Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-06

PART I.
The high school is a peculiarly Amer
team institution. II is an Outgrowth o.
The old English grammar school and the
private academy which at one time pro-
vided the character OF training regarded
for so long as essential to prepare Tor
entrance 10 the university When the
people Of the republic decided TO inaugu-
rate a scheme OF universal education, II
became necessary TO establish connect
ing link through the agency of the state
between the common schools and the IN
stitutions OF higher learning and out OF
this necessity has grown what we now
6,nOminate the high school
Educational progress along any line Is
comparatively slow. and it is not sur
pFising that the high school as now or
s.nized has seemed to answer its pur-
pose fairly well up to the present time
But now the nation faces an entirely new
1T c. conditions due TO the marked
changes which have taken place along
economic and industrial lines. On this
account il becomes necessary 10 dis-
tfrctiy differentiate and enlarge the work
OF these institutions The purpose or
. education is TO prepare fO- life ana SO
train the child that he may successfully
overcome the contingencies which follow
in the wake Of our complex civilization.
To do this the high school must be
something besides a connecting link, as
commonly understood between our ele-
rreutary and higher scheme OF education
or fan of its mission and necessitate the
establishment of distinctly vocational
schools. This is undesirable and unne-
cessary will initiate against the develop
n1ent OF the high school. and serve no
useful purpose which these institutions
may not fulfill
or the eighteen million children or
school age in the United States, about
one million are in secondary schools.
This is certainly a small percentage OF
the scholastic. population and a condi-
Iion which should be remedied- IL is per
lineU- 10 ask. why such comparative
small proportion of the rising genera
ton enter the high school? The great
majority Of people must earn their own
living and in the towns and cities where
the pinch of poverty" is most keenly
felt. the great majority of boys and girls
- gin the earning Of their livelihood be-
tween the ages of ten and twelve. Wit
ress the children of both sexes at work
IL a department store. for instance. and
Doubt viii instantly give way TO con-
yiCtion. This is a potent reason why
larger numbers are not found in the
secondary schools. but il is not the most
important. for undoubtedly the parents
o. more than one boy or girl in Is are
financially able and would gladly send
them TO a secondary school IL they felt
that adequate benefit would be derived
f:om the instruction secured. A vivid
imagination leads boys and girls to de-
sire an active life. and the study Of
hooks for the sake Of books is, not as
generally appreciated by children as
their elders sometimes seem to think.
Tie work OF the high school up to this
time has been chiefly of boolxish ma
fUre Opportunity has not been afforded
20 secure even a rudmentary insight in
10 vocational studies. and vet II is APP
preciated by all who have had experience
that laboratory training and the doing
81 things" appeals more strongly to the
child than anything else. Through the
INTRODUCTION OF vocational work into the
schOol. the child may be prepared I'm
measure To- meet the struggle for exis-
tence In a well organized and equipped
Institution he is afforded opportun-
ity 70 choose between several different
crErses of study. and to select and spe-
cislize in that which most strongly ap
reals TO him. There is thus a chance
for him to develop a certain amount OF
dexterity and secure some fundamental
training which will make him more vai-
liable to an employer. When he grad