New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-26
BOSTON SCHOOL RECESS.
CHRIsTMAsTIDE ENJOYED By TEACHERS
AND PUPILS.


tho shopping districts during the week IL would
seem that all the city with the exception OF sales
people and propristors had taken holidays to enjoy
the propitious weather and ~ express the
unselfsh impulses of the season in tne purchase o
gifts. The shop windows have not been 80 gay al
usual, for tie old-time custom Of presenting WIN
dow pictures seems 10 have fallen into decline.
and the only conspicuous objects for idle crowd
to centre about have been small Christmas tree,
q weaver at work at his silk loom, French doll in
csbhagea perambuIating Santa Claus or two. and
few mechanical TOYS. On the other hand 1t has
become o custom 20 throw wide open the doors of
tho toy and bric-a-brao shops and to pile the
counters with larger and more attractive display
of goods than ut some previous Christmas seasons.
The book stores have been unusually popular.
ave cannot send any books ont until after the
holidays" said the proprietor of book store to the
director of suburban public library. unless You
are so anxious for books that you would make the
selection at IL o'clock at night" The remark with
its humorous ending indicated tho prosperous con-
dition of the trade at this season. The Christmas
card craze seems to- have been diverted to tho
demand for small illuminated books with appro-
pirate verses for tho season. One little book when
contained three or four daintily printed poems by
well kuo wn authors met with such unprecedented
sale that the supply was soon exhausted and
another edition was demanded and brought forth
nc all speed In most small wares and in larger
articles such as furs and gems, trade has been ex-
cellept Though there have been many lookers-on,
proprietors of large stores express themselves
satisfied.
Tho holiday professions and blockad of horse
cars lave not been wanting to add to the festival
appearance of the holidays On the track ut
Winter-st. and Temple place. from Haymarket
Square Cornhil, aud especially at the corner OF
Tremont-st. and Pembertun Square, where buildng
operations in their obstruction of the sidewalk
have caused people to crowd the streets. horse-car
blockades have been q great annoyance. The
trouble on some of the lines which threaten strike
does not produce particular sympathy
Technically the holidays belong to students and
school children. The Christmas recess at Harvard
College began on Thursday and extends to January
3. Many students have left the campus, but 1t Is
said An unusually large number remain for work.
The Institute of Technology does not give va
cation except for day at this season. but President
Walkers reception Christmas gives a festival to
the time which the neei Of holidays seemed to
make more interesting. The art school in the
Museum opposite the Institute grants u recess
during Christmas week. Most of tae private
schools grant holiday s. and the vacation is usually
depored by the teachers; so much disliked in fact,
that q circular on Physical Education, issued by
the Association of Collegiate Alumn@. especially
mentions the misuse of vacations can Q for the
il-h.ath of pupils, and states: 1t is the testi-
mony of many educators that the school Is q
hospital for two OF three weeks after the holidays
The Christmas holidays. which bring sport TO
about &c 900 school children and suggest to their
parents and friends means OF giving them pleasure
through outdoor and indoor entertainment, are TO
the teachers, especially OF the public schools,
time for rest and recreation more than any othor
vacation of the year. In the summer there are
innumerable conventions, in the spring comes the
teachers meeting, and Thanksgiving week has now
its burden of duty since the time of the winter con-
ventions was changed 1t was formerly the custom
for teachers to meet at Christmas time, but it was
found that rest was greatly neeed at that season.
that many OF the teachers wanted to travel OF make
visits to New-York ana other cities ana Ia ~
| by the majority of teachers. Two years ago the
tran ference took place and the attendance was
| much improved at the convention OF the Massa,
chusetts teachers. BY especial vote of the School
Committee the vacation this year EXTENDS from the
| ensng the time allowed by law. which makes for
| vacai ion Christmas. New Years Day and the time
between. In few years this law Will probably DO
changed tn give longer time for the needed rest
successful half-year will make the holidays
seem more worth enjoyment, for thOugh the appro,
praon has NOT s aways peS aca Ts1 for os
| content the schools have maintained nign
standard have been able to furnish means OF study
| been diminished by the parocnial school system
| which has increased in all large NJ massachusetts,
cities this year except IN Boston. Is estimated
that there are 10000 children OF the school, age,
from five to fifteen years, in Boston Of these
81 426 attend the public schools and 7.9l2 are IN
sshS0 s%y oS and Iv ter
parents too young to attend schooi; l.ooO or more
are inyalids leaving few children unaccounted for
The parochal schools take few girls from the public
schools, but It is noticed that after these have
| learned the catechsm in the course OF year or
two they return to th5 public schools to graduate.
| The number in the schools this term has not been
deter iorated by illness nor have epidemics caused
| any widespread effects. The lectures on school
| hygiene which the teachers have received have
possibly resulted in better ventilated schoolrooms
| and tue better health OF pupils,
| No great innovation in school methods has taken
place ave try to avoid any pyfotechnic display.
said one of the school authorities recently, and
everything has gone on quietly IN the weli-estab,
| isbed routine of work. Our teachers need rest and
the superintendent and other officials VIII ENJOY
| the holidays" The feature in the system which Is
most earnestly pushed forward by the snperintend-
ent and other friends of tho new measure is the
department of IN austral still in its expert
mental stage in this city. The work oil III ling the
| new branch sef manual training to the schools
makes progress SLOW, and other cities which we're
behind Boston in beginning the enterprise promise
| to attain more complete deyelopment OF the
| system. During the week visitors from New ,ork
been entertained by. the Boston school surern-
| tenfent aud others for the purpose OF gaining
information in regard to industrial training IN the
| boston schools. An interesting illustration Of the
many currents of city life is given in this visit for
instruction. While crowds have filled the streets.
| intent upon Christmas shopping and the whole
world seems TO have had one Thought for the gayety
| and excitement of the season, the New-York and
Boston school representatives have visited the
Institute of Technology, the workshop ~ the
bows High School snd other departments of indus
trial art, sudving the noss important educational
question of the day. The earnest belief OF the sup
porters of the system in its usefulness makes
holiday pleasure of every opportunity In extending
il. Though New-York may have more complete
hafo Roafo n liz %
manual training 10 strengthening each year. The
aim of the agitators for the course is the
ment of one large industrial school OF the high
school grade besides preparatory grades In several
of the grammar schools in different parts OF the
citv. Tine lower branches have been attempted
hrst, aud TO the shop in the High School Tor boys