Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-10-22
Says Students Should
Finish High School Work
Before Entering College
State School Supervisor E. Clarke
Fontaine Emphasizes Importance
Of Finishing School Work.
TIC the Patrons Of the Pocomok,

~ tHe TdCTonS OF the POcOmOke
High School
While in Pocomoke City last week
erd, a prominent citizen who has a
daughter at high school whom he ex-
poets to send to college, interrogate
ME on the advisability of his daugh-
tors disseminating her high school
course before graduation and take a
year or two of college preparatory
course. In the course of the CONVEX
sation, l was informed that many
parents of the community had some
how or other become possessed of the
idea that the last year or two of the
high school course here entailed a
loss OF time to prospective college
students, and that even after gradu-
alton, year of preparatory college
work was necessary before entrance
could be obtained to the Freshman
c:ass at a standard college. l was
considerably startled at this informa-
ton, but was dumfounded when the
gentleman later informed me that |
was being quoted around town as ad-
vising such procedure as above in
c-cated. If there was one point that
| stressed more emphatically than
any other during my entire connec-
ticn with the high school of this
place, it was a continual earnest plea
t. parents and to high school pupils
rot even to think of going to eolleg
until they had received their high
school diploma. ] have never in any
case or under any circumstance given
any advice contrary to this and wish
to emphasize the fact that I still hold
unequivocally to this position.
l can't see how a boy or girl can
gain anything, in time or in any other
way, by stopping high school to en-
ter a preparatory class at college.
The high schools of Worcester county
rank high among the high schools of
the state, and each and all of them
offer the units or courses necessary to
entitle the graduates to admission
without condition to the standard col
leges Of Maryland and other states.
Furthermore, the Maryland colleges
accept the diploma of the accredited
high schools of Maryland, of which
Worcester county has four, and admit
the holders of these diplomas to the
Freshman class of the college with
cut examination. This has been done
SO frequently and Pocomoke High
school graduates have in so many in
stances been admitted to full college
work and successfully and in many
cases brilliantly completed their col
lege course in four years that am
surprised that such an impression
should have been spread abroad.
There are two teachers in the POGO
moke High school this year, one of
them a graduate of a standard Mary
land college, the other of one of the
best and most distinguished of the
Virginia colleges, who finished their
college course successfully in four
years after receiving their diploma
from the Pocomoke High school.
1t should be carefully noted how
ever by parents that in the elective
system now in vogue in Maryland
high schools, it is possible for boy
or girl to choose such studies during
his four years at high school as do
rot coincide with college require
ments in particular courses. 1t is
wise to choose the college and also
the particular course in college as
early in the high school career as pos
sible, and then after examination of
the college catalogue, elect such stu
dies in high school as will meet the
special requirements of the college
and the course chosen. But the point
l wish to strongly emphasize in clos
ing is that the necessary preparation
fer full college work is offered at the
Pocomoke High School as at the other
high schools of Worcester county and
any boy or girl who wants a college
education and is willing to pay the
Er.ce in industry and application to
get it, can obtain his full preparation
al our local high school, and that no
further preparation after graduation
is in any way necessary at any col
lege preparatory institution.
Respectfully,
E. CLARKE FONTAINE.