The Ordway new era., 1910-09-16
To What Sch0oi2


above question, like BanQuo's ghost,
will not down. They want more train
ing for their children than the train
ing OF the eighth grade, but The only
course open to them Is to send their
boys and girls away to the high school.
With the high school, as now organiz-
ed, they are not satisfied.
First. because the high school pre-
pures for college and not for making
living. With most people the absorb
ing question Is the bread and butter
question. A few may retire, but the
mass must toll on. They know that
at no time in the high school course
are their boys and girls much better
prepared TO earn their bread than Is
the common laborer with whom they
must compete, aud at the end Of the
course they are not really lifted for
anything except to enter college.
Secondly, because there being few
or no electives offered, all must take
the course as prescribed or Withdraw.
All must be ground through the same
mill, it matters not what they expect
to be or do through life. Whether
lifted by nature to do certain kind
OF work does not enter into the ques-
ton at all.
Thirdly, because training in the
high school more often turns the boys
and girls away from, rather than back
to life in the open country. Too often
after four years away from home,
spent in the atmosphere OF the high
school. the boys and girls feel them
selves too good to enter industrial
lifc-too proud to do manual labor any
more. The glare Of the city and Il
small clcrkship are more attractive.
Sad indeed is the plight of any nation
whose people come To look upon in
dusLrial life Us degrading.
About five per cent of the people
are in the learned professions. while
nincty-tivc are in industrial pursuits
and always must be.
The professional man needs the
training Of the high school, college
and professional school, and it is pro-
vided for him. The man in industrial
life needs 1t, too, but cannot always
get 1t. Unfortunately millions cannot
defer their technical training until
after they have had high school train.
ing.
Our system Of education, particu-
larly secondary, has been maintained
almost wholly for the benefit of the
five per cent who 20 into the learned
professions, while little or nothing
has been done for the nincty-tlvc up
on whom the nation depends. Whether
or not the ninety-iive per cent are
more important than the five per cent
they are at least many times greater.
IL many times greater, then IT. is cert
ainly not unjust to claim at least
equal chances for preparation.
Under the present minute division
Of labor, and in The absence Of the ap-
premiership about the only place
where Il boy of high school grade can
learn Il complete trade is in the reform
school or the penitcntiary.
Isn't it high time the high school
cease preparing for college and begin
preparing for life?
This article Is not mcnt as an at
tack upon the high school but rather to
reflect the feeling of parents living in
rural communities who wish further
training for their children than that
of the eighth grade.
In the State Of Colorado are more
than hfteen-hundrcd districts nllcd
with just enough such people with just
such feelings.
Don't you think the State owes
some debt to these people? Don't they
pay their share of taxes levied to
maintain an educational system?
Should they not be provided for?
1t was to meet the need of just
such people that the State Board of
Agriculture, Of Colorado, last year,
established, in connection with the
Agricultural College, the School OF
Agriculture, which provided for those
who have finished the eighth grade
three years training Of six months
each In Agriculture and Domestic
Science.
1t Is the hope Of the management
that very soon the work may be eX-
tended to include Il very strong course
in the Mechanic Arts for the boys who
have Il mechanical bent Of mind and
and do not care for agriculture.
An attendance Of two hundred and
thirteen the first year shows conclu-
sively that the School of Agriculture
answers a long felt want in the State
of Colorado. An attendance of four
hundred is expected for the coming