The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-09
ALONG RIGHT LINES

We were pleased last week to be able to announce the
policy of development upon which the trustees of the
county high school had decided and to report that no time
would be lost in putting this policy into effect. We be-
lieve the directors of the high school are moving in the
right direction and that the school and the county will be
the better for it.
Maintaining the high standard of academic work which
has been established in the Missoula county high school,
the trustees propose to enlarge the scope of the work OF
the institution. The instruction in manual training and
domestic science, which has been SO we'll begun, will be
carried further and the pupils will be given the best pos
sible opportunity to attain proficiency in these lines. A
thorough commercial course will be added to the curricu-
lum, bookkeeping, typewriting and stenography will be-
added to the work in commercial English and mathematics.
And the board, more farseeing than some of its prede-
cessors have been, proposes to give attention to the phys
ical welfare of the children. There is to be, as has been
announced, an installation of additional equipment to the
schools gymnasium and this department of the institution
is to be made as helpful and efficient as possible.
Not many years ago, these suggestions would have been
received with shrugs and expressions of disapproval. We
believe, however, that the county will have nothing but
friendly criticism to offer regarding the action which the
boy and the girl at a critical age. The formative period is
a delicate season in the life of the youngster; the habits
which are acquired during these years, the associations
which are formed, the ideals which are fixed-all these
have important bearing upon the later life when the girl
has become a woman and the boy has grown into a man.
There are a good many of the students in the high school
who receive there the last of their education. From the
commencement platform of the high school they step out
into the Workday world. For these it is particularly es-
sential that the work of the high school be made as helpful
as possible; the institution must stand as training school
and college for this class.
We believe the Missoula county trustees have considered
these matters in their right light. The conclusion which
they have reached appears to be the one best calculated to
get the most possible out of the high-school years for the
young people. The fact that an excellent start has been
made in this direction in the school will make it easier to
develop satisfactorily the plans which the trustees have
decided upon.
The local experience with the high-school gymnasium,
tor instance has been all to the good With the inadenuate
equipment now at the disposal of the physical director,
there has been excellent work done. The right spirit is
making itself manifest among the boys. A higher standard
of manhood is appearing. The cigarette-smoking bravo is
no longer the hero that he used to be; the ideal of the
smaller lads has become the clean, strong, athletic chap of
the upper class, who takes care of himself and whose habits
are correct.
There are some city poolrooms whose patronage has
since the gymnasium was opened at the high
school. Is not this, of itself, a sufficient argument in favor
Of maintaining the gym? 1t is one thing to forbid a boy
lo1ter about the poolrooms and it is quite another thing
provide a place which is more attractive for him than the
If you tell the boy he must keep out of the
bedrooms, you are bound, in the name of Justice, to pro-
'lde him with some other place to spend his leisure hours.
We commend the course Of the trustees of the high
school. We indorse strongly the policy which Principal
hetcham has recommended and which the trustees have
adopted. We believe the county could not invest money to
Better advantage than in this plan to make better. stronger,
cleaner boys and girls. They will be better citizens when
heir hour of responsibility comes and whatever tends to
this end is worthy of the support of each one Of
is and of all of us.
leaning NJ Il done before they send like non political city vernme and
their instructions. In many parts that eood men are needed if this work
# the city it is possible to clear up is to be continued l.