Milford chronicle., 1914-08-21
OUR SCHOOLS.

There are several matters that need t
be spoken of before the schools open
september 9; it is not now too early fol
parents to be fOrecasting the possibili.
ties for their children: and it NAV be
that some misconceptions regarding the
schools obtain even among the best-in-
formed Of our citizens.
Let me say at the outset that must
be wholly frank. if helpful / am think
ing, however, only Of the higher inter
ests Of our boys and girls, and not less,
tho more indirectly. of those of their
parents and friends If, then we do
not agree at all points. we should at
! least remain friendly. / am confident
that no offense need be found in what
may say.
Let me speak first of the High School.
1t Is thought by some that the study of
some foreign language. ancient or mod
ern, as Latin, French. German. is re-
qulred by the Board of Education of an
pupils entering the High School. Now
II was obviously the aim of those citizens
Of Milford entrusted with the care of
the schools, to build up a modern and
actually up-to-date High School here. to
place II as nearly as possible on parity
with similar schools elsewhere. More
and more the high school is coming to
be regarded ''the peoples college, . but
more and more also it is being looked
upon as a stepping to get higher
education. Little Delaware has much
IN her history to be proud of. Shall she
be behind the other States in public ed
ucatlon! For almost universally in this
land, south as well as north and west.
every possible effort is being made to
educate the youth, and quite as univer-
sally the public high school at public ex- /
pense Is made the fitting school for col /
lege and university. Indeed MANY of
the States now have their great univer- (
sites, and most Of the finely equipped
agricultural colleges, where at public
cost higher education goes on. Some of /
the western State universities are in the /
hrst rank as educational institutions.
Even the great cities, New York lead /
ing, are establishing free universities.
The study of other languages than
English IS a necessary preparation for
college work. So Latin and German are
offered IN the Milford High School. The
complaint IS made still-and that is the
reason Tor these lines which otherwise
would be ike straw image set up to
be Knocked down again-that our public
schools should NOT fit for college. "Iet
those who. wish to get Latin, etc, 90 to
private schools and pay for it. +" is the
work one hears. This is, of course. an
absolutely undemocratic idea. And set
Ting aside every other Consideration.
his argument alone is sufficient answer
Il you remove the possibility of higher
education from all but those who have
sufficient means to send their children
70 expensive private preparatory schools
,nly the wealthy can be educated. and
nat great middle class and many of
still lower class must be included that !
or century or more now have Welded ,
he necessary types of brains and char /
lcter to produce the country we have. :
must, in the large, be deprived of edu- J
alton. 1t is banal to refer to this. I
4ong ago in our country and in others '
t all ike It, such an idea was already
eemed archaic.
Thus at much length l have tried to :