New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-09
THE CHILDREN AND THE SCHOOLS

THE CHILDREN AND THE SCHOOLS
Victor Hugo. who apparently is now well
advanced in bis second childhood, has allowed
his name to be used rs honorary president OF a
precOcious educational assembly. This Is a
Congress of French schoOlbOys which has been
discussing at Bordeaux, during the midsummer
holidays, various matters relating to their own
education. The scope of these juvenile pro-
ceedings was comprehensive. The lads
gravey debated whether it was expedient to
expcnd so much time and labor upon the dead
languages the mass of opinion represented at
the Congress favoring the substitution OF
modern languages for the study of the classic
tongues. There was a sharp division Of opin-
ion on this subject, and a compromise rcso-
luton was finally adopted making the study OF
Greek and Latin optional with the children
themselves, and recommending that the works
OF Victor Hugo, the honorary chairman, should
be included among French classics. Many
other weighty matters were considered III de-
tail. A strong point was Fmadc of diet in edn-
cation. The delegates had little to say about
fish as brain food but they were of one mind
in declaring that scho0lbOys ought to have
more and better food than is usually provided
for them. improved furniture in schoolrOOms
chairs with cushioned backs and works Of
art on the walls-was recommended, and the
necessity of charging the schOol-librarIes was
also urged. Punishmcnls were condemned with
fine irony, the rod not having a single advocate
i'm the Congress The subject of holidays was
also discussed with animation. The dangers
of unrcmittng toll ever books were fully APP
preciated, and the pressing need Of stated and
frequent intervals of rest was recognized on
all sides. The idea of haIf-holiday once a
week was secuted. A full day was demanded,
and the policy OF Furnishing IA boy by depriying
HIM of his play hours and weekly holiday was
denOunce1 as barbarous. Niye la Republlque
The spectacle of an Annual Congress OF Rep
resentatives of the children of the Public Schools
has not been witnessed i'll our own country. In
this respect Young France is a long way ahead
of Young America Our srhoOlbCys have been
considered wise beyond their years, but they
have never gathered at Saratoga or Chicago
to unfold n scheme of educational reform
They have never founded "A newspaper to adj
vocate the rights of youth. They have never
formulated their grievances respecting diet,
furniture unattractlye surroundings, corporal
schoolgirls have succeeded. in diminishing"
their educations before they were fourteen, but
they have neglected to assert themselves in the
progress of their studies by taking advantage
OF opportunities for organization. Their rights
have not been proclaimed even III matter
which lies close to their hearts-thelr dresses.
They have not attempted to change the fash
ions of the schoolroom 10y mean of Il National
School Girls Congress. WnIle the French
juveniles are going ahead with rush of self
confidence, Young America stands where he Is,
Indifferent to his fate, content to eat bread and
cheese without honey, unmindlul OF The lack
of sweetness and light in schOolrOomS, con-
dcmned to the cold charity of the Old-time
classics ovcrworked and underted, subjected
TO the degradation of discipline, frequently
"dockcd " in recess or holiday, and occasionally
logged. They seem to manage these things
better in France, or at least they think they
do
Inasmuch, however, as our children are IN
clncd to shirk responsibility for their incl
cctual and social development, their cduca
ton must be directed by their elders.
TIE TRIBUNE endeayors every year to render
this duty as Ineligible as possible 1t has
become the recognized medium between pa
rents and schools. Its educational advertise
mcnts at this season fill column upon column,
taking up more space than those published by
all the other city journals combined. 1t is in
these columns that the best schools advertise
for pupils, and set forth their advantages of
situation, instruction and discipline and il is
here that the eye of the alcctOnatc parent or
the iudicicus guardian ranges in order to find
out where thc welfare of his child or ward can be
promoted. One OF these days the children may
take these serious matters into their own hands,
as the precocicus juveniles of the French pub
lie schools seem inclined to do. but, meanwhile,
the schOol-world lies before the elders, where
to choose, and TIE TRIBUNE does what it can
to help them.