Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-10-16
By Way OF Explana ton

Editor Courier Your issue of last
week contained an article, signed
Parent. relative to the course of
study in the High School of our city.
A few words in reply to the question
raised by your heading may not be
out of order.
The courses of study in the high
schools of the state are, in general
uniform and made to comply with
the state course, as laid down by tho
State Board of Education. These
cou SIS may be found to differ in
certain details or arrangement of sub.
ject matter but the essential features
are alike, whether we compare our
courses in Grants Pass with that of
Portland, or with that OF Roseburg
The 30. called Glass cal course in the
High School Is made to conform to
the State Course and 10 comuly with
the entrance requirements of the Uni
versity of Oregon. | presume that
the writer of your article did not
know of the existence of this State
Course, nor did he concern himself
Efficiently to visit our schools and
ascertain for himself the facts in tile
case.
Parent" cites case of pupil
who was compelled to quit school
bt cause the strain" was too great for
her constitution. In this particular
Casa first year pupil-dnfing the
pupils attendance in school, her
teachers were able to secure little
or no recitation from her in any one
Of her studies Ninety per cent of
the pupils coming under the same
Instruction are doing satisfactory
work, and none are leaving by reason
of overwork. May 1t not have been
in the case cited, that lack Of proper
pre- reparation was the cause of the pup
il not being able to keep up In her
work. and this resulted IN discourage
ment and withd avail from sch, ol?
PARENT" also cited another case
that of his daughter, coming from the
Portland High School, and hsv ing to
put in long hours to keep up well in
her studies, but he neglected to men,
lion the fact of his daughter being
oct of school curing the past year,
which very naturally would require
extra effort ON her part to keep up
W, II in the work of her classes.
The course of study in our High
School is largely elective aud, think,
offers more cnoice in the selection of
studies than Goes the Portland High
School since Parent" spes fit to
make comparison with ortlsnd.
If the work in one cou Sc or classic is
found too dif cult pupils are per-
mitted to select studies requiring Jess
hours and effort. ORDINARILY four
classes daily are required of each
pupil in high school In some in.
stances, by reason of constitution or
qualification. there are pupils who
carry but three classes. There are sew
eral also who carry five studies, aud
one pupil who carries six studies In
no case. However, is the pupil re-.
quired to undertake more work than
can be accomplished by fair. honest
effort.
If Parent" would show the conceI n
he seems to f. el by visiting the High
School and observing the methods of
our teachers he would fud, | think,
that we have no examining system,
and also that We live in "civilized
community where oui schools and
methods compare favorably except as
regards equlpment-with those of
Portland. lt seems ltUle unfair
that he should make the criticism he
does at long distance.
r. r. TURNER,
Superintendent.