The New York herald., 1876-10-29
OvERDRESSIEG IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

To EDiroR OF THE HEnALD-
wo perhaps could DO nothing better In this ccnten-
niai year than attempt 10 return 10 tho simplicity Of
dress Of OF tho Revolution and restore
equality giving to the poor and his chiidrcn the
advantages as the rich possess. To do this VI
mako some Improvement IN the public schcoiA
Al present they only available to those who are
well enough oil to give their children good drcssca
Indeed tho girls there In silk and jcwciry, and. sit
ting less richly attircd child, will taunt her
with It's poor attire, and the child goes home
with tears ami will return TO school until the
hardly earned money or It's parents is expended 10
costly clothing for IT, Tho very poor therefore,
cannot 80 at all; cause more powerful than law,
barrier difficult TO pass than battery OF cannon
keeps tho little United States citizen tatters with.
out-viz. tho scorn and ridcuo OF ts richer school
fellow.
In Of tho older settled countries thcro Is un
form required the schools and this would obviats
much OF tho difficulty. The Oxford and Cambridge
students, the Swiss, French and German seminarios
young ladies' require shs for girls unforw
showing them TO be school girls would DO great pro-
section In streets II need not be a conspicuous
ono, but made OF somo good plain domestic goods
warmer winter, cooler in summer. For such ~
afford furnish their children with the cloth.
Ing necessary there could be ward committee Of good
women who would sec that they were furnished TO
them Besides the want OF nne clothes thcro 10 an
other reason which keeps tho children OF tho poor
IRON school; this Is that tho older child 10 obliged,
while the parent Is at work, TO take care OF the
smaller ones and is therefore Kept at home To the
public school thcrc could be another department.
added-a kindergartcnwherct the litto ones could Dc
placed until the time came for their brohers or ssscrs
TO take thon home
This would enable TO dispense with those so-oalIed
industrial schools, formerly called ragged schools,
which very poor substitutes for our public scnool
carried poor badly vensilated and badly warmed
rooms, where very indifferent instruction ie provdod
ana little sewing taught once or twice week FOR
few hours BY some adcs-and as they are supported
BY charity they cheapy as possible.
II these ladies' would make themselves members OF
committee thclr work could be carried on IN con.
nection with the public schools, ana kind OF school
providence created which could foster talent and bring
forward such ns poverty would otherwise hopclcssy
oyerwhcm tor il s tho children OF the weil-to-do
classes in which tho greatest talent is found, and In
republic we need oil good Materials 0csides talont
and ignorance dangerous combination. There
might be general public school providence or charity
AID formed OF good women, with como few mon Of
JeIsurc who would undertake this work In large
cities.
Besides these advantages named the uniform would
do much toward bringing about simplicity and
10 the erI boy will like. and the woman and tho
man think right and proper for their children after
shem and will fewer and furbclows md
cheap nncry, tho shape OF feathers howers jew.
elry II VIII bring the rich and the poor together
and serve to blot out the nvidous distinctions and
socn The feelings OF envy and jealousy toward such
have riches For such as havo means and object 10
the uniform thcrc are many admirable schools 10
which they could send their children. D.