El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-21

opportunity to adapt 1t to the needs
Of their own lives
1 do not want my daughter to become
a microscopic botanist," wrote one
mother last spring to city superin-
tendent- she has neither the time nor
the inclination for such scientific
methods 1 feel that 1t would be
source of pleasure and profit to her.
however, IL from her high school she
had learned enough Of the elements
or botany to be able to recognize the
common plants we see each day In a
walk through the park 1 am sorry
she is likely to graduate without
securing this knowledSe, although for
two years she has been studying bot
any in the high school"
With the broadly elective course now
advocated as desirable for the general
nigh school course q student with no
taste for higher mathematics will be
allowed to substitute some study OF
equal educational value for the time
allotted to mathematics above q GER
tain limit
Some provision might also be made
Tor such pupils as desire to finish
the high school coure, but should take
more time for 1T than the four years
provided 1t frequently happens that
pupils who are studying music or some
other special subject outside of school
are Obliged to forego the pleasure of
graduating or else to be subjected to
the public humiliation of being left
behind when little flexibility might
nave provided for their needs without
In any way interfering with the
students who are devotIng their en-
tire time to their school work.
Still MOoted Question.
Just what the college preparatory
should do for its pupils is still a
mooted question, because there yet re-
mains much to be desired in the way
OF correlation between the colleges
and the public high schools. This is
being rapidly brought about, how
ever, through the influence of the
committee of ten, appointed by the
National Educational association for
the consideration Of high school stud
les and requirements. The fact that
there is still a material difference in
the admission requirements of many
colleges is partially responsible for
the lack Of articulation between these
institutions and the public high
schools.
The agricultural high school is the
latest DEVELOPMENT in secondary edu-
cation, and this Institution has made
enormous strides during the past five
years In addition to the general Gull
ture provided in an ordinary high
scnooI course, the agricultural high
school aims to fit it's graduates for
practical farm work, often giving them
a scientific knowledge of the compo-
sition of soil, the standards of ferti-
hzation and many other matters which
even the skilled farmer a generation
ago knew nothing about In regions
Wnere the consolidated rural schools
OBTAIN, the agricultural high school
may have course which can be com
pleted In two years or less
1t is now generally conceded that
no public high school should be al
lowed to grant degrees, and some of
the colleges are making especially
strong protests upon the subject But
so long as there is no legal standard
as TO the requirements OF baccalau-
reate degrees there appears TO be no
way to debar a high school from a
privilege often granted by a special
act OF the state legislature, until pub
lie sentiment induces the authorities
of the school voluntarily to resign
their privilege
Tomorrow-The American College.