The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-02-24
Still Using Harpoon to Bring
Better Conditions Into
State High Schools
FINDS TOO MANY COURSES

That many high schools of Wiscon-
sin, and particularly the smaller ones,
are dissipating their energies by offer
ing more variety in courses of study
than is wise is one of the statements
made by G. P. Cary, state superinten-
dent of public instruction, in another
of his series of letters, to superinten-
dents, principals, and teachers called
forth by desire to free the high
schools from what he terms outside
domination which reached the Kenosha
teachers today. He says that the prin-
cipal reason for his letters is desire
to have school matters more thoroughly
discussed by the public at large.
Speaking Of the practice of rushing
pupils through their work with the re-
suit that "the pupil is forced to bluff
his way along and often resorts to
devices of questionable morality in ordi-
er to get through and secure a passing
mark he makes the following com
ment on text books:
"Our text books have largely been
written by college men who think they
have to sustain reputation for schol-
arship among their colleagues 1t
would scarcely do for them to write a
simple, easily mastered, fundamental
sort of text.
III believe investigation would sus-
tain the statement that goodly per-
centage of the graduates of our high
schools, and even of our colleges and
universities, do not hold with a firm
grasp the multiplication table or the
simplest, most fundamental facts re-
garding our history and government, -
he continues. "College students in
large numbers misspell common words
in the English language, mispronounce
common words, fail to punctuate and
capitalize properly, and also fail to use
spoken English with clearness, force
and fair degree of grammatical ac-
curancy.
"I am Of the candid opinion that not
studied Latin within the last decade
in this state has benefited as much by
it as he would have been by the study
of some other subject. Doubtless
many students study Latin for the sake
Of teaching Latin to other students who
study Latin for the sake of teaching
Latin. Much of the instruction in the
high schools should be more concrete
and less abstract and bookish.
'I believe every high school should
give every pupil before he graduates
such review of the common branches
as will relieve the school of the charge
that graduates are weak and incom-
petent in their knowledge of the COM
mon branches.
CT believe high school teachers
should give the utmost care and con-
sideration to the mental, moral and
physical habits pupils are forming.
ct believe the high school should
teach respect for law and the wise use
of liberty.
CT believe the high school should
make special efforts to train pupils to
use reference books.
ct believe all schools should train
pupils to organize and preside over
meetings and follow parliamentary us
age.
ct believe more attention should be
given to instruction in hygiene, in
civics and in ethics.
81 believe the high school should
train not only the children, but should
also guide the students of that portion
of the public which is unframed. but
intellectually hungry
| A large delegation Of the students
of the Racine College of Commerce