The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-07

and girls in the school, the members of that course emphasized by their actions that they considered them selves superior to the members of the academic and commercial courses
 Again, tho classical course was for four years, while the scientific was for three and the commercial but for two years al that time,
 Naturally, pupils taking a four-year course, and that, too, regarded as the most desirable, felt that they deserved positions of honor and prominence, and as rule secured almost all the coveted positions in class organi2a- tions.
 As a consequence pupils in other courses, receiving scant consideration in these matters, were not very en- thusiastic over the actual state of af- fairs, and after graduation lost what ever interest they had in q school where everybody was supposed to re- ceive equal consideration, Another contributing cause to this feeling of discrimination among pupils was the presence of secret societies,
 As a result of the efforts of former pupils who entered college, the first secret society, modelled after college societies was started in 1881. As this and the later secret societies arc call- ed Greek letter societies the Influence of classcism had It's corresponding in- fluenCe upon the lift and spirit of the school
 The tendency to a feeling of su- periority over the barbarians and q spirit of exclusiyeness became more and more noticeable; social rather than scholarship qualifications came to. be considered of more importance In selecting members, though 1t must be confessed many of the best classi- cal scholars were members of these societies. As an offset to and a pro- test against the eNclusiveneSs of the first society, another was started in the nlnetes, but, like the pioneer so- ciety, 1t developed into an exclusive set and as a result other secret socle- ties sprang up until at the present time in the New Haven high school there are at least eight secret socle- i ties
 The tendency in all these societies is to sacrifice the welfare of the whole school to the advantage of It's own members. This spirit of eNclusiveness fostered by the societies was not con ducive to that school spirit that all graduates of the same school should | have for their alma mater
 1 still another element that must he considered in this connection was the 1 lack of hearty cooperation between the teachers, due In a great measure to their treatment by school officials There was and Is no recognized head in any of the large departments, nc uniformity in standard of work and l instruction in the same department no regular conferences between teach CTS of pupils In the same class, nc uniform system of discipline no strict enforcement of scholarship rules and no substantial recognition of extra work both within and without the school,
 As substitute teachers either pupils out of school scarcely year or two without any experience in high schoo teaching, are brought In to instruct boys and girls, whose work must nee essarily suffer, or men taking post. graduate courses In Yale are em. ployed
 As the presence of these men ir New Haven is primarily to get their degrees. their interest In and worl for the school is not of permanent value or influence. Al the same time competent teachers, college graduates and graduates of the local high school arc denied the chance to substitute foi some unknown reason.
 Owing also to the cheese pairing pol icy on the part of the board Of educa ton. teachers nrc forced to do outside work in order to support themselves the salary that postgraduate stu dent will spare his time for ls regard ed as a fair standard for teachers wht are permanent members of the com munity and who are giving the best il them to make good men and womer of the children of New Haven.
 If an increase of salary Is desired the teacher faces peculiar situation she has no definite knowledge wheth CT the principal or the superintendent or the committee on schools, or tn entire board of education. fixes he salary Some teachers. to make as surance douhly sure have been ohlle cd to sec all these gentlemen. An' yet teachers are told that if their worl
 iustihes 1t they will be paid what the are worth.
 Some rumors have been prevalen regarding the method of recommend
 ing and adjusting salaries in the hIgl school that seem SO incredible that n
 mention of them will be made here This leads us to consideration o
 the attitude of the board of education
 towards the high school which vii be discussed in our next number,
 Tn our next article we will treat q
 the history of llillhouso and of Board man, the consolidation of the tw schools, the short-sightcd policy Q the board of education, the proper alr , of an American high school, the cur , riculum, school organizations and ath letios, offering suggestions with a vie'
 to making the New Haven high schoc representative American hig school.