The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-09-02
FALSE IMPRESSIONS
CONCERNING SCHOOLS

| am not much inclined to trace to
its source aud correct any misrepIe-
sentation OF truth, for | am convinc
ed that truth will eventually prevail.
But | feel, as suggested by the Editor
Of The Glacier, that 1t is due the
High School teachers and students OF
last year that certain facts aud school
procedure he correctly ohrOnicled.
During the last few days several
persons have told me they we're IN
formed that all the twenty five mem
beIs of the Physics Glass tut five
failed last year. AS matter of fact
all passed at the final examination
but four, one not taking the eXamina
toin until later and failing, making
total of five failures In this class. 1t
might be we'll to state here that
students grade is based, sixty per
cent standing for the year, and forty
per cent on final examination.
Members Of the High School fac
ulty have been criticized because some
of their students failed. Any spine
less teacher can pass an entire class
regardless Of merit, but | want Hood
River High School to stand for some
thing more than jellytish methods.
There is but one way to build up
high standard Of scholarship ia any
school, and that 10 to hold each and
every student for thorough know
ledge OF the subject as covered in the
class room, modifild by a reasonable
estimate OF the students ability. High
Schools reputation Is determined by
its graduates. High School with
reputation for thor ough preparation
gives its graduates prestige wherever
they go. Hood River High School is
new. We desire to place 1t in the
front rank among the High Schools
OF the state. 10 do this graduation
must stand for something. | do not
demand that all graduates shall meas
ure up to some fixed standard, but as
long as | have anything to do with
directing school work, ! must insist
that each student, at least appoxim-
ately, measure up to his or her cap.
ability. Anything less than ones best
Ia a poor excuse to offer In ones life.
Last year seventeen members OF the
University of Oregon Freshman Glass,
graduates OF Oregon High Schools,
failed completely at the end Of the
first Semester and had to return
home. More than ninety per cent OF
the students of Hood River High
School are preparing for college uni
versity, or technical school courses.
We cannot afford to have any of these
boys or girls sent home in this way
That would be disgrace for sure.
Yet this will be the inevitable result
unless We make graduation from the
High School stand for something
really worth while.
The regular students OF the High
School are, almost without exception,
in favor of this policy. This brings
me to another matter, the system OF
posting" students, that is barring
students that fail to keep their school
work up to certain standard from
athletic and other school enterprises.
lhe student body enacted this rule.
Not a teacher was present when 1t
was determined upon. The High |
School teachers reported to me the
names of the students that we're below |
standard in their school work, and | |
lcokeu after It's enforcement az requlr.
ed In the student body rule. In no
case was student posted except by |
the teacher who had his work In |
charge. | consider that the student |
body deserves great deal of credit |
for this stand 1t took In making ath.
letio sports subservient to the real
aim of our school.
Respectfully submitted,
Edward Il. Coad.