The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-11

scnoot &rAoeQ, Before the Advocate
High School Bill was passed by the
Legislature, the girls and boys outside
OF the cities and lacge towns could not
obtain high school training. without
going to boarding school. OF course
this was impossible TO the majority,
and so only few went beyond the
grammar grades.
The report OF the Department of
t'ubiic instruction on the high school
development has just been issued, and
1t records phenomenal growth in
that department of school work.
High School Stimulus.
When the Advocate was in the
! midst of the fight for the High School
Biii the writer was Intercepted rather
sharply by those interested in the pri-
waite schools as to the effect of local
nigh schools upon the enrolment Of
the private schools. and the opinion
was expressed that the demand for
private schools would cease. and there
fore Blackstone Institute, of which the
writer was principal, and other church
schools would be seriously affected.
But this reasoning ignored the fact
that the establishment of high school
in community stimulated the edu-
cational impulse, and the number or
! prospective students was largely ir-
creased, and in that greater number
there would be many who would give
careful consideration to the question
/ or the place Of training. The first
and most important work is to make
parents realize that for any degree
| OF efficient living a high school edu-
cation should be given to nll their
| children. Nothing brings this realiza-
ton more quickly than the presence
OF good high school at work In the
midst. Then after the parent has rea-
| lied the right of his children to a
high school education, to fit his chill
dren TO associate on equal terms with
the children Of other men, he himself
Will raise the question OF
| Where?
! Why" says some thoughtless soul
should he raise the question OF
where" "Of course he will send
his children to the high school at his
! door, for they can board at home and
thus he can save money, and %t the
same time keep his children under
| his own care" But the thoughtful
parent does not consider the question
settled by the proximity of the high
school to his door. The high school
may have stirred him to plan better
| things for his children and once
7 aroused he determines that he will do
! the very best possible for them. OF
| course. If there Is no money to send
them away from home TO school they
! cannot go. But given the money. or
/ the chance to get it, and the advan-
tages Of a good boarding school will
be seriously considered by wise
/ parents.
After Fourteen Years
Of age. the neighborhood life is usual
~ not as helpful to good work In
school as Is the life of the boarding
! school The social life of the boys
and girls begins to develop at that
age. so that they are distracte1 from
their studies. and their progress Is se-
riously retarded because of a divided
mind
Then it often happens that the work
| In the home Is heavy. and children
at that age are able to heeof more help.
and without intending to interfere
upon them to do this and that. which,
small In itself, gradually eats up time
which L. needed for study.
For purely social reasons It Is aften
far better tie send children out of the
tneighborhood life to school, and keep
them there for the year. without
bringing them home, except at the
Christmas holidays,
Inspiring Classmates.
I moreover, the ASSOCIATION at n GOOD
boarding school Is likely to he more
helpful and inspiring, for usually
many Of the students are the best from
their several localities. and the aver
age ability Of the classes is much
higher.
Inspiring Teachers.
I And then thoughtful parents WIN
seek for schools which are known to
do high grade work. the teachers in
which are constant inspiration to
the student to do their very best
Schools With Character
must be the object of the search of
parents. Schools whose graduates
carry in their lives the brand Of their
college training. Just as St Paul car
ried in his body the brands of the
Lord Jesus. AS ] look back over my
| school DAYS certain teachers stand out
as bright stars in the heavens above.
They stood for the best things. They
called out the best in their students.
They really taught the greatest les
sons, not from the textbook, but by
their noble living. Happy are the
parents who can find schools with
teachers of character. who will glorify
true learning and the ministering life.
| Do not hesitate to send child five
hundred or even one thousand miles
from home, If by SO doing you can
put your children under the teaching
and the personal influence of a great
teacher.--JAMES CANNON, JR