The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-09-13
OUR COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS.

In Lehi, American Fork, Pleas
ant Grove, Springville, Spanish
Fork and Payson will be given a
two years high school course the
coming year a three years course
will be given in Springville, and
the prospects are that others will
add three years course in the
future.
The County has cause to rejoice
at this. Last year there was Gu
rolled 279 pupils, which meant
saving to the home towns Of at
least $3.50 to each pupil had they
left home to go to SCHOOL,, or to
the county S41,S50.
Statistics show the following
from the towns where the high
schools are started; twelve per cent
of the eighth grade graduates, be.
fore we started the high schools,
left home to go to school elsewhere.
Eihgty-eight per cent did not go
to school at all Since the high
school was started eighty per cent
of the eighth grade graduates at
tended tho local high schools and
Of those who completed the two
years course fifty per cent left
home to finish their course in some
university
The reason for tins is plain, viz:
Few homes are financially able to
send son or daughter away to
school for more than one or two
years, and that does not prepare
them sufficiently for higher work.
But with two or three years at
home and one away they are able
to graduate in some line and take
take hold of the work being pre-
pared for it.
The high school movement is
being strongly supported by the
University OF Utah and the b. Y.
University. AT either institution
the credits are accepted The es-
sential courses offered are the same.
The University Of Utah has issued
a high school circular endorsed by
State Superintendent A. G Nelson.
| in which the subjects are outlined
and the hours credit given for each
subject completed. This was adj
opted at our county high school
meeting July 2Sth.
A few reasons are here given for
the local high school First
1t makes it possible for pupils to
go later to a university and COM
plete some course. Second
Eighth grade students are too
young to leave the parental home
Third, 1t encourager eighty per
cent to go higher in educational
pursuits. Fourth, 1t creates an
educational spirit at home, SO
much SO that many go to school,
for they feel the influence of a
companion that is going where he
knows he can, and may, go Fifth,
The high school pupils may
give educational evenings at home,
which will develop their talents,
and the same may be witnessed by
father, mother and friends Sixth,
lit will greatly increase the NOR
al tone of the town, Seventh, =
1t will throw down the barriers
between those finacnlally able to
educate their children and those
who are not. The widows boy is
therefore not debarred from get
ting higher education while he is
yet young. Eighth, 1t is to enl-
bracein the course of study ele-
mentary agriculture, so that our
chief industry may be studied the
oretically aud practically. Ninth,
1t is not to educate boys and
girls for office work, but rather
for them to love work of any hon
! orable kind, to be pre- AIRED for OPP
portunities, and to be better
and more useful citizen, Tenth
AS we have had but limited
number Of local high schools, only
the favored few have been able lo
obtain the necessary higher educa'
tion. Eleventh, 1t adds strength
to the lower grades aud enthuses
the children there To becume high
school pupils
The question OF tn support OF
our high schools is an important
one, Aud while each high school
district has levied a special tax fol
its support, it is my belief tina
state aid may be secured it the
legislature will properly conside'
the question. There is at leas
$4,000 spent forhigh school WORK
in our state institutions, which i
distributed to our local high school
would be material aid, and thel
/. our University and, agriculture