New-York tribune., 1879-04-03
PUBLIC SCHOOL Reform.


An APPEAL FROM FIVE HUNDRED INFLUENTIAL Ia
DIKs AND MANY soCIErIFs THAT SEWING BE
MADE OBLIGATORY IN TIE sCHOoLs-A PRoPo-
sIuON 10 ASK THE LEGISLATURE FOR 9JOO'OOO
TO BUILD sCHoOL-HOUSEs.
A movement for a practical reform IN the
ruhnc schools has attracted the attention of large
number benevolent associations and has received the
support Of many OF the most influential ladies IN 'De
city. TIE coODeraton OF the Board OF Education was
f,rmally asked yesterday afternoon. IN a petition
for the restoration plain sewing a branch IN the
course OF instruction u the public schools The appeal
Is based upon the following considerations:
First-In the course OF an experience OF more than
twenty-five years among poor women aud children we
nAu an increasing iSuOrance OF the use OF tIe .oeu.
Leading TO poverty. and rags instead OF neat
Secgrd~The int oduetion OF the sewing machine mas
no done away with the necessity FOR teaching children
folded aud based as well as carefully finished oy hand;
and most lousekerpers pre- er that Ihclr nice white
pairing of garments which i, especially important for
the poor, must be done y hand and we think tle od
davs OF modern Improvement as 10 ever was
1hird-ln enQcavOrs 70 assist tne poor We are con-
stsnty uanpered b. Their inability TO sew PROPERLY rs
the done by them must Olen be pulled out ana
u0pc over again Aud g. same dI.BcutyI encountered
~ Ia,ds Of DR. -srl kers and tailpr, rs well
bv tn emp loyment societies and helping hands.
Furtt-Inat the Importance Of this DraLch u educa-
tiop Is TT by many D. rents by the fact trat
for several years ia.G1 cass of girls rom the puDc
schools mas been sent to our Institution after scho"i
hours a. be taught sewing and also bY the success OF
the SATURDAY sewing scnvOis connected WIN uauy oi
our churches. These efforts, however. although uselu
I'm q measure. reacn all asses Ieedlns ln-
strucIOn. -,
taay be objected that the school hours IRE 80 fully
occupied mat there = DO une FOR any new branch IN
answer to this. would say that thr Instruction may
De limited o tie cu dreu he Wcen Jhe ages OF SIX
twelve, as if CHILD - thoron-a{ iadsnt, sue nay ~ ~
need ewors. Win very young cHlIuItu iuIs Iul-It
alternate with other lessons, tIus tlAg many an lde
moment In winch teacher hlds y hard 70 keep the
uttIp hands out " mischief. Even little boys mgnt he
taught the Use OF the needle 10 advantage. Many
mother, ~ she Iui IhIeaI ana el9e a M A.
sack of ler boy during the le war was uappy III Ine
tnoGeht tAat ue mad been taught enough 20 u no IrIt
subject already receiving attention. as VII De seen y
tur GLOWING paraerapu; , - D. .,.,.
now receives years instruction in various Kinds
needIev"rk aud Is capable OF being an expert seam
siructiou the lmpro. 81 arpeara ce ot thr
chIdren's clothing the schools, and are iet IN thou
We most respectfully submit the foregoing appeal 10
president aud members ~ the Board oi Education
in tie hope that may meet with Their favorable con-
sideratlun and tnat u may turn their attention 10
subject wuIch seems 20 Us OF the greatest importance
The appeal made IN behalf OF the Board OF Directors
Of tie wilson Industrial school for Girls and Mission.
and consequently the list Of signatures Is headed by
Mr. Jonathan Sturgess the first Dir ctTcss at that aso
c.ation The representatives OF very large number of
benevolent institutions and societies JON IN presenting
the netluon Among these are the Womars Board Oh
Foreign " ssons OF the Reformed Church, the Hahne
mann Hospital Ladies' Aid Association, the r, male
Assistance and Dorcas Society Tor the Sick Poor roe
Empovment Society OF the Collegiate Dutch Church.
The House OF Industry IN siKeenthst the Protestant
HallOrphau Asvlum, the ladies' Depository, the Help
Ing Hand society I'D West I"eul y-nlAh-'t tht Ities
BOARD - sions " the Presbyterian Church. the Man
ayers ot -ewngschOol OF the Madison square Pres
bvteran Church. the Ollvet H-lng-li lnd, tLH hone
Mission the Ladies Auxiliary society OF the Mount
sinai Hospital, The Ladies sewing society NJ tn ~.
brew orphan Asylum. the Home Tor Aged and inhrIn
II DreH te 5, 5dfoTe ~ R W,doSys vain small chill
drrn Grace Mission Helping Hand oe,oa ing 10 ne
Rev Dr. Crosby Church the Society OF Decorative AFt
the YCuug Women. Christian Association, the LADIES'
CHRISTIAN Union. the NevYorE Exchange Tor WCmen's
Wurs. and other associations.
.fr.-9I ladies' iu New York society, whom
Ms Edward Cooper, Mrs. A. T. stewart Mrs. William
=. D.tcc, Mrs. j. J. A-tor Mls II'IPC9t Mgr-Ah'
his. Mr. : l. NJ Bar Ow, Mrs. j. wills James. Mr..
- ~ roo Wrs NI,rv Names D)d,r Mrs Dormau
n ron Nrs DudIpv Field and Carrie M Crane pres
d..lt Of the Young Womens Christian Association The
apptal referred to the Committee Oh courses of
Study.
SUGGESTIONS FOR BETTER sCHOOL-HOUsEs.
Toward The close of the meeting Comm s>ioncr
wheeler introduced resolution providing for the
pgiutment by the chairman Of committee of three 70
make application 10 the Legislature for the passage OF
an act authorizing the city 70 borrow $500. 1000 DE
expended under the direction the Board OF Education
for thc purehase OF and for the erection Of school
buldings In support Of this Mr. wheeler said the city
paid 900 for the rents school buildings, and Ae
thought that whom money could be borrowed AZ per
CEN, ii would be a good policy Tor the cty
70 pay S25O.OOO ~ inter st on It's bonds rather
man 70 pay 100000 in rents for unsat'sfac
tory buildings Commissioner heAr1sIee on-ftl an
amendment 10 tGr effect thJf the committce
be instructed 10 AK for the pasage o an act
~ 'br credit ct the BOARD city property the
vaur OF that surrendered for Whatever cause nv the
Board. Commissioner est oL,red substitute, similar
however, IN eject, the amendment, and. after con
sIder b discussion tie three were referred " the
Committee on Bylaws.
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