The Nevada County picayune., 1916-06-15
PUBLIC EDUCATION IN ARK
 AkSAS
No. 6. The High School Problem.
By J H. Miller Director Cooperative Extension Service. University of Arkansas, and r. s. Depart
 ment of Agriculture

Extension Service. University or
 Arkansas, and L. s Depart
 ment of Agriculture
 Most people in considering q ques- ton of law or statecraft, will ask whether this or that action is n har- mony with he intent of the lawmsk ers or with certain judicial decisions. In considering the American high school, however, il is not pertinent to ask whether this OF that is in harmony with the original purpose of the foun- ders or originators, because the high school must be considered as piece of present-day machinery for the training of men and women for the duties of the present and future It must, therefore, be measured by cer- tain reasonable laws of efficiency.
 The high school may be inefficient because of inferior teachers, insuth- cient equipment, an inadequate and badly planned building. because of bad social conditions of the commu nity or because of wrong ideas and ideals of those In control as to what the high school should be and what it should do In a way. the high school should be measured by certain rules of factory efficiency It takes in certain raw material and the pub lie or any critic has a right to ask how the output compares with the original raw material If it takes in a hundred trst-year students and graduates fifteen, the public has right to know the reasons for this great mortality If We accept the claim of masy, that the high school should be the preparatory school for the university. and only three of the fifteen enter the university, the pub lie has q right to know why
 If the high school. however. is ac- cepted as the peoples college.' and not as a preparatory school for col lege, we have a right to ask in what way it has prepared it's students for the occupations they will follow. Ninety per cent Ot the girls will be home makers, and few schools in Ar
  sons of efficiency for this great life work, The majority of the boys will enter some form of commercial life, with no preparation except the desire to dress well. Too many of the grad, uates, and far too many of those who dropped out on the way, enter upon forms of clerical or office work
 The high school offers the finest op- portunity in America for the great work of preparedness for the problems that must come So far il has sig nally failed when measured by the ordinary laws Of efficiency. II has thrown cut too much waste. There IS no good excuse for the horrible mor- talty that marks the earlier years of the high school course Such mortal ity proves that the system has been too ruthless and that too little thought was given 10 the 97 per cent and too much thought to the per cent, too little regard for the ehl- ciency of the many and too much thought for the glory of the few. It must be admitted that far too many high schools have had little, if any. influence even in building up an efh- cient community citizenship IL be- hooyes thoughtful patrons of our schools and earnest patriotic men and women 10 give serious consideration to the problem of making the high school an efficient factory
 No factory can be efficient with in- ferior buildings and inferior workmen who are paid low wages. In Arkansas we cannot have efficient high schools until each community provides ade- quate and we'll arranged buildings and adequate equipment and well paid teachers who have the training and zeal that will enable them to do efn- cient work for training efficient citi- zens Our communities must come to appreciate the fact that the Nigh school should train for efficiency in the business of that community
 The modern high school 10 bs an efficient factory for efficient members of a democracy. should be an ezpon- ent of good health, good morals and real efficiency in all things It should stand for industr,alism and agricul- ture and home making. The efficient nigh school should have more attrao- tive power 10 draw into it a larger proportion ot those from The lower grades and greater holding power Tor retaining in ifs ranks those who enter he h,th scho7. | should send te students into the industrial OF the commercial world ar into the homes of the community 9s efficient work ITS Pm. caocor ae possible mul more money Is put nto rba invest. mau' n the waG ol buildings, equip Mrur end teachers and rsa3 sHc ency
 anno- be pos b,a until courses of
 udy shall De offered that vii. pre. pare ioy emoeaes n he community and thn aVoUpd gHruosa 1f the J{gb