New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-16
PUBLIC SCHOOL VACATIONS.
cuor,Lp THE TIME OF THE SUMMER RE-
CESS BE LEssENED?
SUPERINTENDENT JASPER. COMMISSIONER PREM
TIss AND MR.. CASEY. PRINCIPAL. OF GRAM
MAR SCHOOL NO. So. EXPRESS THEIR
VIEWS ON THE QUESTION

great many people interested In educational
matters have felt for long time that the summer
vacations in the public schools of this city are
longer than necessary. and that small part, at
least OF the nine ten weeks in the summer dur
ing which all exercises IN the schools suspended
could be employed in study with profit to the chill
dren particularly by those living in the crowded
.enenent districts. The fact that many holidays
are observed every year by the closing Of the
schools and that since the founding OF the
public school system in this city there has been a
constant tendency to increase the time Of the sum-
ner vacation, has led the parents of many of the
children TO inquire whether 1t would not be ad-
visable to go back TO the old plan OF more work
and less play for both teachers and pupils. When
az the Harvard dinner given in this city recently
Joseph H. Choate. in the course OF his remarks ad-
vocated considerable shortening Of the summer
vacations al the colleges the sentiment he ex-
pressed in this direction voiced in more than
one instance applied to the public schools here.
Members Of the Board Of Education and the
school principals generally. however. seem 10 doubt
the wisdom of making such change. At least
that seemed to be the prevailing sentiment so far
as a Tribune reporter able 10 gather from con-
versa,ions had last week with several Of them on
the subject.
VACATIONS AS ARRANGED BY THE BOARD
According TO the bylaws of the Board of Educa-
ton school sessions. vacations and holidays are
provided for as follows The several schools shall
be opened at o'clock a and the sessions shall
be continued until o'clock p. m. with an inter-
mission OF one hour at noon, when the pupils may
leave school An intermission not to exceed twenty
minutes may also be given during the morning SEES
sions In shall any school be dismissed be-
fore o'clock p except by authority of the pres
iden, Of the Board. or Of the Board OF Trustees
as provided in the bylaws. Meritorious pupils as
q reward may be permitted TO leave school one
hour earlier Friday of each week.
Superintendent Jasper said to the reporter 4
have not given much thought TO the subject. but
doubt II 1t would be wise TO decrease the time Of
the summer vacation. II the thermometer is way
up in the ninetes II is pretty hard 10 keep the little
children in school. and they learn little under such
conditions Some members Of the Board OF Educa-
ton have thought that We ought TO reduce the
summer vacation by week and give the children
a weeks vacation in the spring, ana am not sure
but that the plan would Work Wen arbags and and
pupils are required to accomplish during the regu-
lar school session, hardly think the vacation Is
100 long.
SUMNER SCHOOLS MIGHT BE OPENED.
IL think however. that in sections OF the
city, where the homes are not so pleasant as they
might be and where children often compelled
TO huddle together in room throughout the hot
weather summer schools might be opened for, say.
half day five days in the week. Last summer
districts and supported by number of benevolent
people with William Ware Locke superiptend-
sew seven Of our buildings and the effort met with
great success. Some 5000 children were In attend
About nine years ago the summer vacation was
increased by one week. making II between nine ana
lowing an extremely hot spell in September Of the
previous year. during which the schools opened &C.
%onsay i in Soon terWard the Board
received 80 communications from PHYSICIANS IN Ihe
city. urging that the vacation be extended. The
I'd referred
heard the arguments Of a number OF the physi-
was made II argued at that time that by
confning the children in the cassrooms during the
often oppressive heat Of early September great
deal OF the benefit derived from the summer vaca-
"Originally the vacation in the summer for
threa weeks: IL was then extended TO five weeks.
then 10 weeks later 10 between eight and nine
Recently. however. whenever an attempt has been
made to close the schools for an extra day or two
the Board has invariably voted against it, thus
showing a determination to keep the vacations
within the present limits
COMMISSIONER PREMISES VIEWS.
Commissioner Nathaniel A. Prentiss was seen at
his Office No. 100 Broadway He said: Il know Of
no country where there are 20 few holidays as in
America and taking this into consideration. do
not think that the summer vacation in the public
SCHOOLS is too long. In considering this question 1t
must be remembered that the school children are
very young. The children enter the schools when
FIVE years old. and in legislatng for all the school
children we for the welfare Of the young.
est | do not believe that the school Children OF
this city should driven any harder than they are
row either In the amount OF study required or In
slider tfat ittwould be right to require the little
tote attend school in this city during any part OF
emf system Of vacations has grown out Of a long
experience. and believe II Is about right as II is
II any benefit we're TO be derived from shortening
the time of the summer vacation. II would be in
the case OF the very poor children living In the
crowded tenement-house districts. but doubt
very much, even in the Of this class Of our
pupils IL Il would be wise 70 place the children un-
der the necessary restraint and discipline Of the
schooroom during the two hottest months OF the
year. On the whole. ] fall TO see any reason for
dissatisfaction with the present system of vaca-
TONS
A PRINCIPALS IDEAS on THE QUESTION
Josepb ]. Casey. pr..cpal Of Grammar School
No % q, M PIG East One-nundred and ten tn st.
.ad 10 a Tribune reporter: There have been CON-
plants 70 the effect that the vacations In the pub
lie schools were too long. and good deal OF II mas
come from the poor parents OF many OF the chill
dren who are anxious to save themselves The care
and ANNOYANCE OF caring for the children at their
crowded homes during the warm weather The
children now have five hours Of hard study in the
schools every day OF the school session, and beside
this they study hour or two at home every
scnOo day When Jgly ,vdy 6 6ohei Teachers and
pupils are tired out and need the summer for rest
and recreation. So far as the ch,lur S ,e ar n
When school opened the first Monday IN sep
TENDER the year before the vacation was e:senue.
one week, the thermometer in my scho9i s'oua "a a.
80 degrees and ii was almost Impossible unuei
those conditions for the teachers TO De OF any sr
vice TO the uncomfortable and restless cn.iuns III
stay in the city and compelled 10 pe on IN. ,ns
streets in the hot weather. but even ms Is ali,
for them than be housed up for ve hours dh1
IN hot school building. Under sucn oo"u'''''''
their work must be OF inferior order. .oe,
"A great many Of the children IN my schoJ,
which is the largest in the city ana IN .'on ny
populated district. leave school 10 go m' ,n ~ ~
country early in June. and do not return UNI. "a.
middle Of September. This. OF course causs AUS, ~
great inconvenience. Then many peopie ,, "a" and
get OF the city before the Fourth OF july, an
as consequence on the last day or two OF scnoU
the attendance is always very small II tneie e,t
any cry for longer sessions. II comes from the &c.
fsh parents who want to get the children Out % o,
their way. II such people consulted ths
schools would never close"