Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-03-19
HELD LAST SATURDAY AFTER
NOON At THE HIGH SCHOOL
BUILDING
PAPER ON MANUAL TRAINING
SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN
OUR CITY SCHOOL

ot many foAJ tOiCotih6 PoPVio
were presented, and most of the
teachers from nearby districts were
in attendance. Among the subjects
discussed we're:
Reading" by Prof. Sawyer;
Music in the Primary Grades"
by Miss Ethel Short; Government
and Management" by Miss Della
VanderHeyden; Geography" by
County Superintendent Ramsey;
Manual Training as a Necessary
force in Modern Education" by
AMiss Adah Shilson. All the papers
were excellent and we'll worth the
attention of the citizens as well as
teachers. A member of the local
school board informs the Herald
that they have recently had under
discussion the matter of revising
the course of study in the high
school, and as Miss Shilson's paper
bears particularly upon advanced
thought pertaining to courses of
study, we have obtained her per-
mission to publish her paper in
full:
"If I were to begin by mentioning
the admirable qualities of our most
excellent system of education, / am
sure it would meet the approval of
many. However. l am about to
quote what may seem an unjust
criticism: Our educational sys-
tenn is unfair, in that it does not
give equality of opportunity to ALL
This seems surprising to US, who
have been boasting for more than a
century Of our American ability,
fraternity and equality. 1t is the
boast, too, of most Americans that
our great school system-the great
est thing on earth-provides alike
for every boy and girl who will
take advantage of it. This is only
half true, and dangerous, as all half
truths are. The fact is, the Amer
loan system of education grants
equality of opportunity only to
those who can go on to the college
and the university. Little account
is taken Of the boy or girl who can
not have or does not have wish for
"a higher education, and records
show that only about ten per cent
OF the high school pupils go to col
lege, and much greater Ter cent
drop oct even before entering the
high school. AS the system exists
today, excepting in comparatively
few schools, those who drop out at
the age OF IL or IA are compelled
to earn their own living, have
missed their opportunity.
But why? Are those who pay
the taxes and do the rougher work
OF life to be denied the opportunity
for self improvement? Are only
those who can afford to stay in
school to reap the advantages OF
educstionP In a word, what are
we doing to help the average man
better to do his life work, and bet.
ter to realize his inheritance as an
American citizen? Certainly these
questions raise the problem of vo-
cational training for those, who
must begin early to earn their own
livelihood. The question of the
future OF American education is
one Of great concern in the educa.
tional world, and as time goes on
attention is being turned more and
moro to the reconstruction Of the
courses OF study. There is a great
industrial awakening in progress
skill and knowledge concerning the
uses OF force and matter are in
cressingly demanded, and manua
training is called upon to aid il
the solution of these problems.
There is decided unrest Will
present conditions and there is {
demand for more of the dynami
or active in educational practice
Il is claimed that the school doe
not prepare the child to meet tn
practical conditions of modern life
Undoubtedly some of these crit
-.u. 80 r,,i,,of hut ~ r,,uot n q