26 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



considered rather as an accomplisliment 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 Presi- 

 dent Eliot's letter that our boys were picked boys. In one sense 

 they are and in another they are far from it. They have un- 

 doubtedly 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 under- 

 graduate 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 busi- 

 ness 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 Cam- 

 bridge 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 



