New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-30
LETTERS ON VARIOUS TOPICS.
EXPERIENCES IN THE PUBLIC SonoOAA'
r,.xr STATEMENTS FROM FORMER TEAOhEA

! rpANIS STATEMENTS FROM A FohMf'h iH
| SOME NEEDED REFORMS.
- ~, rdHor OF The Tribnne
S,r. In vour issue OF February % correspondents
...,.os. ac,nnot some OF the teachers In the CITY
sohoo, rise and tell what they know, without danger
| -, ,os,pc their rlaces?o / have often rcpreseh'e"
Tho teachers of the New-York schools. and thcNio"
feel less hesitation in speaking for them al '"'S
have been ont OF the schools for several years a'
therefore run no risk in speaking the tr''h' Leu o
cav bowcver that the same men arc In power now mat
were I'm my day, and that being Interested III "i0
schools I know pretty well how affairs stahu "o
not think that can do better than Dy rcla''"B MY
personal experience.
Though graduated with an exceptionally good
record | was made stand back when appoh''noi.''
were given because there others who hce1cu III"
positons moro than did. II orr school rcorus ha'
been tle same this would have been perfect JUSTICE
but they were not After waiting year Deiofo
would plead poverty, and refusing to 90 u even '"o'
was appointed at last TO the meancst slIu'uon II"
the gift OF the local board. had beeh lnior"0u "
both principals and trustees that must serVo "
apprenticeship in the primary srhoof oeioro 'o"i'
have a place in n grammar department My 'ns'i"'.
was verified by my experience; Tor never a'"i'>'"
a succcss with little children. and consider that year
OF my life wasted, though did all that lay III my
mower to teach tho children properly The principal
of the DEPARTMENT had gained her position by political
Influence and was placed teachers who had boon
In the school ten or twelve years Her fitness may
bo Judged by the fact that several occasions she
handed me notes 10 officials asking me to see whe'her
there were any grammatical errors In hcm' r'hu'hs
that was a rapid writer and not conspicuous Sue
ccss IN the class ROOM she approached me with tho
offer TO mako me assistant principal promising me
the salary as soon as she could arrange With tho
hoard Nv duties were TO aid- her In the supervision
Of the teachers. l soon discovered that was OK
pcct TO play the part of spy, and refused.
had made application for a transfer AMI aHor
much trouble, ! was appointed In male grammar
department in the same ward. There ! spent five
happy years | liked my work. commanded the
respect Of my scholars; all the teachers were women
Of education and were conscientious workers. III all
the schools in NewYork conducted like that one
We should very different results. The principal
left us ourselves TO great cXtcnt' inc teschciS
consulted with one another as to the best mcthous
Of tcac hing / IN constant communication WIN
the one who taught the grade above mine anu ucu
10 assimilate my instruction TO hers. The one ~o"
me did the same. Result our school was spichuu
success But in an unfortunate moment, I'm fit OF
pquc at q fanccd injustice on the part OF the prin
clpal ! applied for a position In another ward
As nv record had been uncXccptionablc and had
obtained some reputation IN the profession. received
an appointment During the first hour amer
entered upon my new duties discovered that had
made faa, mistake. In the first piarc had ci'SS
Of sixty boys, to be taught in the large room "hcc
were two other classes Of the same size, whclc TWO
ro,o marcbcd and conntermarchcd every twenty
minute, during the day. and where we were not even
provided with
Lut worse to follow. The principal h'roluccu
me 10 my class. \ little boy. about twelve years oi
was guilty Of trling offence against the cast
iron discipline required by the man, who with his
-, hlfNTa MSS
the had seen little TAP. EVcn 10 IN" Lu
in the primary school; I'm fact ! WIS Instructed W
an old teacher the method OF giving Them so as
leave no marll on the face Eui hn h t s, ,
such an exhibition a. this. Ny heart SANK i3r III Inc
school from which had come we had ruled by gam
ng the respect Of the scholars-!n many cases ihcir
and knew that could not succeed Wh' o,o%
without screen: then some hlnl>E muHn paI. t,
wcr' PVT in place; but the marching ana cou our
rrmarjrd ly the principal because my boys turned
their head, OF id not st still inl he dld me o the
more in two hours than most OF my teachers do In
two days" And. hc added: you are precious fool
strain waited until the end OF the term; In fact
took another class. but finding that thc" was no
prospect of having classroom aSs'sN'u mt ~
One thing moro. when superintendent Jasper
came to examine my class. he grumbl"d about INC
marching through the room and finally said that he
could not and woud not examine the class uhicsS
they were put INTO room; nevertheless hr gave me
Fair, I'm discipline. though had never received less
than excellent IN the other school AS 10 Mr jasper
/ hcart OF MS fHiAlng any SiRE'S''"I va Guy
sort or Kind either regarding teaching or plic
during ttr six years that was IN the scho3iS i2isn
win say that Re always treated and those whom
knew in q gcntlcmaEy manner. Since leaving New
York have examined schools In other cite ana |
hive bushcd for or own. The grcat trouble i that
the teacher, IN nearly all the schools are bound hand
and foot 10y the demands for a discipline Whrh Is
little short of cruelty 10 the children and by orierS
OF Exercises" which leave no room for the adaptation
Of the lessons TO The special needs OF The pupils I'm
urinary schools are Ovcr'rowded. so are our best
grammar schools. while money I, Squandcrcd on the
orics and HIGHER education When was IN ne
down I'm seven year. II IS certain that have known
iu, few who were not In poor health. and though
nnser.sod Of a GOOD constitution. shall suffer all INV
ifc from the needless hard work that was imposed
In the school TO which have referred -, -
London, England, March 10. looJ. NJ l.