The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-02-26
rHE Rural Hi,,H sCHooi. AND
THE COMM NIFTY.
Address s.iscn at Country iife ton
Iss-nc." Hast Arlington, heb, 20,
hy James Brooks

aFtbtf~~ fAffh Nv NNHH'N 'shf ~
\ isr-ncs" Eas, Arlington, heb. 20
D b, James Brooks
The question How can the rufa
ligh school or Academy best scrs
the Nefare ~ the Community
! the phase Of the subject under dis
euss,ion % which this paper vii
. treat
oar whole educational system
today under fire our Secondar
schools seem to be the center o
attack
Those familiar with our secondar
Schaols. their merits. ana their De
fecta caudidly admit the soundaess
O, mach OF the criticism to whiol
they are being subjected
Tire accusation is made that th'
average High School both urban an,
rurd is falling to adequately meei
the needs of the majority OF the con
mnnty whose interests il SHOULD
serve.
Those responsible for the schools
Ia qlestion welcome ali cousirne-
tive criticism that will enable then
70 change their character and re-
adjust their methods to the changed
economic aud social requirements OF
our present age.
In the last fifty years the dis.
c0yelies OF science have revolution
zed industry. the arts, and eeono
mic conditions generally. Social, re-
igi0us. and political conditions as
wei have changed But the con
ventional High School has changed
but little IN its aims and methods. !
Is still largely Academic in charac-
\ ter Ii is still. in the main, the col
/ lege preparatory school OF a genera
tion ago. when IL funetioned almost
exclusively as college preparatory
school.
Today only six and eight tenths per
cent OF enrolled High School pupils
aver enter 60 lege Less than one
tenth. In other words, the America
High School stands charged, IN th,
first place, with partially for "a
seven who enter college; and IN the
second place with failure 10 directly
educate the other ninety-three for
productive efficiency in the struggle
for existence upon which they must
enter Immediately on leaving the
High School,
But the yearly increase in the
attendance of our Secondary schools
far outstrips the increase in popula
tion. Last year more than 1,25O, ,OOO|
OF our American youth were enrolled
in Secondary schools, public and pri-
yate. The annual expenditure iol
new and costly high school buildings
and their equipment, in towns and
cities }hroughout the country reache
an almost incredible total.
Now the practical American public
would not continue to invest theii
mil ttlg in ever increasing ratio in
secondary schools If they did not
believe that the results justified this
expenditures In spite of defect |
in curriculum and methods the Am
erican secondary school fills very |
important and Indispensable pace
in the social and economic life of
our day
But there are hopeful signs in
many quarters that this readjustmelt
of our educational machinery t.
meet the new demands and impera-
tive needs of the times has already
begun, though there is still a CON
fusion Of ideals and none of the
solutions OF the problems OF second
ary education can, as yet, claim to
be adequate or final.
There are. however certain funda-
mental points upon which there Is
general agreement among all educa-
tors and educational reformers
First, that the requirements for
the courses OF study pursued by the
average student should differ radicalI
ly from those of the college-prepara
tory student
Secondly. that while the cultural
studies should not be sighted, the
greater emphasis should be placed
On the so-called practical studies
such as the Business branches, DO
nestle Science, Vocational courses,
etc, when the latter are practicable.
Thirdly. that the methods Of teach ,
ng the English branches, including /,
lnder this head Science History
etc, should be RADICAL
directly correlating these .
subjects with the practical needs OF
he students, both actual aud poten, a
iall
Fourthly, that the prescribed 4
should be sufficiently elastic
o suit the differing needs Of differ i
nj individuals.
In these fundamentals there Is
agreement among educa-
ional authorities As TO the ques- s.,
lon Of the relative emphasis, and
hat OF the best methods Of accom- :,
fishing the ends desired. there Ii !,
luch difference OF opinion.
Now as the problems Of the city
Iigh School differ in many respects
rom those OF the Rural High Schoo
concerns us to limit our discus
ION TO the latter; also to bear IA
hnd that the character and needs
the rural High School diffei
.Vuauhat .xf.b tho aaot i'm ~ fhe