New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-03

COMPLAINTS THAT PUPILS HAVE TO SPEND TOO
MUCH TINE IN STUDYING OUT OF SCHOOL,
MORE PRACTICE IN WRITING NEEDED.
In the Board of Education on October Is L. w.
Devoe introduced series OF resolutions looking 10
revision of the course OF study in the hrst grade OF
the grammar schools. the more thorough study Oh
penmanshIp In the highest four grades OF the
grammar schools, and a change In the age-requue-
ment for admission TO the Normal College. In
dong this Mr.. Devvc stated an objection wnich has
repeatedly been made OF late against the COURSE VI
study prescribed by the Board OF Education. far-
ents have complained thai their childrep arc
Obliged to study more than the allotted Two bouts
NJ home in order to keep their standing IN tne
schools and that in many cases ALL the time winch
ought TO he given to rest and recreation IN sacrI
feed. To learn how much justice there was Va
these complaints TMpUNE reporter asker I iai
Devoe for n statement of the reasons which leo
him IN move the adoption Of the resolutions In the
Board of Education last week: Mr. Devoe SAID:
have been a member of the Board oil Educa-
tion about two wears: but from S64 20 1865 was
q member of tue old Board IN the annexed ustIic1,
v here we had no college. There we had from oUo
to 500 pupils nearly all OF whom went 10 WORK l1i
their living as soon as they were graduated.
When came into the New-1ork Board NlsiIed INC
schools frequently and went INTO the class rools,
when being a business man, my attention was
called naturally TO the older boys OF whom IL cOuiu
be expected that they would soon DO ouG III tno
world earning their own living asked tne
children simple questions in geography anu Elstory,
and It struck mo that they were not as prohclent IN
what call the common studies as lhey ought ~
have been. Then questioned them more cdVsey y
anu nade lao visits of this kind In various
parts of the city. looked particularly at tue
writing of the uoys in the hfst grade OF the grammar
schools and found 1t very unsatisfactory here -
an instance: put one advertlsemenI loI 10Y III
the newspapers and received THIS Dnnue Oh le1ters III
reply: hardly one well written and not one properly
odo ressed Yet some of these boys say tney are
sixteen years old and have been to our pubic
schools. | thought the matter over ana came 10
the conclusion that the majority Oh Tue boys ia sLo
first grade would get their living alter they leu
school by good penmanshp and arithmetic You
look at the matter from purely t % ,yr,fs
hetter so rs TO fit themselves for the work they VIII
have to do; so in my resolutions suggested that
instead OF three Jesse us OF iOrty minules eacn PEI
week in peuni1nshIp and letter writing they shaI
have live lessons of thirty minutes each. de-
termined last winter to bring the matter before the
!" r. was NOT long before heard complaints from
parents against the course Of study. They thought
the lessons gwen were 100 difficult. began an III
vestigatiOn and found the complaints entirely un-
instltpd except IN the first grade OF the grammar
schools | then investigated this subject and spoke
to about fifty boys and as many girls In different
schools. | found that they not only had TO study
but also do examples at home three OF four hours
every day. Only the smarteSt could get through III
two and two and one hall hours. ana iour, hlths
had TO work from two and one half to four hours.
In a great many Instances the girls have had 10
give up theiI music lessons in order to hold theli
own. have no prejudice against tlie COLLEGES. All
nv acts will show that | have taken "a great in
terest in them and have tried 10 lind ways IN which
TO benefit them. They are noble institutions,
both OF them. But out of the 10000 children VINO
are sent to the grammar schools you Will find that
not more than one.thlrd 60 to the colleges Now
the question 49, shall educate those children
with the main idea that they 10 10 college or
that they are TO work for their living Ii s
the old question which is bound a ways to come
M Right around here are hundreds OF boys and
girls at work in factories; ought we not to educate
them in a manner which will be most useful to
them lin other words, to teach the three KS
first in the primary and grammar
schools The low grades eau be instructed IN some
of the studies now lett to the first grade and the
essentials can be taught first However, all tins
Is left TO the Committee on Course OF Study and
School Books, who are excellent men and will,
AIN sure, make an excellent report. Then have
changing the agereq ulrement Tor 9dmls-
sion 10 the Normal College from fourteen 10 fifteen
years. BY this Two things will be gained the
girls won't have TO cram all their studies through
their heads before they fourteen years old, and,
if they intend t he teachers. they will be nineteen
" hen they are graduated and will he in every way
better fitted for their VOCATION They will have
greater wisdom, knowledge, patience aud expe-
Renee. and Will be better prepared TO exercise dis