New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-09
STUDY at HOME.

When the school season begins again tho
boys and girls who start out once more with
their books and slates find themselves pro-
NOTED by the force of years. The sixth class
of last year becomes the fifth Of dis. The fifth
is now the fourth, and SO on, but the first
class being pushed into space, il shattered
into fragments. The boys who finished their
school course in July are now beginning new
series of college years or entering business,
but the gi.ls--fOr most of item, the end OF
schooling is the end of systematic study. I'm
less very favorably placed, the withdrawal of
tho external stimulus is likely to be followed
by tho pressure of multitude of petty claims
on time and attention, before which bright
plans of reading and study give way igno-
IniniOuSly.
The truth il, our schools are very apt to
lose sight of the formation OF habits OF study,
which once established will carry on the young
girl Il good distance by the momentum already
gained, and to aim instead at producing GER
tain tangible results which can be summed up
mt the end OF the school year, tabuated AMI
measured by numerical standard. so that
when the girl has graduated We say with IN
unsupported irony that her education is fin
isllcd Some such state of things as this 10
doubt suggested to certain ladies' in London, and
by their example to Others i'll Boston, to e'tab-
lish what goes under the name OF u Society to
Encourage Studies at Home, and that in
Boston has been in quiet operation for about
twenty months Its purpose is the very simple
and direct one Of inducing girls to form the
habit of devOting some part of every day to
study of q systematic and thorough kind; its
mode of operation is through the exercise OF
an oversight by experienced and educated
ladies over the home work of younger ladies, and
this of course mfinly by means of correspond
cncc. For example, if girl of seventeen or over
desires to join the Society, she gives her name
to the Secretary, pays a small initiation fec to
cover expenses Of postage, printing, etc, and
receives in return programme OF the several
courses open. in history, literature, art science,
German, and French; she selects the department
of study which she desires TO pursue, and is
nut in communication with the member OF the
committee who has charge Of the department.
She is expected to dcyCtc some portion of
every day or every week to careful reading
and study, order and system being substantial
elements in the plan and al least once month
TO report progress to her officer, who, in re-
tutn, gives advice. makes suggestions, and en-
courages or stimulates the student. Once n year
n meeting is held of such as can come to-
gcther, and q general report is made, with
special essays by students, and diplomas are
given.
The whole scheme is very simple and ap-
parently wanting in those rciinements of or
ganizatiOn which societies generally affect. 1t
is not under the patronage of honorable Or
reverend or judicial gentlemen 1t does net
seek publicity, and we are half reluctant to
bring it forward into notice; but Its little
light shines 30 honestly that it seems pity
not TO put it on q candlcstick. We think it fur
nishes, in part, at least, solution of the prob
lem, What shall the girl do who has left school
The impulse to study has not yet left her, but
II lacks tho direction which an older friend
can often give, and the advantage OF tlis very
slivht organization is that each member of the
directing committee is able with comparative
ease to oversee the study Of number Of students.
| We do not see, moreover, why the Society
should not he copied indefinitely. There Is
not city in which there are not half-dozen
educated and thoughtful women who would
| Gladly exercise this care over the reading and
study of such girls as might come to them for
advice. So in this plan a place is found for
tho women who arc conscious Of having
boarded wisdom and would willingly share il
with Others, but have no disposition to stand
on the platform, or even to write in magazines
and Journals. 1t Il refreshing to find work
going IN this quietly In = direction which
tends to cultivate the graces Of home life
while it makes reading and study more firm
and enduring. To pass from the wranging Of
l.isl-vo:ccd women in public to this simple in