JF
THE HESPERIAN
their work well. Some high school principals and superin
tendent!! arc n.ol so well qualified as they should he. 1 know,
however, thai in most cases the high school men arc striving
to make their work as nearly as possible the equivalent of the
preparatory work of the university. It seems lo mc rather
like doubting the judgment of our faculty to make a general
accusation of inability and poor work against the high
schools. 1 know from experience that the piofessors sent to
examine the high school work are very thorough and I think
that they can soon ascertain whether or not the wr rk done is
up to the standard.
There are few institutions that have n adc such rapid
progress as our alma mater; and it seems lo me that those in
authority should do in the future as they have done in the
past make it a school for the people. May the standard of
scholarship be raised as high or higher than the highest; but
let this be done in such a way as not to debar those who
wish a univcisity education and who have a right to demand
it.
The more I have to do with the world and its doings, the
more I look to my alma mater with feelings of thankfulness
and pride, I wish that every one of Nebraska's sons and
daughters might be under the influence and instntctii n of its
teachers. I am still able to give vent lo my feelings in the
"undulator" Pie Cauis Pie, and in U U-Uni etc. This sum
mer I had the satisfaction of hearing the echoes of the old
"yells" from the highest points of the Ulack Hills and the
driest bluff of the bad lands. Long may she live and pros
per. Sincerely,
Tnos. A. WIi.mams, 'So.
Stale Agricultural College, S. D.
A Iteply to (leu, "W. Dan vein.
Editor Altimm Department, HkspkkiaN:
To condemn the accredited high school system of our
state. university seems lo me to be rather presumptuous on
the part of agraduatc of one year's standing and a teacher
of two months' experience in public school work. It is
equalled, perhaps, only by the egotism which prompts a
member of the class of '91 to attempt a reply.
"Geo. W. Danvcrs" evidently felt that he was treading
upon shifting sands, else why did he hide himself behind
a 110111 de plume? Certainly those who knoiV anything about
the accredited high school of the slate can easily see how
i nsecurc a foundation he stands upon.
In the first place, is not the writer a little inconsistent?
He deplores the fact that the high school graduate is encour
aged to think that his education is finished; but at the same
time he lays rough hands upon the system that is doing more
than all other forces combined to dispel such ideas. Is it
not far better to make the pupil feel that the high school is
but preparatory to something higher, thin it is to leave him
to realize that his work has fitted him for no advanced course
of study?
Moreover are those schools that "attempt to give an educa
tion complete in itself' the accredited schools? My observa
tion confirms me in the opinion that just the .reverse is true.
The very fact that the school is made a "preparatory" school
goes far to dispel such ideas from the minds of the pupils.
The writer's attack upon the teaching fraternity is unwar
ranted. As a rule the teachers do not call one another 'pro
fessor;" and they do not do the dozen other things ol which
my friend "Danvers" accuses them. It is public sentiment
and not the teacher that loiters the idea in the mind ol the
high school graduate that he has "finished" his education.
The people as n rule think that n high school ought to be the
summer summarum of an education. They do not believe in
"tiptocin' scholars up higher than ever their parents was
tcachl'd." In all the cases ill it have come under my observa
tion the teacher has been the progressive, while the public
hrs been the retro jressivi factor.
The statement that the high school principal works "lo
satisfy his craving (or display and for appearing better lhan
he really Is" needs but a passing notice. Certain it is that
he desires to show the results of his work. And who is there
among us so devoid of worldy ambition or so unconcerned
about the opinions ol his fellow men that he crfres not to
exhibit the results of his labor? Hcsides, the teachers' .
employers, the public, demand to be shown what he is doing
to earn his money. It is a part of his duty to "pose in the
public gaze," and yot the writer censures him for doing
what his employers d'claro to be his duty!
If my alumni brother knows as much about the system ol
accredited schools as he would have us believe, hcknows that
the policy has not been "accredit everything;" he knows
that more is necessary lhan to put "certain studies upon the
curriculum;" he knows that it docs matter that the studies be
taught.
Perhaps my friend from across the Cattagal has a right to
declare that something is rotten in Denmark, but I do not
think he has discovered what it is yet.
And further your deponent saith not.
A. A. Faukot, '91.
'88 J, G. Smith, who returned recently from his trip
around the globe, gave a lecture last week to the sophomore
botany class, on the flora of Australia.
880. H. Polk was in the city one day last week. He
expects to locate in Lincoln about January 1.
Chas. Doran, '94, is working in a harness shop at Sidney.
ATHLETICS,
Following is the condensed account given to us of the last
trip of the University Wheel Club:
Six uni bykers
Started out alive
Clark met his girl
And then there were five
Five uni boys
Toward Wavcrly did soar
Dowling broke his wheel
And then there were four.
Four uni boys
A pretty row to sec
llulla took a header
And then there were three.
Three uni boys
A waiter girl did woo.
Fling fell off the fence
Then there were two.
Two uni boys
A taurus did run,
Griffith fell behind
And then there was one.
One union boy
Reached home on the run,
Scratched the slate seven times
And now there arc none.
The above poem is the condensed account given to us o(
the last trip of the U. W. C. Now every poem should be
self-explanatory. If a poet is obliged o preface his poem
with explanatory remarks, he is promptly set down by liter
ary critics as a very inferior writer. Hut Shakespeare,
Hrowning, and others, put so much meaning and thought into
some of their writings that with nil the work and study ol the
best thinkers there remains many hidden truths buried
beneath the depths not yet penetrated by mortal man. So