Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-03-27

Commercial course ....76 Al %
Domestic Science course.74 SO IL
Manual Training course74 II
pa III A.
1912 1925
Total enrolment in High
ScnOOI .-.-.- .-. zo5 zoe
Number pursuing voca-
tional courses ......177 PA
Percentage of enrolment
pursuing vocational
courses $50. 65.8 p. c. 11.S p. c.
In addition there are II in other
courses who have elected bookkeep
ing.
Two of these courses, viz, the
Commercial and Manual Training
Courses, were recently inspected by
University men who are specially
qualified for the work. The letters
received show that the work done in
the Grand Rapids High school in
these courses ranks on a par with
that done in any other courses in
High schools.
(Letters of inspectors We're pub
ished In the proceedings of the
Board Meeting, Feb. 10, 1879
The above shows that last year "a
bout 81 out of every 100 high school
pupils pursued vocational courses,
whereas, this year, about Is out of
every 100 are pursuing such cours-
es. This increase must be needed.
1t shows that more parents recognize
the value of such courses in spite
of occasional counter agitations.
1t does make d difference to a com
munity whether the young people who
leave the schools have the prepar-
alton, to become self supporting and
useful members of society at once,
if necessary. or whether they become
drifters and eventually problems to
society.
Most of the graduates of the high
school have to go to work upon grad
1ation and school is over for the
greater number of them. OF the "a
graduates of our high school on
MAY 81, 1912, twelve only have found
onportunities to continue their school
studies at once, while twenty-five nae
to 60 to work either at home, in shop,
store, or factory. Of course, a NUM-
her of those now working will eventu
ly enter some higher institution OF
learning, but the facts remains that
it is necessary for them to earn sons
money before further education is pos
sibIe for them.
Then too many leave school after
they are IA years of age because
there are no courses which are adapt
able to them. which fact is covered
by the term nothing doing III
school, on the part of the discomfort
ed boys, and couldn't learn any
thing anyway on the part OF the par
ents and teachers, when such rs tar
from the truth These same boys
learn to get into mischief fast enough
proving that they have learning ca
pacity. 70 be prepared to meet the
world is much more necessary even
to those who for economic reasons
are compelled to earn a livelihood for
themselves, as we'll as probably for
others dependent on them before the
completion of even a high school
course is possible 1t is for the a.
bove reasons that | urge the introduc
ton of Industrial courses in connec-
ton with our vocational courses as
suggested by Mr. Crawshaw in his re
port on our Manual Training.
An employment bureau in the high
school is recommended to assist boys
and girls who leave upon graduation,
or before, to get the kind of posi-
ton for which they are fitted.
1t is recommended that Physical in
structors for boys and girls in the
hi gh school be provided as soon as
possible. The necessity of such ply
steal directors is evident to any one
who observes the bearing and ply
steal development of high school boy
and girls.
Medical inspection of schools is
working out we'll 1t was due to the
fact that DIR. F. X. Pomainville, Medl
cal Inspector of Schools, and City
Health Officer, was ION the job all
the time that the schools of this
city were free from any threatened e
pidemic of Diptheria and Smallpox.
Our schools are better now than
they have been at any previous time
| That does not mean that there is no
room for improvement, for no system
| is perfect. At the beginning of the
school year, there was a change OF
only five teachers in the grades and
four in the high school. Frequent
changing of teachers does not make
for progress. This is demonstrated
by the progress of such communities
as Page county, Iowa, and Winneba-
go county Illinois. The fame OF
these counties is due to teachers WHIT
spent years in one place and deveF
oped school spirit and social service
to such a degree that their little plac
IS became too small to cover what
was being done by them.
The corps of teachers in this city
is as devoted and progressive as in
any other community. A few instan-
ces deserve special mention, that of
Miss Ada Shaffer in the Lowell build
ing in looking after the welfare Of
the pupils in the three lower grades
who must necessarily bring their lun,
ches to school, and the work of Mrs.
Harriet E. Dietz, Principal Of the
Irving school. in bringing about the
cooperation of the parents in her dis
trict-