Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-05-30

ACTER of the work by our own
ideas nor by our likes and dis
likes of certain subjects; but that
the standard is set definitely by
the High School Manual; a book
prepared by the hest educators
of the state, edited by the State
Superintendent, and furnished
for our guidance.
This was one of the strongest
graded schools in the state and
in many ways covered the regu-
lar work outlined for the THREE
YEAR COURSE HIGH SCHOOLS, vet
we can readily see its weakness
when we find those who had
creditibly completed its required
work, now doing TWO years OF
hard study to come up to the
standard of the regular four year
course high school.
As conditions change with
time, and the science of pedagogy
is advancing, the Manual for the
Free High Schools is frequently
revised. A few quotations from
the latest edition may serve to
give a better idea of the charac-
ter of the work required along
the several lines.
SCIENCE; The pupils know
ledge will be derived from three
sources: !. From observation
and induction. 2 From text
books and scientific literature.
5. From instruction. Observa-
ton and inductionimpliss good
laboratory with good facilities
for studying such types of phen-
omena as will contribute most to
the scientific growth of the pu-
pill"
Thus you see this cuts out the
idea of a purely text book course
in science and implies a teaching
force sufficient TO care for and
manage a laboratory. Similar
quotations may be given from
the Manual to show the breadth
of work required in English, His
tory, Mathematics and all the
lines of work of the high school
of to-day.
Secondly. a word about the
purpose of the high school. This
is two fold; since the standard
for admission to the colleges is
steadily growing higher, the high
school must keep ready to meet
it. and have pupils well ground
ed IN all branches required for en-
trance in order to be an accred-
tied high school. But a verv
small percentage of the pupils
who attend the high school or
even the grammar department.
ever has Il c advantage of a col
lege education. Hence we must
fit the boys and girls TO be tell
gent, practical and upright citi-
zens to take a place in life. Citi-
zens able to struggle against
sharp competition and work out
for them selves a livelihood, and
a destiny. The latter purpose
calls for thorough and practical
instruction, a broader course and
larger teaching force.
LIKES and DISLIKEs. Your boy
or girl will have them in the
school, as to thestudies required.
He or she may hate Algebra and
like Literature or enjoy Algebra
and dislike Literature. tits true
that most pupils have a better
mental activity and capacity for
one line of work than for anoth-
or, but since the high school is
necessarily a preparatory school,
where foundations are laid, it
follows that the individual pupil
should struggle with some things
that are unnatural end disliked
This will better fit him for later
life where we must meet our dis
likes as well as our likes. The
high school course is not too
broad for either of It's purposes.
BOYS and girls usually like the
things that they can do well, but
bv good hard work and concen-
tration of mind they can accom-
plish much in their dislikes and
even learn to like them. Earnest
work begtts interest, and inter