The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-14
PUPILS REBELLED.
Mr.. Haskell Offended Them
BY Notifying Their Guar
dians Of Their
Standing.
PARENTS SIDED WITH THE PRINCIPAL
The Result is More Studying and
Less SHINING at High School
One Boy Caught.
PARENTS SIDED WITH THE PRINCiPA

the High School under the reign OF
Superintendent Haskell which are crtti-
cised in a variety of ways by many or
the pupils. An innovation which has
been received with favor by some few
and with terror by a large majority Of
the pupils concerns very closely the
parents of the scholars. The reports of
the work done by the scholars, which are
sent to the parents alike from the Gram
mar and High Schools. while averaging
the pupils standing In the various classes
does not give a clear idea to the parents
Of the work done in special studies, and
to obviate this difficulty and also to find
# the reason why so many of the pupils
fail in special studies is that they do
not devote sufficient time to them, or that
for some unexplained and utterly in
applicable reason the pupils fail after
studying their lessons. Mr.. Haskell has,
since he has been principal of High
School, supplemented these reports with
letters to the parents. These letters are
to the effect that Mr.. Jones son has
fallen below the average, seyenty-ive
per cent, in arithmetic or some other
study, and Mr.. me is requested to
state on the back of the paper, and re-
turn TO Mr.. Haskell, whether his son
is studying the required amount. two
hours, or whether he is devoting his time
to amusement.
When the first of these series of letters
was sent out a perfect storm arose
among the scholars. Ask their parents
to make them study more? Well, in
deed, they wouldn't study to suit any
principal or anyone else. Little knots of
pupils. gathered in corners to talk over
the situation. Said one girl, "Just you
wait until | tell my motheri She'll write
such a letter that'll make Mr.. Haskell
wish he'd never been born! The idea of
his saying I ought to study two hours
every day. I've a good mind not to show
the letter. but that wouldn't do any
good" said another girl, you lave to
bring an answer That's so," adj
mitted the first; well, l will bring an
answer thatsM make him stare In
another group a boy was airing his opin-
ions concerning the letter. The idea,''
he said, .of telling my mother to make
me study. Why she does make me study
all she can; she's all the time after me-
But" suggested some one, slyly,
weren't you kept back this year,
Yes admitted the first. 'eThen your
mother didn't make you study very hard,
I guess"
The opposition was pretty strong, but
there We're d number of pupils who APP
proved these letters. Strange to say, these
were found among the scholars. who al
ways know their lessons, who stand at
the head of their classes, who approve Of
ard OF the school. These scholars one and
all stood manfully for their principal and
aVowed that he was in the right, and that
+ fbo was ' sso onps every parent who
fare would be pleased with.
In a day or two the pupils of the oppo-
sltlon began to have surprises. The let
tiers began, to come in, and, wonder of
took just the view of the situation that
the head scholars had said they would.
The girl whose mother was going to
Mr.. Haskell, which read to the effect
that s'she was much pleased that Mr..
Haskell took such an interest in her
her daughter devoted more attention to her
studies in the future. And" said the
girl to her confidential friend, una means
it. and there'n be no more fun for me
tH iid SctS d ictteI saying III dpoVe
the average
Almost all the. letters were to the same
effect. Some few were received which
upbraided Mr.. Haskell for his "interfer-
ence," and which told him plainly that
the sons and daughters of the writers
were to be allowed to do just as they
pleased. All Of these letters Mr.. Haskell
placed on file, and after three or four had
been sent he had reason to be thankful
for his file.
A boy who had been falling behind for
some time, and who had returned the let-
tiers sent his mother with her request
that Mr.. Haskell mind his own business.
was sent back to grammar school. The
boy did not return his books to High
School, and Mr.. Haskell wrote again to
his mother asking her to return the boys
hooks. Asfew days later a very large
woman with ire written plainly on her
features, entered the assembly room at
High School and demanded to see Mr..
Haskell. She marched upon him with the
determination to do or die, and demanded,
'sWhat for he wanted her sons books"
Mr.. Haskell explained that the boy had
done bad work at school, and had been re-
turned to the grammar school. she
averred she had heard nothing of It.
Mr.. Haskell produced his file, showed her
the letters from her and then 1t all
came out. The boy had had the letters
written by some one else, but had never
shown them to his mother. ami she sup
posed he was still at High School. All
the pupils in the assembly room pitied
that boy as they saw the expression on
the woman's face as she passed out.
This is only one Of the many changes
appreciated by the teachers and pupils
He has on foot some plans which are not
as yet matured sufficiently to be des-
cribed, but the prediction is justified that
changes will be improvements.