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

Latin, History, ETC., and give them at
ing that bespeaks an educated per
son and which would otherwise be
lost to these boys and girls that spe-
cial courses like Manual Training and
| Domestic Science are introduced. Be
sides these special courses enable
those who pursue them to meet the
world to better advantage at least
part way in the struggle for exis-
tence" The graduate from the Do
nestle Science, Manual Training and
Commercial Courses can say upon
graduation, 1--WE are ready to do work
along these lines because we have
prepared our selves for that work. )"
These courses keep boys and girls
in school because they feel that they
are doing something worth while and
in consequence, become able and use
full citizens after leaving school. They
lean see where the good of all this
present study will come to them in
after life
The wisdom of introducing these
special courses in the Grand Rapids
schools is shown by the fact that
that 1876 boys and girls out of to-
tai of 311, or nearly two-thirds of all
in regular attendance, at the High
School receives instruction in Do
mestic Science andl Manual Train
ing in the Wdtter Building. 127 of
this number are full high school pu-
pills. This is to say that more than
one-half of the total number in the
high cshool net including the 8th graIs
four years courses in Manual Train
ing and Domestic Sciences. Besides.
these, IS others have chosen sub
jects I'M the Commercial Course. This
gives total Oh 173 or about three
fourths of the regular High School
pupils who are benefited by the in
PRODUCTION of these special courses.
This shows that Grand Rapids is
well up to the front in educational
lines which make for the best inter
ests of the community. This was
made possible through the foresight
and generosity of one of the most
public spirited citizens of Grand Rap
ids-the late J. D. Witter,-a pro-
gressive Board of Education, an alert
: Federated Women's Clubs, and the
splendid administrative ability of my
predecessor, H. S. Youker.
We are sorry to say that there
is a small number of citizens in
Grand Rapids who do not altogether
thoroughly appr eciate what is being
done for the education of their boys
| and girls. Instead of acknowledge ing
the opportunities which are opened
to their children they appear to thinl
that all the splendid equipment and
: buildings are merely so much added
expense. Of course it takes money
to run good school system but then
no people can make better invest
ments than building and operating
good schools for their boys and girls.
We shall graduate this year from
: the Manual Training Course eight stl
dents who have had four years OF
Manual Training. Also this year we
shall graduate three students from
the regular four years Commercial
Course. There is no doubt but that
some of these boys and girls who
will be graduated from these courses
this year would have withdrawn from
school had it not been for the work
they were permitted to take in Com
meroial and Manual Training branche'
Now they are some of the strongest
members of the Senior class.
AS to our standing with the state
university, here is letter from the
University High School Inspector, A
w. Tressler, which explains itself:
University of Wisconsin. Madison
February 8, 1910.
; My Dear Mr.. Schwede:
Our committee recomm ended that
the Grand Rapids High School be
continued on the accredited list.
/, | uJho viz fcd
school were very much pleased with
the organization, management and
general average of the teaching.
: They found the equipment very goo
in all respects. The manner in while
your school has Improved since the
present high school building was oc-
cupied must be very gratifying to
the citizens of Grand Rapids Your ney
manual training building is one OF
the most complete, plants in the Stats
and lis certainly an admirable mem
orial. 1t is four years since l saw
your school. In that time it has
improved in almost every direction
in material, equipment, enrichment
of the course of study, and particu-
larly in the quality of work which
the students are doing. In view OF
thu detailed report which was made
to you at the time of our visit. it
does not seem necessary for me to
comment more at length at this time
Very truly yours,
A. w. Tressler,
Secretary of the Committee.
AS to our standing with the state
department, we follow out the lines
laid down by the State Superintendr
ent.