HIGH SCHOOLS. A term that has been vari ously employed in different countries at different times to indicate a type of schools. In Germany in official language it is customary to refer to the universities as high schools (Hod/se/m(ca). In the middle of the sixteenth century in Edinburgh the designation was applied to a famous educa tional institution of a liberal character, but in grade below the university. In the United States it is very generally used to indicate an important and definite type of schools which forms a com ponent part of the public-school system. This term came into use between 1820 and 1850, when, in place of or by the side of schools called 'acad emies,' which were maintained by endowment or at private expense. schools of a corresponding grade were established at public expense. Such institutions were variously designated at first. In Philadelphia the Central High School yet retains its original name: in New York the corresponding institution was known first as the Free Academy, and later as the College of the City of New York. This institution has since expanded in scope until it offers approximately the ordinary college course. In Baltimore the corresponding institu tion is known as the City College, while similar institutions for girls bear the name of high schools. The Boston Latin School. founded in early colonial times, is a free public high school, fitting boys for college.
The term high school came into use fit Bos ton when in 1821 the English High School was established as complementary to the Latin school. A few years later the girls' high school was founded. During the period of Horace Mann's secretaryship of the Massachusetts Board of Education (1837-4S a system of high school, was instituted. This example of Horace Mann was followed by other educational leaders. no tably by Ilenry Barnard in Connecticut. From the middle of the nineteenth century the move ment in the establishment of high schools became very general. In many of the Western States high schools have from the first farmed a part of the public-school system. and in some instances their maintenance is recognized by the Constitution of the state. During the year IS99-1900 there were reported to the United States Commissioner of Education 6005 public high schools, having an attendance of 519.251 pupils. This was an in crease in the year of more than 137 per cent. ill the number of schools. and of more than 155 per vent. in the number of students attending. The courses of study, the terms of admission. and the length of time required for eompleting the in struction differ widely. hut in general the term high school in this country means a school sup ported from the public treasury, where tuition is usually (hut not necessarily) free, and where pupils of both sexes are carried forward from the grammar schools to the study of 'higher' branehes, and thus fitted for active life or for admission to universities. colleges. and technical
schools. In its origin the high school, as also the :leadenly, arose in answer to the demands for schools of a lower grade than colleges. appeal ing to a wider constituency and satisfying more needs. For the most part the high school yet retains these characteristics. In the central and western Commonwealths of the Union it fits di rectly for college,, and especially for the State university: but this is due to the fact that there is a very great freedom of choice in regard to the subjects essential for entrance to college and university courses. The adjustment ha, been made by the college rather than by the high school. By far the larger part of high-school graduates do not enter college. However, high schools seek to meet various needs either by offering a variety of courses or in large cities through distinct schools. Thus. there are the classical courses or schools, which are distinct ively college-preparatory in their nature; the scientific or English courses or which furnish preparation for professional schools ur simply equipment in general; there are also of recent years manual training (q.v.) high schools or courses, giving a technical or industrial prep aration, and commercial high schools, with a corresponding purpose in view. No part of the educational system of the United States responsive to local demands and to public opin ion. Hence arises the greatest variety of local conditions in these schools in city and country. For the most part they are wholly under local con trol, and are subject to general State supervision of only a nominal character. In some States, such as New York, this supervision is more intimate; in others, such as California or Michigan, it is exercised chiefly through the State universities. This amenability to local influences constitutes the greatest element of their strength, while at the same time the absence of general standards constitutes a most serious element of weakness. That the public high school is the representative secondary school of the United States i. indicated by the fact that during 1899-1900 private second ary schools numbered only 1632. with an at tendance of I MI.797 pupils. while the increase for the previous decade had been only 21 per cent. and 16 per cent. respectively.
Consult : Butler. Education in the f'nited States (Albany. 1900) : Brown. History of Sec ondary Education in the rnited States (New York. 1902) : Reports of the l'nited Mors Com. missinner of Education (Washington) . See Fa ECTIVF. COURSES AND STunIES ; Al MAR SCHOOL; NATIONAL EDUCATION, SYSTEMS OF; SECONDARY SCHOOLS.