Butler High School - Tropaeum Yearbook (Butler, IN)

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8 BUTLER HIGH SCHOOL, 1912. The Aim of Butler High School. By Supt. H. E. Coe. HE ENDS sought in the work of the Butler Public Schools are such as shall best prepare the young man or woman to enter any sphere of active life, whether in the college for higher development or to enter the broader field of the world’s activity. Certainly no young person today can hope to enter the active busy life of industry in a successful way, or even meet the present demands of moral worth, without a mind trained to think and act in the line required. Today the world demands ability for one to choose his own tine of activity. This matter of choice has in it the imperative need of greater ability to solve more difficult problems of living, than ever before in the history of moral and social progress. This ability to think and to feel in proper relations to the world, is largely a matter of training. The home with its busy cares can no longer furnish all the equipments of such power. This is largely true for the reason that the home life can not reach out into the world far enough to comprehend the nature, en- tire of active life. So the companionship of books and teachers is sought to aid the growth and development of this much needed power, this power to enable the youth to begin his association with the real world in a satisfactory and successful way. This then is the ambition of the authorities of the Public Schools. Certainly no more laudable one can be sought or found than that which has for its end the preparation of boys and girls for higher life and greater work. This power or ability for the larger life has in it not only the training of the intellectual, but also right conception of the moral requirements now so sternly demanded by the higher ideality already in the ascendancy. This ability can not be attained in most cases without rigid cultivation. The ability to think accurately and rapidly has much to do in the management of the world’s affairs. This ability connected with power of self-control, lies at the base of all good habits and conduct. Conduct is largely a matter of established forethought. From this regulated conduct, conduct governed by established thought, comes habit. All this progressive growth demands entire self-control. Good thinking, good conduct, good habits are more creatures of self- direction than of any other power that can be assigned. It takes many years of patient practice and careful, thoughtful study to become a skillful artisan of any kind, and it takes likewise a long period of growth to become well skilled in any line of complete directed life. It takes a long time to acquire habits of right living. The help of a well regulated literary institution with proper at- tendant authorities, will always be helpful. So the object of the Butler Schools like all other institutions of its kind, well regulated and defined,

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BUTLER HIGH SCHOOL, 1912. 7 FACULTY W. L. BAILEY, 2nd Ass’t Principal.

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BUTLER HIGH SCHOOL, 1912. 9 has for its purpose the help it may lend to youth in fitting him for I ife’s multifold duties. Education is not all intellect. Intellect that does not improve the inner life, the habits, making them better, higher and nobler can not be said to be real intellect. Real and true intelligence leads to greater things, seeks loftier privileges of life. This by no means weakens the power to accummulate money or other forms of wealth. On the other hand it must enoble the art or device used to acquire such gain. The means to the end thus become enriched. The world today is not set- ting such lofty premiums on crafty purposes as in the past. It does not extol the one who would magnify his possessions by using the means often employed by sharpers. The real power to control or beget wealth lies in the man or woman who can do some one or more tasks well. It lies in the power of that one who can do something useful, something that the world needs. It will cause the world either in na- ture or in lines growing out of social life, to yield her increase of goods to that one who can touch the key to usefulness. The forces of nature readily respond to the touch of such an one. The various artificial powers of invention or the creation of genius, come from mind trained in the line leading to required results. The aim then of our public school is to create in the youth the higher powers, both in the moral and intellectual. The aim is to enrich the mind of him who would be directed by the efficient means used by the teachers and school authorities, in awakening and developing in the students proper ideals of life.