New-York tribune., 1885-01-08
1pEssJ1RE IN THE SCHOOLS.
,,vop MAKES A REPLY TO Mr.. WOOD
. .,,,sa TO ACCOUNT FOR Mr. WOODS FIGURES
THE COURSE NOT TOO EASY
Tr

= "A. Edtfor Of The Irt"" =: .
Co. Tn THE TRIBUNE OF the ZOtn iisV.
".,sa interview with Commissioner "ooa 70 st
fepo. .,.t business claims have prevented ear,o, a
fegre' 'n" ny mart The remarks there given py iny
tehuon .,na ssem meant for caustc CRITICISM uP'
venc," =, certain aspects Of our city girls schooiS
my "a IN TIE TRIBUNE OF the l3th ihs'' Wy 49,
the questions OF the reporter VI "n 80
w ,.',o, ,s st,gmatized as an Impulse w iusn
sr ua' Ia not my friends memory az iaui'' ~, Nv
- ao,ua,ed by like ciyiity' rus" nv ~, ,.uo,v
he' last septemberi Bnthe thinks MS io.o"
similar 'opo lay bis views before the Board OF
Education. 49,. how earnestly my views were
Can ny ,,rs the Board on october 10, In opposi'io
P, eNP s,rn resolution to add piano soon0' -
W - ,o Grammar schoOlsi Indeed IL was ".0.
:. a,scussion that the reporter deter'niou ."
'.e so campagn pressure was reneveo W 80
as ". 70 me upon topics on which the people woio
qu,,sh, eo much for "that rush." AS 10 sucn
aesirs .,n better taste" "mawkish sentimentaii'y'
not an expert" etc. they sound IKE raei
not M expert in that direction; lhoeeu "p
" =, mo 10 be in better taste 10 iet al poi
f.,v alone In my judgment inc su'yocc' -
S,s:,, to be allowed any treatment outsoe 'he i' "
fact and argument ,, .,o oo,rse of
"iv ,oeo q made this provision: elements Oh
80, ceometry algebra. perspective DRAWING, oooA
pss a,d outlines OF astronomy are permisslpo sun
. Anv or all OF these subjects may DC 'aush. Al "'
oSoo, !, nsrmittcd by the committee on course .,
an onnlcaton of the board OF trustees onuei 'n'
,,rov,sion how easy is it for any principai 50
ask 10 have the course enlarged! III 'ne iao. % nd
NJ wood introduced his resolution OF octooer 40 on"
n,. ",,oed the city superintendent to send caro
- -. .r,ncina, uhe answer to be made 10 hiin' uE'
,ys, Tbe card asks: "What permissible studles' II
49, coua he pursued in your department without
dsriment to the health of either pupils or teacners
SURPRISE AT Mr.. WOODS STATEMENT
,nou,rv seemed to me much like what the lawyers
call a leading question. But L am only oou0o' AZ,
Ar wooss statement Of the results, which confess ala
,,rss me- snrprise He says" From returns recently
sant n me from lOs principals Of female, male ara
ixed grammar schools only hrtynine are IN aVor oi
continuing the present easy course Sixty 'o ~
favor OF adding to it other and some Oh the wv"
or three of the following additional studies geometry
algebra irrespective drawing book keeping and astrono
ry Having since read these letters with tue u'os'
care fnd myself unable to confirm Mr.. WOOD
win the hest light at my command these are the facs a
7 understand them: Number OF principals IN al 'nc
grammar schools according to the a ixng
port Male schools 49, OF s In response to Mr.
woods inquiry "a fapale schools and mlxeo scnoo,s
nGda and nearly all of these object decidedly There
are ten female schools and two mixed sehoTs T nrs
could add one or more OF these sluuios' AH0 09'
Nv naper was entirely limited to the girls schools
Int aaM
.mo,S hin, There are twenty-five male schools which
do not think any studies could be added
a Of sixty schools strictly with this matter
only twelve respond fav0rHby, and or the ehlre hupc
sS,nS 70 what Mr. Wood call. 1.-THE present easy
course and Only four females and three males wouu
ysws Besides do they not show
that majority verdict of these able teachers IS S' inc
strain now on the timber IL as much aslt can sahd
What engineer dare drive his engine or load ms bridge
up to the sheer point of endurance Now that IS ust
with an entrance at the Normal College as the goal and
no teacher entertain as 1t seems to me- any nope for
her pupil who falls at school graduation mnch oeIow
a5 per cent. Hence. even now 1nns IT. Is eIl an
,%Ssnn % We must not be deceived by the
that certain studies have been dropped when inc stp an
at the same time ny ne ye n at an nppcan
for the position of teacher must show physician GER
e q physical fitness for dse wors B s from e
college Compared with those who thus receive cerin
Gates there not many VINO csnh3. @ eon iSe
eertincatesf iuo ho' Seo '"'' ~ '
PLEADING FOR HEALTH.
We ask no roval road learning. but simply that the
way be made less harmful In short we ask way
which which will not involve physical breakdown in
The course or entail nervous ailments on the coming
vomanhood. Says Mr. Wood: 81 dc know that the
French and English TO us for instruction Win
regard 70 popular a. ~ m s9 ag tS foreners are far
behind uz- Now does not our expert KNOW t14t the
ery To educational leaders abroad from medical and
social xcicntiss Just Is loud 10 put the brakes Ia
Their 4nhic schoolsl The Lancet stigmatizes their
systep as s'monstrous and ineXplicabe blunder The
English Parliament is considering the appointment Oi
Iesca commission investigate the ma;terard report
In Prussia petition signed by teachers, physicians and
Others has addressed 10 the Chamber OF Deputies
setting forth the msehieyous ELECTS OF excessive herV
strain. etc .
But recently commissions to investigate the oyerpres-
sure In schools been appointed in Hesse, IN SaXoiy
and In Baden. If under regime OF less hurry ana
drive there Is danger, what should Lot We lnerf l
have not space follow my colleague TO the end. ME-
Woods "Archangel," and the Nilestones OF history
perhaps may be more efficiently and Gin better taste"
discussed at board meeting. "
In my suggestion that the age OF admission might be
fixed at six years, refer to admission TO the regular
primary course. Had the accommodations would
ate ive-year-Ods year of kindergarten
with its peculiar ObecteGchng developing the percep
tion and the inventive faculties OF the child Here
would be secured physical direction by the indoor
and outdoor exercises. and through the medium OF
and instruction being adapted TO their plastic and
susceptible natures thus leaving the first task or CON
Bcious lesson for the primary course.
Thanks to Mr. Wood for his welldcserved mention OF
James w. Gerard. Would that he were alive and with
us now His eminent services to- tie cause Of public
that his great heart good judgment and strong common
might by rational methods pilot s through the fog
and mist OF our present perpleXities.
Net- York, Dec 81, 1854 FREDERICK W. DEVoE.
INCREASE IN SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
? City Superintendent Jasper Of the public
schools engaged preparing .hs yearly report of the
schools. He said yesterday that 1t would show an in
crease of 5000 in the average attendance for the
tn,