensity them. rather thar
in following the plain line of public
duty.
We should not add to the already
overwhelmed upper stratum of public
education. Let US spend the money We
have in extending and developing the
work Of the grade schools, and lesser
high school needs by decreasing at.
tendance and shortening the course Il
necessary. Present high school facili.
ties will prove ample for these ends
and we shall get rid of the most burn.
ing questions of local interest by de.
Gliding for the present neither to ado
to nor subtract from high school IA
cilities, but to broaden the educational
base and work for the greatest good OF
the greatest number.
Let US bend all our energies and de-