The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-16

give below the percentages for the
past ten years for school No. 1, that
is for the grammar grades and the
high school combined:
1897 AZ per cent. 1902 81 per cent.
1898 Al per cent. 1903 3S per cent.
1899 40 per cent 1904 sc per cent.
1900 80 per cent. 1905 80 per cent
1901 80 per cent 1906 SO per cent.
1t will be seen that there was
steady decline from 1897 to 1904.
Whether the increase in 1905 is a
hopeful sign seems doubtful for 1906
shows another decline. 1t must be
remembered that these figures are
for the high school and grammar
school combined, and yet the percent
age for both is smaller than for the
high schools alone of the United
States.
What becomes of the boys who
leave school-and most of them
leave before they reach the high
school-why they leave, and what
would keep them in school, are ques-
tons which it might be well FOR some
one to investigate. Something must
be seriously wrong with the system
of public education which reaches but
little more than half the boys it ought
to reach. If the fault is in the system
then the fault must be found and cor
rected. 1t is easy enough to say that
the school is there and the boys may
go if they like, and if they don't it is
their LOSS. But that is not a solution
! of the problem.
A Plan Offered.
I CHI toll IN -hxy
boys leave our schools. There are,
doubtless, many reasons. But l shall
offer single suggestion as to how
the new high school may keep them
in school, A commercial course
parallel with the present Latin-scien-
tiflc course might be offered-and
such a course probably will be Of
fered. Pupils who take this course
ought to be required, surely, to take
the four years of English, some of the
history, science and mathematics,
. and to devote the remainder of their
time to commercial subjects, CONNER
cial geography, commercial -aw, ele-
mentary economics, stenography and
bookkeeping An instructor of the
very best training ought tO.be placed
in charge of this department, and the
Subjects ought tn be so taught as to
give the pupils who take this course
a mental discipline not inferior to
that received by the other students of
the school. Most of the commercial
subjects should be given in the last
two years and the students complet-
ing the course should receive a diplo-
ma which ought to be considered
equal to the one received by those TAX
ing the other course. u opportunity
thus offered for getting fair training
for a commercial life would result,
possibly, in keeping many boys in
school. But of course this motive for
offering a commercial course ought
not and would not be the chief motive
for Offering it. A commercial course
ought to be offered because there is
a real need for it and because such
a course would greatly increase the
value of the school to the community.
a County High School.
The new high school while it will
be known as the Pensacola High
School will not be strictly a city high
school but rather a county high
school. Any resident pupil of the
county who has completed the gram
mar grades will be taken free of
charge And in fact the public school
pupils of the county who are ready 70
enter the high school will be encour-
aged to come here; for with it's better
equipment, its teachers of special sub
jects and other advantages, the Pen
sacola High School ought 70 be able
to give a much better training than
the smaller and less favored schools
of the county,