The Washington times., 1909-09-12

YIN oil our mucn NaunIeu
NM present day higher education
v it is surprising to note even
now how small a percent
age Of the population has graduated
even from a high school or its equiva-
lent. 1t is true. that every fall. when
school opens there are found at each
of our local high schools a large num-
Der of ambitious girls and boys all
eager TO begin their high school careers.
Their very presence at school indicates
that they are willing, If not anxious,
to increase their knowledge and II is
hardly fair to suppose that the parents
have sent them with the expectation
OF keeping them at school only one
year: yet long before even the first
year has elapsed many have fallen by
the waysiGe. During the second and
third year still other pupils drop out,
until by the end Of the fourth year
only the so-called chosen few are found
remaining TO receive the much coveted
diplomas.
Causes Explained.
What is the cause for this wholesale
slaughter Of the innocents?' or late
years.. Il has received much attention
from educators all over the country.
About two years ago Dr. Edward L.
Thorndike, of Columbia University, who
had carefully investigated this matter.
published an interesting booklet on
The Elimination of Pupils From
School" Among otrer points which he
makes in his summary is the following:
THE superiority OF one city over an
other in the retention of pupils Is APP
pareptly caused far more by the nature
Of the population than by any peculiar
tiles in the curricula or schemes Of adj
ministraton Of the schools
True in Washington.
That this Is undoubtedly true Of Wash
ington will be readily conceded by al
most anyone connected with the schools
who has given the matter even little
thought. Before we examine nigh school
conditions fully, however. it would be
wrong not to consider briefly the foun-
dation for the high school, namely, the
grades.
In his report DR. Thorndike states that
the general tendency OF American cities
of 5000 and more is TO keep IN school
out Of 100 entering pupils 20 until the
fourth grade. 81 until the fifth grade, IS
until the sixth grade, - until the sew
enth grade, 40 until the last grammar
grade. = until the first nigh school
grade, II until the second L Until the
third. and until the fourth He goes
on 10 say:
TO provide free schooling throug1
the high school for all children is not
20 educate all children. To compel pu-
pills TO attend until fourteen is not TO
compel them to get q solid elementary
education. Not half OF them do. At
least ., out OF 100 children Of the white
population Of our country who enter
school stay only long enough 10 learn
10 read simple English, write such words
as they commonly use. and perform the
four operations for integers without
serious errors A ffln of the children
twhite) entering city schools stay only
to the fifth grade
Figures Are Astonishing.
The causes for leaving school, which
appear tC work most potently in the
elimination of high school pupils might
seem then 10 be working also, though TO
A less great extent, even in the grades
An examination Of the reports of the
Bureau Of Education for the city Of
Washington shows that only 1914 per cent
Of the pupils who were in the third
Erade continue in the fourth; and only
52I per cent Of those who start are
still found in school by the sine TIE
eighth grade is reached. What has be-
come of the rest? Agreeing with Dr.
I would unAesitatingly re-
ply that the reason why these boys
and girls drop out OF the grades
IS due not to the nature of tire school.
but TO the condition of the home.