New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-12-21
GRADUATES OF
EIGHTH GRADE
KEEP STUDYING
8 T A T e SUPERINTENDENT
WAGNER SENDS CARD TO
EACH GRADUATE OF CLASS
OF LAST YEAR; RESPON.
SES ARE GRATIFYING

/
3ES ARE GRATIFYING
A substantial and very encourag-
ing increase in the number of eighth
grade rural school graduates of 1917
who are going on into high school
work, is shown as the result of a
postcard inquiry made by State
School Superintendent Jonathan II
Wagner among the 1900 or more boys
and girls who received eighth grade
diplomas from the state last May
In issuing the eighth grade diploma
Mr.. Wagner sent ont word of en-
couragement to each graduate and
at the same time secured active CO.
operation of county school superin-
tendentS and teachers in urging the
young people to go on with their
high school courses. Following up
this effort the State Superintendent
on October S, sent to each of the
1900 return postcard asking each
one to state il in school and where
if not, why; and what plans had
been made for the winter, and ask
ing also for statement as to prefer
ence for training and occupation A
majority OF the cards were returned
and show better than eighty percent
OF the writer's now in high schools.
OF those who have stopped schools
the vast majority say they wish to
go on but are prevented chiefly by
lack of local high school facilities
and lack of financial ability of
parents to send them away from
home. The department OF educa-
tion proposes to keep in touch with
these latter and to advise with and
help as many as possible into high
school work this year or next 1t
is the first time that a thorough
follow up system has been used with
eighth grade graduates in New Mex
leo and the results obtained have
been important, many of those now
in high schools having been encour-
aged to go on by the joint efforts
of the State Superintendent and local
school authorities.
Teaching Is Preferred
Occupational choices of the. young
PSopiS dlC VI lHttl est. tdNIlHS is
the dominating preference among the
girls, with scattering of those who
wish to become musicians, artists,
nurses and business and professional
women. One young lady has deter
mined to become an expert milliner
while another announces her inten-
tion to become a competent home
maker. Among the boys the various
branches of engineering run about
evenly with farming and stockrais-
ing. Law and medicine do not stand
high among the boys of the 1917
eighth grade class. only seven elect
ing those professions. A consider
able number are willing to become
bankers, while one youth wishes to
become successful clerk in a gro
Gerry store. There are many who
would be stenographers and telegra-
pliers and the influence of the war
IS shown in the number who wish |
10 enter the government service. One |
BOY stated that he had decided to /
De a U. S. Secret Service operative,
while another stated his ambition !
% become a great orator.
Effort Is Successful
The effort to encourage education
beyond the eighth grade has brought
excellent results according to officers
If the Department of Education, and
Wagner is determine
d to make an even more thorough
ffort along the same line with the
ighth grade graduates of 1918
.'lkTo l-,,,,,, nI 4
,rade graduates and their individual
nd local school problems and needs
han we ever knew before. said
ir. Wagner today "and the effort
as been worth while not only in
he considerable number of young
eople who have been encouraged
o 90 on with their education, but
n the information it has given us
$ to the educational needs of many
f our rural school districts If
here are any who hold that New
4 exco is evtravagant in school ex-
enditures | wish they might read
With me some of the replies from
oys and girls who want to go on
With their school work and who can
ot because local school facilities
re inadequate. | believe they would
e convinced that we have still far
o go and much to do in building
nd broadening our educat tional c.
uipment before we have passed the
order line of bare necessity. A
laioritv. | am sure would be con-
inced that we might we'll afford to
rave a charge of extravaganza if
V doing so we could make avail
bic for the bows and girls of some ,
{ orr isolated districts those educa-
onal facilities which will give them :
n eoral chance with their fellows
his 1917 inquiry into disposition OF q
ur eighth grade graduates is fair
, convincing evidence that ii is not
,ck of desire for education which
auses so MANY TO stoD with COM {
'etion Of e'rhth grade work. but
lck of facilities for going further" /