Newark post., 1912-03-06

LY, AN EDUCATION FOR
THE BLESSED HOURS OF
LEISURE
William Hughes Mearns. writ
ing in the last number of the Sat
urday Evening Post, gives an IN
tercsting sketch Of the progress OF
the American High School. In
reference to the influence Of the
college On the High School he men
tions the nationwide canvass
now being made by the National
Education Association. to discover
the sentiment Of the High Schools
in regard to the control which the
college should have over them.
Through the chairman Of their
committee they are communicating
directly with the teachers in every
High School in the larger cities
and towns. They sum up their
questions with the following: Is
the main function Of the high
school to prepare youth for col
leae? And if that is part Of its
business. do we serve our conmunl-
ties best by permitting the colleges
to decide how we shall do it?
One mentioned as IAN Older
claimant for possession OF the
High School. - is culture. who has
held the upper hand for so many
wears. Culture claims the dlscoV-
cry of the High School, place
where the boy might become Il gen
tleman. learning those things
which "every gentleman knows,
but preparing himself for nothing
IN particular. For a long time
such an idea controlled the High
School. The ''professors' from
such schools were known and
quoted. In some instances as IN
Philadelphia, the High School
course and that offered by the col
lege department of the University
Of Pennsylvania were so alike as to
make choice rather difficult. Each
conferred bachelors degree
under grant from the same Legis-
lature.
But in 1873 the changed idea OF
the purpose Of the High School ap-
peared in the form OF the manual
training. business and domestic
science, people demanding a place
in the curriculum for the mention
ed subjects.
For a long time these subjects
SHE'D away from the practica!
claiming principally "cultura
value the High School looking
with disdain on the trade school
Of later years, however. the ''peo
ple' have taken possession OF th'
High School. Until about 1888 OF
1890 this department was regarded
as an institution for persons 0.
the better sort. - who wanted edu
cations for their sons. and late
their daughters. to enable them t.
become 'persOns Of the bette
sort themselves. Quoting Mr.
Mearns. "at that period the peo
pie preempted the high school and
during the decade Of 1S9O-19OO
kept the school architect everlast
ingly busy housing their kind. -
At first the people were conten
to take the traditional course
though they murmured. And whel
the first crop of ple-graduates
diploma in pocket and Greek il
head. started out to hunt vulga
Job, - the business men Of tn
community began to write thos
sarcastic letters to the paper
about the need for more r s. littl
Latin and less Greek. What boot
it, they said, whether your grad
uate knows how to eliminate e an
u if he is too dainty to paint
roof, or pound hot bolts, or stok
Il stationary engine, or tie up
decent package? And what doe
he know about wool and shoddy
they asked. Can he estimate
wall paper job? Can he tackle Il
accountant S problem in our bool
keeping department? Can he tyE
respectable business letter? Ga
he sell shoes You see, the people
boy had eventually to work for h
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