Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-03-24

who takeS.the commercial course takes |
one commercial branch, such as
penmanship, commercial |
bookkeeping, typewriting. |
shorthand, ETC., each year in place of |
one other study. The balance of the
Students work is the same as that |
in other courses. We have come to
know that there is quite as much
educational value, quite as much
training in accuracy, reasoning power,
ETC., in some of these more practical
studies as in other subjects.
The great advantage that a pupil
who graduates from this course finds
when he leaves the high school is that
a part, at least, of his training has
been of such a nature that he can
turn it into immediate practical value
in earning living. According to
the testimony of teachers and business
men in cities where high schools offer
business courses, the graduates from
these courses are very satisfactory in
practical office work. They have
fully as much training in the COM
mercial branches as the business
college graduate. They have had the
advantage of having had it spread
out over longer time. 1t has had a
much better opportunity to become a
part of the pupils than if they had
taken it all in few months. Further
they have had the advantage of the
training of the other subjects in
high school course. They have had
composition, literature, spelling,
mathematics, physics, ETC., along with
these business branches.
Another great advantage is that
the pupil can see during high school
course just where at least part of his
work is to help him in life. His
interest in all school work will lie
greater and much larger number of
pupils are likely to complete the high
school course.
In short, the tendency of high
schools today is not to discard the
Older cOurseS-we realize their value
as much today as ever before. But
there is being added unto these, other
courses for the boy or :girl whose
| tastes lie in another direction. The
tendency is to offer to our pupils
chance to get, along with the older
| studies training in the use of tools.
which will make the boy a skillful
workman as a carpenter, which will
make the girl good seamstress and
cook, and which will make of both
boys and girls who have perseverance,
skillfur workers in business line.
The value Of these lines of work to
the young people of this or any other
city can hardly be over estimated.
| Yet we must remember that the law
of life is that we must pay for what
we have, we cannot get something
for nothing. To inaugurate and
maintain these two lines of work
would add to the taxes about SO cents
a thousand on the assessed valuation
of the city. The man who pays taxes
on one thousand dollars would have
added to his expenses the price of one
ordinary necktie, or one ticket to one
| nifty cent show each year. These
advantages when we have them must
be paid for by the tax payer. Citizens
should understand the situation fully
and then express themselves accord
ingly.
| With the high standard in the
selection of teachers, adopted by this
city, with the splendid buildings and
equipment, with the generous support
given to the public achools by public
spirited citizens, this city has great
educational future.
Whether or not this future is to be
realized depends on the loyal and
united support given to the school
system by all the public for whom the
public schools are maintained.
The statistics Of attendance. are
added herewith. The enrolment has
increased from 1914 in 10000 to 1903
in l9O4'O5. The average daily atten-
dance from 1911 in 10000 to las in
| 1904-'O5.
Respectfully submitted,
H. S. YOUKER.
Enrolment and Attendance I904-l905.
Enroll Atten-
Teacher Grade Total ment dance
FIRST WARD
Lydia Bundy kindergarten 40 40 2S
Celia Burr first q 81 &c
Edith Perkins second p
third 16 As 43 ~
Anna Kress fourth 90
fifth 20 40 4g 46
SECOND WARD.
Celia Emmons second ST 81 49
Elizabeth Wolske third 40 40 a
Mae Jefferson fifth 45 as 50
Mabel Hamilton fourth SO SO 81
Anna HAITI sixth 40 40 10