The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-03

recent Legislature constitute a step
which will, when taken, prove one Of
the greatest In the history Of public edu-
cntlon in Virginia. Investigations OF high
school conditions In our State show that
one OF the most serious obstacles to tho
development OF public high schools has
been the nck OF II standard, which might
serve at once as n guide and an END
to be obtained. for those communities
that have In the past attempted to es-i
tnblish and provide schools for secondary
education. The adoption OF such n STAN
dnrd and the element OF reward sug
gcsted In tho scheme OF applying tho
special high school fund.- Will supply both
this lnck and n stimulus to conforming
to the standard. The superintendent
and high school principals can appreciate
the truth OF this statement when tncy
rccollcct their efforts to frame suitaple
COURSES OF study and to secure necessary
funds for the maintenance OF the nigh
schools It win be n great aid 70 our
i inefficient system Of local supernten-
dence, and a boon to the young coilege
graduate who takes the principalship OF
n new high school and finds That not
only must he he Il teac cher and an admin
istrator, but also director OF education
forces and an expert In determining the
educational values OF the various studies
that, out OF the many. may be taught.
But to cnumeratc even the manifest nd-
\ vantages Is impossible. For they are in
z calculable II properly supcrntcnded.
In response to- a request OF Supcrin-
tendent Egglcston. suggest what seem
to me a few advisable changes IN the
course OF study from that suggested by
MIN In the Times Dispatch Of Nav !.
1906. 80 $ :
y The third grade high school,, which
s s.n'ail provide for two years instruction
~, m mathematics, science. history, Eng
n m tuN H.. a. -,
niuS inc more backward sections to start
hlgh school which in time will develop
INTO one OF higher class The inccn-a
We 70 20 SO offered in tho plan OF study
.i. OF distribution Of funds is the add
.Ils on OF another years work ut least
HeccsaitatiEg another teacher and $50
hhditional per annum. or $3.50 IL n county
q or JOINT district high school. AS the ad-
alton ofAnnotber teac cher will take more
than the additional appropriation. the real
incentive will be only the opportunity OF
oiierlng nnother years work. What does
Shis third years work include? In matl1-
ematies plain geometry. algebra having
!. ncen completed in the first two yea rs;
IN science, elementary physics or chem
Il istry with agriculture. after having pro-
Slded for physical geography and botany
and zoology In the first two years: In
history, American history and civil gov
ernment following two years OF Grecian
II f11d roman history and medieval and
modern history; In English. an additional
year In rhetoric and opposition follow
Ing year In grammar and composition
and making these years OF study OF the
classics; Il, Latin. four orations OF
Cicero. grammar and composition, fol.
lowing first year in beginners Latin
and n second year In Caesar during which
four books or their equivalent are re-
quired. or in modern language which
.hall be the beginners class. Now this
course he M Of Inn yS,iI1
naturally be asked by the college presi-
fents can graduates Of second grade
+ high school enter the freshman classes
of colleges that arc members OF tho
Southern Association OF Colleges and
Preparatory Schools without examina ton
Z the school be an approved one. or are
they prepared TO take the examination
they come from an unapproved school?
s a glance at the Association require
ments will show the following facts:
(a) Tho mathematics provided Is more
than ample. an extra year In algebra
being given.
(b) The course In science Is enough
should the student select science as an
entrance subject, since the colleges usu-
= ally accept a three years science course,
or less consisting OF three recItations per
week as an equivalent OF ono years
course In science with re1ltations five
periods q week.
(c) The English course is sufficient.
provided the study OF classics includes
the list OF classics prescribed for study
and practice and for reading.
I'D The course In history is more than
sufficient
(e) The course in Latin lacks the read
Ing OF two books OF Virgil or their equiv
alent
All 81 The one year course In German or
French Will not be sufficient ~ enable
the student to take advanced standing.
although It will greatly aid him in his
college work.
II these deficiencies can be made up
without too much sacrifice of time on
the part of the second grade high school.
it ought to be done, The colleges, espe-
cially the State institutions. have q
right to demand that the State high
schools shall give them prepared fresh
men; the community which partially sup
ports high school requiring the whole
time OF two teachers has thG right to
insist that tho graduates OF that school
be prepared to enter the colleges of APP
proved standing without copdition II 1t
is possible. It Is possible II the defi-
ciencies pointed out above are made up.
Let us see If this can be done.
az The reading and study OF the col
lego requirements In English classics or
their equivalent Is. II ! may Judge from
my own experience, possible in course
covering three years. do not believe
that many high school teachers of Eng
lish Will combat that statement.
(2) II the high school provides for
Latin, nm additional class IN Virgil dur
ing tho latter part OF the third year can
easily be provided for when there arc
two high school teachers.
(S) II the high school elects French or
German as Its language. the course o.lgh
to begin In the gecohd year. This would
afford two years Of high school German
or French, which is generally %oJ( sidcrad
as covering equal ground with the be-
ginners class In those languages at col
lege. provided any attempt at ull Is made
y to make tho work worth while.
II these changes be made, tho gradu-
ate OF an approved second grade high
vchool could be able to enter uncondi-
tioned the freshman college classes in
English and In Latin, or the second year
glasses in French or German. An add
tional incentive would thus DO given to
community to raise the standard Of its
IA 90 hlalcx laoa.1,