The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
LOTS OF SCHOOL REFORM.
SAMPBEs of THE IDEAS SENT 70
THE BOzRD OF Ell UOA1ION.

Gr,ua,nr-Mr Jasper's Correspondents.
70 tho public schools of New York are not
properly conducted. It is not for lack OF suRges-
lions. The good, kind people who want TO help
| the Board OF Education to run things are almost
countless. They have some novel ideas, too.
They think OF improvements which never have
occurred to tho Commissioners Tho Board
DOESN'T seem to appreciate a perfectly lovely
thing even when IL comes to II, postage prepaid.
Il, the morning mail. and all it has to do is TO
order Il done.
There was the request for tides. for instance.
Some noble minded person got up that Idea all
by himself; that Is to say, herself. She wrote
TO the Board asking that "tidies and mats" be
put on tho list OF supplies. Anybody can see
the value of this suggestion. 1t seems strange
that the public schools have done as well rs they
have without tides. Every one has seen occa-
sional proofs that the system was not perfect,
and yet. strangely enough. no one even dreamed
that the trouble lay in The lack OF tides. And
when the inspiration did come to this thought
full soul, and she hurried to the Commissioners
with 1.-The secret. did they hasten to correct the
evil2 Did they order q consignment OF crn-
cheted and tatted Tides to be laid on the backs OF
the school seatsl No. They laid the suggestion
In tho waste basket instead. Down with the
Boardi Up with the tidiesl
This Is just a sample Of the way things 70.
People flock to the Board with axes of ali kinds
to be ground, and the Board Rrinds nothing but
its teeth. Apropos Of teeth. there was n man
who wrote n book all about dental details. and
then he wrote to the Board and wanted q spe-
cial course of instruction about teeth introduced
into the schools. with text books for each and
all OF the 800. 900 pupils. What text book :
Well. Il send under separate cover my new
work on the teeth" What could be more direct
and comprehensive The gentleman furnished
a new want and supplied 1t at the same time.
But the Board did not appreciate him.
Neither did 1t appreciate the people who wrote
requesting the establishment of lunch stands In
all the school buildings:
The health and well being OF the pupils demand
this innovation.
p. s.-we have formed a company and are ready to
install these stands on short notice.
1t is really astonishing how many public bene-
factors reveal themselves to the Board of Edu-
cation. There are the people who offer to de-
liver lectures in the schools; and the people who
want to distribute tickets for church fairs; and
those who have marvellous new theories of in-
| struction, the which they will reveal in consid-
Grafton of a certain sum-; and those who wan
the use Of the public school rooms for private
organizations; and those who have new ideas
which they give to the Board just out Of love Of
humanity.
or this last variety are the people who write
to urge that patriotism be taught in the schools;
that. previous to national holidays, special ex-
ercises he held. This would be a very valuable
suggestion IL il we're not that these very things
have been done for years and years, and are
especially provided for in the bylaws of the
Board. 1t is the same way with q good many
other things which are established customs In
the schools. but which some outsider is always
imagining is an inspiration Of his very own.
butit the City superintendent VINO receives
some OF the choicest ideas. He gets them by
mil and nv Dars0nal nuDlicatinn- Life IN Mr.
-, -. t. ono ,o,a i.ii.,ans -
'ohn Jasper Is one long aeilrious round OF per.
sonal applications. One day he kept count OF
the people who came in TO talk 10 him abou.
one thing and another ana the number OF them
was 5l9!
ono y. "i. o"spe'' ,oIueu 'oiie'pohuenu.
wrote 10 request that a large tank De constructed
he bathed therein befor, bepinning ,bsir
sarn,nsLs - ,,a - n.I. tn,n a.ua
canoe compared with tanks. 1t would be such o
si,nnie mat,er IN md ress ba,be and dress s.v.
s.mpts mater a' anuress, oatne, anu aress sew
else. 1t seemed too simple TO Mr.. Jasper. Plain
'anks are go cruae; MI, Jasper ieit that 40
coaIdht Dc satisheu WIN anything short OF
ysDo ra baths and shower baths; Russian Turk.
,s". 49, ,a"s So 'a'h' t S.nl.n anu u.'
massage lnsssns: !. .sh "s ap.,oMsa m az Swfnas" and mS' eh1ropo.
dir,. and e,n,n, si,h a,r.r 800 ond .
fumes. The public school system of New York
city was not to have any old tank play showed
or ont, +, Tho hast 3, ho h.a or,o,ht,.,
ri ."t' " ~ VS.. oe oT notnIhEI
my ~ o ~ motv", Du' .He DAN proRratnme
,i'"n Wy =, tLe ..'1e ~ e., mo.aiils u irac-
''o"e n'u spcL.i ns, 81 - WHsn 'carrieu gu.
tNiotm,r fuou r1t" " "a. onspef was q man
W ~ eunu " Ia =, .ohiE, saytms tnet ne nao
Cothiouhueu ~ K'.,seii, nnu tnat ne wanted 10
Tn.>s y zone % inc puo,ic schIois oy ls use;
~ = saj1 NM Ia u ny. asp. mouIu kindly 1uiio
hllnselI up !, hieahs VI sahple poltlr "hicn
was sent. we result would aemonstrate the VIAL
hrvtenI.s "a sSDpaS'hs eaiu t"hic 70 the o'ooV
l''IN 'IlpIost GU ia Tx Guy. Ntse O.ODD
e ~ ~ II - 'Tau Up, ~ uonhn tue iuiprpveo
W.T. u ! wiz my mou,u tntn oe capapte, mere
49,, " 30 pe , utn non ~ nTTe>s'nE LOT aeeulaE .no
t r,,n n" a. ~ ~ pup'S' na' tne snon man
iihttmated thht ne WnuIu not uehy tbem the
- u ~ mou,u .urhism y a. reGuSeu rates.
linen there was d lady OUT In Cincinnati. Or
soihc VI 'lose places Whsre tHel thahk lhatt the
Super,htehGSHt u ine Jew foIk schools rs .
to a., e ~ ! ni"tiou Vn ~ suplects; rms
NJ w,"te u" d ~ ~ Va une VIE ora