Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-09

''Public school students attain n
higher average of scholarship at college
than private school boys" says Pro-
fessor II. w. Holmes, of Harvard, but
heads of private schools in Philadelphia
do not think so.
Professor Holmes and two other
members of the Harvard division of
education, recently made statistical
study of 1000 freshmen who entered
Harvard and showed that larger per-
centage of students trained in the pub
lie schools did better grade work
throughout. their course than did
students who prepared for Harvard at
private schools.
On the other hand, private school
students show better entrance ex-
animation record. The private schools
were 10 per cent more successful in
getting their students into college.
ITS dangerous to draw conclusions, y
said the Rev. Philip j. Steinmetz, head
of Episcopal Academy. but somehow
or other testimony | have heard would
seem to point the other way from Pro-
fessor Holmes findings. Boys come TO
me and say they want to study with
us because their friends who had gone
to public schools were often unable to
keep up in their college standing.
Number Supports Contention
Zone of the biggest indications that
the private schools are doing their part,
is the bald fact that there are plenty
of private schools existing. And you
know that the private schools can exist
only so long as they are able to produce
results that will bring in other students
and more money TO keep the schools go
ing But the public schools, you know
go on forever. like the brook. 1t is q
fair presumption to say that private
schools are keeping their average up
''1f you simply want your boy to get
into college" said +. V. Gordon, q
member of the committee which inves
tigated the comparative scholarship OF
| the Harvard freshmen" the private
school offers you an entrance record oi
IS per cent success against 73 per cent
for the public school
"But the mere fact Of high percent
age of successful candidates in entrance
examinations is not in itself safe cri
terion of the thoroughness of the train
ing for college education. TO be sure
the private school offers advantages OF
training in health, manners and re.
ligion which are of too great value tt
b. overlooked !; but, given Il boy of fail
intelligence trained with his fellows in l
democratic public school you need havt
no fear that he will suffer in his col.
lcge record either in scholarship or de
pertinent, in comparison with his NOR,
fortunate classmates who are CAREFUL!
tutored at private school,"
Conclusion Unfair, Says Osborne
81 think that the conclusion is unfair
to the private Schools" said Samue
Osborne, head of Germantown Academy
'"rhe private schools have small classes
with plenty of opportunity for individ
ual training. And the private schools
have peculiar task
1.-The private schools task is to ge
all their boys ready for college; thu
public school is represented at colleg
by only the very best of its students
Only the choice public school pupils G.
to college, but all the private schoo
students go to college. the choice anC
the, so to speak, unchoice. We mus
make ready for college boys who, lef
alone in public schools, would neve
put their foot on college campus"
Mr.. Osborne hit the matter on tn
head" said Charles G. Heyl. presiden
of the West Philadelphia High Schoo
for Boys. Public high schools do no
make a distinct effort for the admission