Salina High School - Trail Yearbook (Salina, KS)

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JOHN LOFTY, Principal

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SUPERINTENDENT G. R. CRISSMAN.

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what thr ihigh Svrhnnl lla Ening. The work of the High School is done at the present time in six depart- ments-Languages, Mathematics, Science, History and Economics, Commer- cial Branches, and Manual Training. It is the purpose of this article to give a brief hint or two of the value of each. Languages --In the department of languages the ancient languages are represented by Latin and the modern languages by English and German. The study of Latin gives the pupil a training in careful, accurate and painstak- ing work which he finds nowhere else, and which is so essential to prevent him from forming loose-jointed habits of thought and expression. Moreover, the youth finds in the study of Latin the very best kind of English training, for at every step of the way in the preparation or recitation of a lesson he is called upon to exercise nice distinction in the choice of words, to build good English sentences, and to search out the best English idioms. Incidentally, the student is getting a knowledge ol universal grammar and an introduction to the literature and the life of a glorious ancient civilizition, and, at the same time, is developing a language sense which is indispensable to one who aspires to become a scholar. The study of German affords more of the same sort of training found in the study of Latin, and, in addition, the student gets an acquaintance with one of the three greatest modern literatures and languages, and every mature student understands how indispensable a reading knowledge of German is to anyone who attempts to go very far in any special field of study. Passing next to the subject of English-all are agreed that English is the most important as well as the most practical subject taught in the high school. To learn to express one's ideas orally or in writing with a fair degree of ease, accuracy and elegance is universally desired among intelligent people. Along with this attainment comes a relish for the fine things of our literature. The study of rhetorical theory, frequent practice in the art of composition, and a critical and appreciative examination of selected classics, all contribute to this result. It has already been indicated how a study of foreign languages may help us in acquiring the power to use effectively our mother tongue. Mathematics-If there were no other reason than the necessity of algebra and geometry in the study of the physical sciences--physics, chemistry and astronomy-the place of mathematics in the high school program would be amply justified, but there are other weighty reasons. In no other subject ex- cept the foreign languages, can the student be held so rigorously to his work, and this is the most valuable experience the youth gets in the high school. There is here no opportunity to draw on one's general fund of knowledge or to offer an approximation to the truth, but the student must think and reason his way to an unquestioned conclusion. There is, too, a practical value in