The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-31

Q
Richmond High School has thus out
lined the changes made in the courses
of study as a result of the extension
from three to four years of the currif
culum
For a number OF years the demands
made upon the high school student have
been steadily increasing The business
world expects more of the high school
graduate, and the requirements for en-
trance to higher institutions of learn
ing are so much more rigorous than be-
fore that pupil and teacher alike have
been compelled to overwork mind and
body to keep the pace. Parents who
have children in the high school viii
realize the truth OF this statement.
In Richmond the strain has been
unusually heavy. The course in our
district schools is only seven years in
length, while in almost every other city
in the United States eight years, and
in some instances nine years, are given
to preparation for the high school. In
the high school itself, at least four
years, and in some cases five years. is
the time allowed for worh which we
have been required to do in three. Yet
the work has been done and we'll done.
The pupils who have been able to
stand the strain and graduate from
Richmond's High School rank with
those from other schools which give
two years more of training. The fol-
lowing, quoted from a letter OF DR.
Boatwright, of Richmond College. Will
show the truth of this statement. In
writing of the credit allowed graduates
of the Richmond High School at the
college, he says. This Is more lib
eral arrangement than is made for the
graduates of any other high school
or academy in the State, and | am
very glad to say that the excellence
of the work done by your pupils has
fully justified IT.
TOO much credit cannot be given to
the teachers of the high school for
the sacrifices that have made these
results possible. ct is matter of
record that they are the lowest paid
teachers of the same grade in the
thirty-eight cities of like size in the
United States.) The teachers, however,
have not been the only sufferers The
pupils OF the school have been over
taxed. mentally and physically, and.
while a few have been able to meet
the requirements, many others have be-
come discouraged and dropped out of
school, or else remain taking two years
to accomplish the work that was map
ped out for one. The school board have
long been aware of these facts, and
have been anxious to correct the evils.
For the past two years, certainly,
the delay has been due only to the
uncertainty Of getting new high
school building with sufficient room in
time to accommodate the increased en-
rollment At the board meeting on
Thursday night it was determined that
we could not afford to walt longer.
The four years schedule was presented
and unanimously adopted. Ihis pro-
vidcs for four different courses Of
study The options allowed as to sub
jects will enable the pupil who Is pre-
pairing for college to get just the work
he desires The larger class of pupils,
for whom the high school is the only
college possible, will get an adequate
equipment for life. Relief Will be given
to the overworkcd pupils by decreas-
ing the number of studies per day, and
by the Introduction of study periods.
Pupils in the first and fourth years
have only four recitations per day. al
lowing time for two study periods,
while in tho second and third years
they will recite five periods With one
period for study each day. Heretofore
each pupil rected six lessons each day,
and no time for study was allowed in
school,
The following statement gives in
detail the work required In each course:
Academic Course: Four years OF
English, Latin, and mathematics two
years each of science and history; and
two years of either German or French
Modern Language Course: RMS dit
fers from tho academic course only IN
the substitution OF four years or
modern language for four years OF
Latin.
Scientific Course This course DIFF
fers from the academic and modern
language couracs only in the fact that
-four years of science are REQUIRED IN
stoad of two, The timo Is gained by
shortening the work In history,
Commercial Course. THIS was FORM
erly Il two years course, and was dis
ttinctly inferior to the other courses
In the school, 1t Is now a four Wars.
course ana will give n training, which,
though of a different character, rs the
equivalent of that given IN the other
courses. 1t includes four years OF Eng
lLah four years OF German COR TWO