The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-13

one Of the faults with the oeVeioP-
ment of the high schools during recent
years has been the tendency to devote
too much of the curriculum to the
preparation of students for entrance
to colleges. Some of the high schools
seemed to go on the theory that this
was their exclusive function Most of
the courses for all the pupils We're ar
ranged with the sole view of giving
ADEQUATE preparation to the small per
cent of them that intended to continue
their educations in college This made
the high schools ineffective in mater
iaI fashion in the matter of equipping
the bulk of the pupils. who had no in
tention Of going to college, with a
high school education that would
stand them in good stead, that would
help them on their way at the outset
OF their battle with life
Fortunately there has been a change
of sentiment during the past two or
three years in this particular on the
part Of high school educators, spurred
on no doubt by the protests of dis
corning parents, who support these
schools. that their children who were
not booked for collegiate careers, were
not getting serviceable high school
educations. Last year the depart
ment of high schools of the National
Education association, now in annual
convention assembled at San Fran
cisco, requested the colleges to revise
their entrance requirements in such a
way that the high schools might meet
modern needs. By a practically unan-
imous vote the department requested
the colleges to discontinue the require
nent of two foreign languages for en-
trance and to give credit for newer
work now being done in progressive
high schools. In accordance with this
action a committee of nine was ap-
pointed to prepare a statement Of the
work that the high schools ought 10
be expected to do. This committee
at a meeting of the department at yes
terday's session of the convention sub
United a report, the substance OF Whlch
is as follows:
The committee cites the criticism of
the Carnegie foundation that Amerl-
can education, from elementary
school to college, is suffering from
the attempt to teach too many sub
iects to the same student at the same
time The committee then considers
some OF the special functions OF the
high school, as follows:
/. The high school must instruct
every student in the elements of good
citizenship. This duty cannot be dele
gated to the college because there Is
no guarantee that any particular stu
dent will actually go to college.
2. High school courses must pc
flexible. for the high school period is
the time for the youth to discover his
bent.
8. Broad vocational instruction
should find place in the high schooI
to prepare for efficiency
4. Mechanic arts, agriculture, or
household science should be recognized
as rational elements in the education
of all boys and girls and especially OIL
those who have not as yet chosen their
vacations.
In accordance with the foregoing
considerations the committee formu-
lates a working definition of a Well
planned high school course. three
features of which are as follows: Since
quantity should be subordinated to
quality and since overstrain should be
eliminated from the atmosphere OF
the school, the committee recon-
menda that the cumulative require
ment should be fifteen units Inc
average student is expected to carry
four units Cor subjects) each year,
and consequently can finish the
course in four years, even II he faiis
in one subject in one year. The stu
dent Of exceptional ability may save
and the student poor in ability should
be permitted to attempt only three
units each year, thereby diminishing
failures and reducing excessive per
capita cost OF instruction.
of the total fifteen units, four units
should be left as a margin to be used
for additional academic work or for
mechanic arts. household science,
commercial work or any other Kind
Of work that the best interests OF the
student appear to require. The COM
nittee adds in reference to the mar
gin: mo limitation should be imposed
lupon the use of the margin except
that the instruction should be given
bv competent teachers with suitable
equipment in classes not too large,
and that the students work should
be of a satisfactory grade. This rec
ommendation appears to be vital to
the progressive development of our
high schools. As long as formal recog-
milton must be sought for each new
subject so long will the high school
be subservient and not fully progress
sfve It ought to be possible FOR any
strong high school at any time to in
ttroduco into it's curriculum any sub
1ect that either meets the peculiar
needs OF that community or that APP
pears to be the most appropriate We
hicle for teachers OF pronounced IN
dividuality.
It is particularly encouraging and
another big boost for the educational
system of Topeka, that the local board
OF education. in response to the de-
mands of the people, are reorganizing
the courses of the Topeka high school
along these progressive and effective
lines.
VINO APR THE TTNFVTp