Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-01-31

! Wl6nOub c0uStibueiuS eiief oVtC "a eucnA -ts
not here. Mathematics, English, ancient
and modern language, some history
and science, are the great essentials that are
put in, in varying quantities, to make up
all the coures. College entrance empha-
sizes some OF these Entrance to technical
or professional schools emphasizes others,
while preparation for business requires new
combination of studies, the entire omission
of some and the addition Of Others that wel
do not haye. The things that we lack
might say, are commercial geography, COM
mercial arithmetic, business correspondence,
stenography, typewriting, commercial law,
economies, etc. To put them in would re-
quire additional room and at least another
teacher and some additional equipment in
she way Of apparatus. It has been my feel
ing that courses Of the three kind indicated
should be offered here, and that election, as
have indicated, should be confined strictly
TO courses with possible exception emily in
very unusual instances and for only the
most patent reasons.
Pupils in the ninth year haye been started
SO that this plan can be followed and
have sketched somewhat in detail courses
that are in harmony with it. | should be-
glad TO submit them now or at any time for
your consideration and approval
Perhaps I ought to add another word as
to a commercial course.
Every year good many pupils drop out
of school from the upper grammar grades
and from the high school because they are
not attracted by the further work that is
offered They feel that they cannot take
the time to complete a general course,
which, tho good enough in itself, does not
specially fit them for the things they want
to do. In a community like this there are
not a few of this class The school ought
to keep them longer and would do so if the
right kind of work could be offered there.
A number of them want the training given
| in commercial colleges SO that they may be-
come stenographers, bookkeeper, etc. This
| is a reasonable desire and we ought TO sa
| tisfy it if possible. A commercial course
would do it, 1t seems to me we should
| plan for IL. I CO NOT ses thas any better
thing could be done for the high school
/ than to add commercial course as soon as
arrangements can be made for it-certainly
next year. Is would save q good many to
the school who drop out early from the
| - 4 l. tho
grades to the boys and girls to prepare
themselves TO enter upon an attractive
course, which could be taken without ex-
pense to them or their families. It is not
too early now to plan for this and to take
steps toward the Introduction of a we'll
equipped commercial department. in the
high school. 1t would pay, pay in the way
all schools pay by giving more of the better
educated boys and girls to the community.
1t would probably pay, too, in increasing
the number naying tuitions, tho that is
not the essential consideration in planning
| the course.
| have had in mind chiefly the high
school in what have said. I should be
sorry if it were assumed in this that re-
gard the high school as the chief thipg here.
| 1t certainly is important and we want to
make it more so, but the grades are the
peoples college. Only small percentage Of
people get into the high school, but every
| body gets into the grades This being true
wisdom dictates that we shall give more
attention to the grades below the high
school-to the fuldamentals-than is COM
monty given n schools Of this kind. 1t is
just as important now shat the three RS be
taught as it even was and the fact that
other things have come into the courses OF
study only emphasizes the Importance of
teaching the three RS well. They are still,
| if properly looked at, the backbone of the
course Of study. We are trying to give
them attention commensurate with their
Importance. The fact that most pupils get
all their schooling in grades below the high
school-neyer enter high school at all-and
the added fact that we cannot haYe a good
! high school without adequate preparation
in these grades make the work in the grades
of first Importance because it as fundamen-
tai. These things are constantly borne in
mind and emphasize from day to day in dis
cussing the work with teachers.
| At another time will speak more at
length of the work in the grades below the
high school This report is already longer
than intended.
Cnnmnh RnInfnenn