Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-03-31

AAAA~SGAOA-i 1IOdu IlIt OlAln w DIX u. II
was moved and unanimously carried
that the secretary be instructed to
cast the ballot of the meeting for
Mr. T. A Taylor The ballot was
cast and Mr.. T. A. Taylor was de
clared elected school commissioner
from the Sixth Ward for a period of
two years.
Mr. L. NJ. Nash was nominated to
succeed himself as school commits
sioner from the Seventh Ward. 1t
was moved and unanimously carried
that the secretary be instructed to
cast the ballot of the meeting for
Mr.. L. NJ. Nash. The ballot was cast
and Mr.. L. NJ Nash was declared e.
lected school commissioner from
the Seventh Ward for a period of
two years.
Rev. c. A. Meilicke was nominated
to succeed himself as school commits
sioner from the Eighth Ward. It was
moved and unanimously carried that
the secretary be instructed to cast
the ballot of the meeting for Rev. C.
A. Meilicke. The ballot was cast
and Rev. G. A MeiIicke was declar-
ed elected school commissioner
from the Eighth Ward for period of
two years.
The Superintendent then read his
annual report.
Superintendent's Annual Report, 1909
1910.
The schools in this city have con-
tinued very much as usual during the
past year. The spirit shown by all
interested in the schools has been
such that it cannot fail to make for
better conditions i'm the near future
than even now exist if kept up as
it should be. This genuine interest
In the education of the children of
this city will tend to keep standards
of education here on level with the
best, and it should not be permitted
to wane. 1t is we'll known that great
er progress has been made along in
dustrial than along educational lines
Within the last thirty years Rapid
progress Will probably be made in
education within the next few de-
cades. 1t is therefore imperative that
the public in Grand Rapids be alert
In order that the position i'm lines
educational which Grand Rapids now
holds may not be lost.
Standing of the Grand Rapids, Wis
consin, Schools.
The American school systems, and
in particular the American high
schools, are receiving ait the present
time most searching investigation
from many sources. We find articles
in magazines, i'm dailies, and in week
lies, crfticising high schools because
they do not give the returns which
the tax payers should demand of
them. Even Presidents of colleges
and universities who might be expect
ed to defend the schools as they
have been administered in the past
admit that change must take place
In the courses of study in those
schools if the best returns are to
be expected from them. AS most of
the high schools are conducted now
they are only preparatory schools for
colleges and universities. Instead
OF providing for the 95 per cent of
high school students who do not go
to colleges or univer stiles, they pro-
vide for only the percent who do. Thi
does not seem just to the great ma
jority of the people. We find such
men as President Van Hise of our
own state University and State Su-
perintendent c. P. Cary in this State
telling the high schools that they are
not fulfilling their mission.
This is true of most high schools.
These same men ask that the high
schools incorporate such courses of
study as will be for the greatest benz
efit of the So per cent while provid-
ing for the per cent who do in
tend to go on to some college or
university to complete their educa-
tion.' They ask that the schools
wake up" and introduce Manual
Training, Domestic Science, CONNER
c1al, and Agricultural Courses. Grand
Rapids now offers full four year
courses in Manual Training Domestic
Science, and Commercial Work, and,
mo doubt, if the call were sufficiently
urgent, a four year course I'M Agri-
culture similar to the Commercial
Course would also be introduced, as
it possibly may be in the future. The
Grand Rapids High School is admin
istered to meet the needs of the com
munity by the various courses as
closely as possible. Therefore, the
criticisms from President Van Hise
and State Superintendent Cary just
referred to do not effect the Grand
Rapids Schools.
We do not run trade school, but
we do teach in these various courses
what to do and how to do it, and
then give the student just enough
exercises to fix the principles learn
ed. 1t is not our purpose to turn
out experienced stenographers, car
penters, bookkeepers, machinists, or
dressmakers. Experience along these
lines must be obtained after leay-
Ing the High School because differ
ent methods of doing business are
used under different circumstances.
Also 1t is not our purpose that the