Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-12-27
HIGH SCHOOLS
PROGRESSING.
State Inspector Bevier Makes
First Annual Report TO the
Governor.

NEW BRUNSWICK, Dec. T:-
The first annual report of Professor
Louis Bevier of Rutgers, the High
School Inspector of New Jersey,
which has been forwarded to the
state authorities at Trenton, is a very
voluminous document, and goes eX-
haustively into the condition of the
schools at present in operation, and
also shows the work accomplished
by the official.
Three Problems.
Three problems were briefly dis
cussed in the report:
First-The problem of the High
School curriculum in which modern
opinion demands an important place
for the sciences and history. These
subjects added to those previously
taught, make some form of selection
necessary. The inspector set forth
the claims of the elective system on
the one side, and the system of par
allel courses planned for specific ends
IN the other. He favored the latter
plan as more likely to promote thor
ough work.
Secondly-The problem OF the
commercial course was considered. 1t
a pointed out that the public de-
mands some form of commercial and
business training in the High School.
The question lies, however, between
the short course of two or three years
in which little can be taught, except
the strictly commercial subjects, and
a four years business course, and of
equal dignity, in which a good course
of instruction in English, in history
and in German can be given, in addi-
ton to the business subjects.
The inspector favored the intro
duction as soon as possible, of this
full four years business course in all
approved High Schools.
Third-The question of the stan
dardization of High Schools, in re-
lation to II another, and the public
schools of other states was discussed.
Reciprocity Secured.
In this direction the work of the
inspector has enabled the state de-
partment to secure what they could
not before obtain-complete reciproc-
ity with the state of New York; so
that hereafter graduates from New
Jersey High Schools, when certified
as such by the state department, will
be enabled to enter higher institu-
tons, such as medical colleges, in
Now Work. Ctofn IN tho n huCig
and with the same privileges as grad
yates of the New York State High
Schools.
The State Board of Medical Exam
iners has been striving to attain this
result for years, but has always met
any official inspection of High Schools
by the state of New Jersey.
DR., Bevier explained further the
work in progress of drafting a series
of syllabi covering the subjects of the
High School curriculum.
This work was undertaken on the
suggestion of the Inspector by the
State High School Teachers Associa-
ton, and a committee was appointed
of which the inspector is chairman,
to carry out the decision of the asso-
citation. Nine subcommittee have
been formed, with a total member
ship of about sixty, which are at
present putting the material in shape
for printing.
When the outlines are completed,
they will be printed, and circulated
for criticism and suggestion. and
when ratified by the committee, and
association to which it makes its re-
port, will be brought before the State
Board of Education, in order that it
may be made an official document,
subject to their approval, and will be
distributed free of charge to all High
School principals and teachers who
desire it.