The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-01-15
NIGHT SCHOOLS FOR YoUve GIRLS.
why the President OF the Board OF Educn-
tion Wishes Them Abolished.

President j. Edward Simmons OF the Board
Of Education says that the recommendation he
made in his annual message to tho Board on
Jan. IL that the junior evening schools for fe-
males be abolished. was based upon facts which
he had discovered by his own personal investi-
cation. and which showed that the schools
really cxerted an Injurious and demoraliging
instead Of "a beneficial influence upon young
girls. These schools. President Simmons said.
were established to benefit young girls who
had to work for n living during tho day.
II began n quiet investigation OF the work.
ing Of those schools when they opened last
October" President Simmons added, and dis
covered that while tho enrolment OF pupils was
perhaps gratifying, the absenteeism was really
dcplorable. Only one-third OF the entire num-
sions q tho classes. and aHdd' my 'investisation con-
WINGED ue that very much of this absenteeism
was without the sanction or KNOWLEDGE of the
parents. and that the girls wero really truants
and using tho plea that they were going to
night schoo! as n more excuse to get away from
about the streets.
Most Of these non-attendants were girls bo-
It Is most dangerous for girl to be free to wan:
d dsa adIansH Hns d1 SlI m at night no Wish tbs TSs snEeps
metropolis to an unprotected girl girl Of
Of these night schools. l have found young
loafers between the ngcs of. 10 and lS, who
were full OF mischief and deviltry, hanging
around the entrances Of these night schools.
lying in wait for the girls to entice them away:
Any sensible person knows that the girls would
gain nothing that was good for them by asso-
citation with these young ~loafers. In TACT, the
young rascals are the worst possible associates
for the girls to make, and l am sure that no
parents who loved their children would care to
have the little ones subjected to the risk of
making such acquaintances.
Moreover. l am convinced That these girls,
who have boen working all day in stores or in
dressmakers' establishments are SO exhausted
by the toll Of the day that their minds are in
no proper condition to receive instruction, and
might. IN iuct, be injured by tho strain OF study.
All this convinces me that the Junior evening
schools for girls are really costing very much
more than thcy are worth. and l believe that
the end of the present term will see them elm
mated from the school system. ! know that l
shall use whatever influence | can exert to So
cure that desirable reform. The senior classes
for girls OF more mature years will be con-
tinued. so that the efficacy OF the education
system will not really be impaired"
City Superintendent John jasper has also in
yestignted the condition of the night schools,
aud is in hearty accord with President Sim
mons IN regard to the ndvisability OF abolish
ing them. because he, too, is convinced that the
little good they do is much more than over
balanced by the harm they work. Thu schools
in which night classes Tor young girls arc now
Carried on are in Henry, King, Seventh. East
10th. lNvinaton. East Fourteenth. East Thirty
seventh. and West Forty-seventh streets, and in
Third avenue between 18TH and l5sth streets.