Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1917-11-24
AN OPEN LETTER BOOSTING
FOR CUSTER HIGH SCHOOL


In occupying the space the editor ha.
so kindly given in this issue of the
Chronicle we want to state at the begin
ming that while we wrote the article o.
two weeks ago concerning the canvass
for students by an agent for Busines:
CIi'ege, that We have no particular
quarrel with any Business College in
particular nor any person who believes
in that plan for seeking efficiency. The
first question to be determined after all
is what is an Education and second
where can we get it most readily and al
least cost.
Surely we can all agree that an Educa.
ton is that training of all the powers of
mind and body that will make us mas
ters Of ourselves and any problems which
life may bring us. Such an Education
is Of necessity slow process and pro.
ceeds on natures plan of the length OF
time in coming to maturity bearing a
direct ratio to the usefulness and perman.
eucy Of the object desired A Unyer.
sity President once said in an address
when the Almighty wants to make a
mast for a great ship or a mighty beam
for building he let the sun shine, the
rain beat upon, and the winds sweep
oyer a tree for hundred and more years,
but when he wanted to prepare a pump.
kin for early consumption he took 80
days"
Our best educators have always held
that such an Education as best fitted the
need of the individual was that in which
a good foundation was laid by a thorough
course IN the common and High School.
Custer has shown great and commend
able Judgment in building and equip
ping one Of the finest school buildings
in the state, a building in excess of our
present needs and willingly shouldering
heavy taxes that not only the present
but the future needs of our boys and
girls may be fully met. Custer is proud
and justly 50 of our school and Of our
young people attending.
Surely we have an institution equip
ment and faculty that are laying the
foundation for real education. If not
then we don't know how to improve upon
the situation. No student has eyer left
the high school for short course or a
special one but has found upon finishing
that they were sorely limited and handi-
capped. The best thing to do, when
such is possible, is TO stick to the home
school and finish the course not alone
for the knowledge of the branches taken
as the general training of the mind to
mastery under this control Of the will
To let up and quit the High School for
a commercial, special or any other short
cut to a diploma is likely to result in
disappointment unless circumstances
compel one so to do and then the loss
will be felt
We dislike very much to see the stu
dents canvassed at this time. Any sub
iect of this kind with suggestions of
quickly arriving at an efficiency of salary
at a sacrifice of time spent in High
School, such canyassing being done in
the third month of the school year is
bound to bring unrest and diversion
from the regular work and should be
frowned upon by all friends of Custer
school
A special course in a commercial col
ege to prepare young man or woman
for an already pre-arranged employ
ment in which they are fitted for the
special task may be an asset, but the
student y no goes to Business College,
seeking merely short cut to a salary
usually finds several things to be desir-
ed after receiving a diploma Let us
BOOST for our High School and support
it by our influence and resent anything
that attracts from its value to the real
education of our boys and girls. They
will never find a more efficient place of
preparation nor cheaper one then the
association with the home folks and the
High School course taken at the home
town.
Yours for High School of which
other Alumni shall not be ashamed.
VIM. 5. HARPER.