New-York tribune., 1896-12-03
EXTENDING SCHOOL WORK.
NEW BRANCHES TAKEN Up BY THE BROOK
IYN TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.

NEW BRANCHES TAKEN Up BY THE BROOK
LYN TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
The work of improving the efficiency Of the schools
has been taken up energetically by the Brooklyn
Teachers Association under the leadership OF Its
new president, Dr. Walter b. Gunnison principal OF
Erasmus Hall High School It's membership is now
about $500 and members are continually being
added There are between 2seO and 29o0 public school
teachers in the city. that the association includes
about 50 per of the whole. The number OF prl-
vate school teachers in the organization is small.
One Of the new departures Of the association Is In
The direction OF what called grade meetings
which are designed to secure full understanding
of the objects Of instruction in the different grades
and 10 correct faults in the present methods. Ine
association has completed systematic organization
by grades The meetings are held on the second iue
dsy in each month except February. which Is omitted
n account of the extra work attendant upon promo
ion time The plan is to have fifteen different meet
ngs on the same afternoon in fifteen different school
buildings throughout the city, The schools where the
meetings are held are so arranged that the meetings.
going from school 10 another. make IN ume a
complete circuit Of the city In this way each grace
holds its meetings in every section of the city
The first grade meeting was held on November
10 and the next which will take up reading VIII De
held on December s. The aggregate attendance al
the first grade meetings was between 1.2N and l3U
tho meeting. varying In numbers from 80 10 100
The directions from the committee which mas tne
meetings in charge are that some one snal ~ ee enea M
and the r Of h me Grade si Is in Charge
tons prepared that will be particularly SpPoa''e
How low thoroughly the work is done is illustrated
by the fact that circulars have been sent 10 @ .he
,s please state in the order of their impor-
tance the difficulties that you meet with IN arrv d,r
grade or indicate what portion Of your grade work
You desire have discussed at the c9nerehGe; rHhec
of the next conference. but similar circulars Will
be out before each grade Ing, 70 the gen.
.raI ane COMMITTEES on Grade Meetings. and are then
sndsnt Maven is so impressed with the mpor
tance OF these meetings that ne mas arransvd 1ne
tSs DAYS When grade meetings held the work
SUPERVISORS in d1aTng , w
msengs bsr The RTnepss esr IN ON may GRADE
the .os ;eso9s dsys e'se sc ha teacher may
the meetings. and some principals 90 so far as 70
require report on the meetings from the 'eacn-
The committee In charge of this work consists OF
PsImsreen, Pf Primary School No. s., g; Martha p.
y0s,e sJ%ayN Ns @ Ma Mary Black
school ~ JlsboUp lsb and Walter cunnson' Erasmus
is sa The 6s. ns.qsn ss Sssn def
ppesed to asese but It's
its projectors The total attendance was 227s and
The Intention is TO furnish opportunity for the
parents in each school district to come to the
n ia probable that two more meetings viii be held
in the school year. one In February and one In
April ..,d nr curr;sor Yesterday
'that these meetings will ultimately lead TO each
schooI having an at home day. when the parents
can come to the school and talk with the teachers
Al the next meeting sure that the number
81 schools taking part will be much larger. In
two or three schools they have already held sup
niemantary parents meetings. In some schools
they have announced that the next meeting Will be
A sort OF reception and tea, and in two Of the
schools an exhibit Of classwork will he given. The
Attendance varied all the way from 3o to 800