The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-01-28


high school This institution is the re
suit of popular demand, and is con-
firmation to all the needs Of the com
munity. In reality it is but II number
of high schools, each with different
purpose, brought within the compass of
one building, and hence placing vari-
ety. Of facilities within the reach OF all.
The manual training department of
most high schools is alone enough to re-
flute any statement that the practical
has no place. The same can be said
with reference to domestic science. And
shonld a young man or woman desire to
prepare primarily for college, the oppor-
tunity for so doing is given without the
least interference with the advancement
of others along different lines. The con
f1ict, if any, between the two systems of
preparation is with reference TO the an
cient languages. But is not then the
scene of the struggle fer supremacy be
tween the two systems the small high
school, the type so well represented at
Manitowoc? Is it not there that we be
hold the sacrifices? Where the facilities
necessitate choice on the part of the
| teacher amongst courses to be given,
there must necessarily be gain by one
class at the expense of the other. A
small school, with an overworked corps
of teachers no matter how efficient, is
simply forced to this alternative. Latin
is at present taught in certain of our
present system permit the assertion that
there il a sacrifice of masses to classes
To say a system of electives eliminates
all possible prejudice is but to indorse
the central high school. Where con
hicting interests exist the smaller the
| field Of electives the greater the conse-
quential prejudice, and with the trend
of popular education, will not the vic
Tins be the masses? Calm and dispas
field an avenue of escape, which is at
foi ded by the central high school with
its additions Of practical departments
No child was ever less fit for business
life because of finely equipped laborator
les. Manual training has never harm
ed II boy, and domestic science can re-
dound but to the advantage of II girl.
SO too can the more intensive study of
civil government have but one result
And All these advantages, now absent,
can be predicated of the proposed plan.
Restlessness Under Present System
If further argument were needed to
show the demands of the community,
the general restlessness would be suffi-
cient. The North and West sides have
i each u central high school ona small
scale, having preparatory schools
emptying into their respective highs.
Why then pause here? Economy is GER
tanly not the stumbling block, for, as
was editorially expressed little extra
cost one way or another would be inn
material. In fact to leave this point
thus stated is unfair to the proposed
system economy is not II matter of ex
pendlture, but also Of return, of benefit
A new building, well equipped, would
certainly be an item Of expense, but one
justified by the far greater relative re-
turns. But conceding the point of econ
as was suggested to the writer during n
discussion OF this question, one central
high school upon the North and another
upon the South Sides If we once 90 so
far as to admit the desirabiity of the
centralized system in any form, why
stop short Of its final contamination?
Does not every argument of economy,
Of greater efficiency, Of public good, de-
mand the final step? Popular manage
ment, IA factor, disappears. Why
have u dual system Of schools II system
which would but accentuate the rivalry
between the two sections Of the city =?
While not large enough to efficiently
support two modern central high schools
Mantowoc is able to equip one in first
class shape. A decrease in school pupu-
lation need not be feared graduated
from the grammar school, the average
boy or girl Is only too ready and anx-
loua # funds permit, to enter this new
realm Of the high school, with all its at
tendant advantages The graduation
exercises, which we may assume vii
attend the completion of preparatory
courses. 1eed not operate as break in
fact, do not ~ WAS shown by the report
of the committee on the investigation Of
the problem Nom attendance is deter
mined ~ other forces Ivy the demands
Of the home and the general economic
condition Of the community.
What real argument then is there to
be made hS the friends of the present
system The writer has not had the
fortune 20 have heard any With ply
steal conditions almost IDEAL, with a
community Of honest and intelligent