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Show HIGH SCHOOL REPLIES TO ARTICLE IN THE STANDARD Editor Standard- There has been much comment and no little excite ment in the Ogden high school fol lowing the publication in our paper Issue of January 13, of a signed ar tide in opposition to the half-day system. In the beginning of this article let it be understood that we are not supporting sup-porting the half-day system, neither are we opposing it, and by no means wish to offend the author of the amusing article whom we believe to be merely misinformed. With all due respect to the writer, it still remains re-mains true that the organized students stu-dents of the Ogden high school do le-sent le-sent the publication of such an article, ar-ticle, first, on the grounds of misstatement mis-statement of fact, and second, on ae-count ae-count of a tinge of personal enmity which predominates the article. To begin with, the class room of the modern American school does not tend to make the students alike. This has been the case in the past, but now the whole time of the school authorities is spent in securing teachers teach-ers who are not only experts in their respective lines, but also know what Is meant by "real life " We hardly agree with the statement state-ment that the school system Is responsible re-sponsible for children not helping with the work at home. If the child has been brought up in the right .vay, learning as It grows up, to help its mother or its father in the minor duties du-ties of homo life, no system of education edu-cation or anything else can cause tht child t.o do otherwise, pro idlng the right influence is maintained in the homes. It might be well to state now the real purpose of the high school This institution is conducted throughout the broad United States for the purpose pur-pose of fitting the American boy and girl for life in every phase, not the college phase, not the labor pliaae. not the civic phase, but all phases. To achieve this end. we must prepare the college man, the merchant,, -the politician the broker, and men In every other walk of life. We agree with the author when the statement is made that students "either "ei-ther study, rest, or read novels' during dur-ing the study hours. We only wish that every citizen of Ogden could see our study hall and our splendid libra ry. Those students who are reading the novels are in all probability doing do-ing the work for the subject of Eug lish. One of the most important steps in the development of English literature has been the novel. To the student with literary Inclinations what could be better than to take an excellent novel from the library rfeks and spend his time in reading? As to rest. Students are only human. To the student who has a headache, or to ono whose ees give trouble, what could be better than to allow this stu dent a period when he or she can rest and relax entirely from study And It might be well to add that "loafing" "loaf-ing" is not allowed. If the practice I resting Is too oft repeated an In- vestigation is made to ascertain as to whether or not the student Is In need of special attention. And truly we have an absolute choice of subjects with the exception of English. This has been found an advantage by the very best educators In the countrv When the student is out of school, then comes a time when he must choose for himsell. whether it be in the selection of col lege subjects or in the matter of ev eryday business life. Could anyone suggest a better place than high school in which to learn how ami what to choose? The statement that four and only four subjects are allowed al-lowed to students Is hardly in accord anco with the facts in the case Stu dents who show an ability to carry more than four hours work (four sub jects) are permitted to do so. There are many students in school who arc carrying five hours and some a3 many as six. Let us add that no stu dents take either French or German with the intention of "putting in a word of so while conversing " To some students French and German are not necessary, and these do not take either, while to others who intend to go to college, one of these languages is vital. It is a well known lact that all of the leading college and universities universi-ties require at least two years' credit in a modern foreign language. Consider this "Then the question "What can I do? I have been a high school student; I rnn't spell; I" can't figure, I can't write." We agree that this is no small calamity Now comes the question, ' Where lies the fault?" And we are more than glad to 6ay that either the student or his parents are to blame. You ask "Why?" We answer, "The Btudent had his choice o; studies. stud-ies. Largely he was himself respon sible for getting or not getting his lessons. If he had worked diligently diligent-ly and was otherwise loyal to his school he would not be in any such predicament Otherwise this is the result of wasted time, and of untaken opportunities.' And this. In reply to the fact that our penitentiaries and reform schools are housing more-people than 25 years ago. The United States census report re-port of 1890 (twenty-three years ago) gnes the population of the United States as 62,000,000. The government govern-ment report of 1910 gives (in round numbers) 91,000,000. Is it strange that the penitentiaries should hoilJ more individuals now than twenty fie years ago" Is the educational sys tem to blame? Draw your own con elusions. Two days after the first semester of school opened last September, the manual training department of the Ogden high school was completely filled with students desiring tne I course. Anyone who has been mcky enough to see an exhibition by thie department knows that its work is very commendable. Is this not proof enough that such a department as that of manual training is a benefit? We invite any citizen of Ogden to visit this or any other departmeut of the high school at any time. True it is. that some years ago we lauded our school system to the sides. Even now the true American looks upon the American school as tITe place to train men for the. vicioriej and defeats of the modern world One of the greatest slogans of the language lan-guage uphold the American school. It is. "Be sure you're right, then go ahead." In school you are tauglk to be "sure" but the "going ahead" must be accomplished by &e stu dent. In one statement of the article, the author states that the American school makes the students feel like little prisoners. Later 6he says that this should not be the case. We agree.. Still later. "Why not go back io the old system which has been so sue cessful in Germany?" Compel the boy to make use of every minute c his time ". In the first place "oom pel" is a very disagreeable word fo the American ear; we mu6t not forget for-get that It was a case of trying to "compel" which caused the American revolution. In the second place we do not want to adopt any German methods. First, last and all the time, thank God we are Americans Now let's get together and boost ftr the good of the American high s'iool. In Ogden anything which you do not understand about your high school will be carefully expiain ed. This high school is yours. You are entitled to know what is going on up here. And kindly do not forget for-get that we are always more thi.V ready to stand by the high school. Any one finding flaws In our system will always find us ready to rectify providing the flaws are "real." Very respectfully, (Signed) SIDNEY S. WINTER. A Student. |