El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-12-09
Vocational Training NotO
Greatest Need OF Schools
A. H Hughey Principal Of the High School, Tells st.
Clement Mems Club That Latin and Greek Are
Of Little Use to Boys and Girls Who Have
Their Own Livings to Make.

: ing Of the Mems club OF the church OF
Saint Clement
Mr.. Hughey took the stand that the
schools should not only supply the
for well rounded citizenship, but en-
phasized the point that the school
should also be able to equip the pupils
to support themselves. and that this
was not being done as it could be in
the present school system.
When I was at the head OF priv
2te school Of 200 boys some years ago,
said Mr.. Hughey, Il came to the con-
ciusiOn that the courses or Latln,
Greek and other subjects were abso-
lutely useless to the pupils excepting
to fit them for college where they
spent another period Of more valuable
time learning these dead languages for
which the majority had absolutely no
need or use after they. left college.
In our present school system, the
curriculum of the school adapted to
only 10 per cent of the students in the
schools. The others need something
different something practical that they
can turn into use OF the IT'S students
that enter our High school every year,
only Is of these ever graduate This
means that during the interval be-
tween entrance and graduation, the
rest Of the students have come to the
conclusion that the school is not CIV
ing them the work they require to fit
them for Industrial life, consequently
they leave school and learn by rough
experience what should have been
tuaght them IN the schools"
Offers a Remedy.
Mr.. Hughey presented the remedy
to this condition in the vocational High
school, where necessary educational
subjects, English, commercial law,
civics, and other subjects which have
up to date, goth century value for
everyone, may be taught in connection
with some trade, vocation, artiSanshlp
or business school course
1--WE ought not to expect dead Ian
Euages, and a detailed study Of the do
ings OF the ancients OF 1000 or 5000 or
1000 3. c. to interest our boys and
girls who are naturally more concerned
with what part in the present work OF
the world they are to take, to support
themselves and be useful citizens in the
year 1914" said Mr. Hughey-
Should BE Eager to Attend.
1.-THE hardest punishment we infliet
upon misbehaving pupils is to keep
them after school" continued MI
Hughey. 1T should be that the hard
est punishment we could inflict would
be to keep them out Of school The
work should be so interesting, and so
adapted to their needs that we would
fairly have to drive pupils out"
Mr. Hughey gave examples Of the ex-
cellent work done by the vocational
High schools in Chicago, New% York,
Cincinnati and other cities where the
schools cooperate with the industries
Of the cities, and while the pupils are
serving apprenticeships in shops and
factories. they are also receiving from
the school end the training that will
make them more valuable to their en-
ployers, give them q greater chance Of
success, and fit them so that by the
time they graduate from school, they
are able to enter the industrial field
thoroughly trained and fitted for good
practical expert work.
In closing Mr. Hughey expressed a
hope that the bond issue for the new
court house and municipal building
would not interfere with the building
Of the new, greatly needed High school
building, in which vocational training
will be given especial attention.
The meeting was attended by about
50 members of the club. light sup
per was served and an informal smoker
was enjoyed by the men.