Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 46.djvu/36

26 considered rather as an accomplishment than as having much practical use or educational value, is one of the studies which in many classical schools Greek has crowded to the wall.

I wish to add just a word in regard to the statement in President Eliot's letter that our boys were picked boys. In one sense they are and in another they are far from it. They have undoubtedly been above the average of the school; so are the boys from any secondary school, because at most schools the poor scholars are dropped and made to repeat and refused promotion till they have come up to a high standard. We have practically nothing of this. After graduation such boys as choose return for another year's study. During this year they are allowed within certain limits to choose their course of study, and at the end of the year they are prepared to enter the medical, law, or undergraduate department of Harvard University. One of our boys who went directly from this class to the Law School of Boston University graduated there last June summa cum laude at the head of his class. Most of our graduates go directly into business or to the Institute of Technology, so that we have to take the small percentage who return as they come and make the best of them. Thus they do not represent what is understood by picked boys—that is, a few of the best selected. Neither do they represent by any means in point of numbers or ability what might be sent to represent the school could the teachers exercise the right of selection from the graduating class.

I heard Mr. Bradbury, of the Cambridge Latin School, a year ago say that he had asked permission of Mr. Hill, of the Cambridge English High School, to talk to the pupils of the English High in the hope of inducing some of them to change their course and join the Latin School. It seemed to me that there was a principle involved behind this request. Boys ought to hear both sides of the question, and doubtless there are many boys in the High School who would be better off in the Latin School. And this carries with it the truth of the converse also, that there are boys in the Latin School who would be more in accord with their surroundings were they to change. Were Mr. Bradbury to obtain the required permission of Mr. Hill and also grant Mr. Hill the same privilege, some of the pupils and both schools would be benefited by the change. And were both head masters to hold out the same inducements to the pupils—viz., successful preparation for Harvard—I do not think the High School would in the end be the loser in point of numbers.

It seems to me the duty of a teacher to advise a change when he finds a pupil out of step with his class and manifestly unsuited for the course he is trying to pursue. It may be that the ideal preparatory school is one which under one head combines both