New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-20
ELASTIC COURSES OF STUDY.
MAPPING OUT THE WORK FOR PUPILS IN
THE NEW HIGH SCHOOLS.

CHOICE MAY BE MApE-PREPARINo BOYS
AND GIRLS FOR BUSINESS OR FOR
co1LEoE-GooD WORK AT
THE START EXPECTED.
While the general plan Of the courses OF study
for the Nsw-York high schools was agreed on IN
advance Of the selecton Of the principals, II re-
NAMED for Messrs. Buchanan. Wight and Good
w,n inter they came to this city, to consider the
courses carefully and see that they were adjusted
10 the practical needs Of the proposed schools.
The three men selected to supervise the work or
establishing schools OF this rank In the metropolis
are experts IN secondary educational methods. and
the task. which they have performed 70 the salts
faction Of the High School Committee Of the
Board OF Education. we'll as TO that OF the
Board Of Superintendent, could scarcely nave
been performed by men less skilled In high school
work The courses Of study should have been pre-
scented 20 the Board OF Education at Its meeting
last week with the Endorsement Of the High School
Committee. but through an oversight this was not
done.
Three courses have been prepared. with the de-
sign OF meeting the needs OF all classes OF pupils
likely 10 attend the high schools. They are the
general course. the commercial course and the
classical course While the commercial course con-
tans tho most novel features the general course
has been regarded by the three principals with
special interest. and great care has been exercised
TO make II elastic and comprehensive. 1t Ia. In
fact. SO arranged that by a combination Of re-
CURED and elective studies an unlimited number
Of courses may be made out OF II, according to the
tastes and needs Of the pupils and their parents.
In the first place. II will At boys and girls for the
College OF the City and the Normal College. and in
the second place It will supply the demands for
1oIouo ~ and
girls whose studies will presumably not extend
beyond the high school With these ideas in view.
the trainers OF the general course have recognized
two classes Of sbbjects-one including those deemed
essential in every well-ordered system OF secondary
education and the other comprising a large list OF
electives 50 grouped as 10 constitute full and
workable curriculum.
REQUIRED AND ELECTIVE SUBJECTS.
For the first year the required subjects in the
general English. history. physiology.
algebra drawing. physical training and music. to
which fourteen hours a week will be devoted. The
elective subjects Latin. French, German.
Spanish and biology. and every pupil will be re-
quired 10 select two electives each requiring four
hours work each week. For the second year the
required subjects will be English history physics.
geometry. drawing, physical training and music
a total OF fifteen hours-and the elective subjects
are Latin, Greek. French German. Spanish and
photography, two being chosen by each pupil. as
before.
In the third and fourth years the number OF
electives is largely increased The required sub
jects for the third year English. history.
physics drawing. physical training and music.
covering eleven hours while the electives are
Latin Greek. French, German. Spanish. chemistry.
algebra and plane geometry. English. history. art.
economies and astronomy. In this year three cleo
tives are required For the fourth and last year
the required subjects fall to four In number en-
bracng only eight hours They are English. his
tory, physical training and music. The electives
are as follows: Latin. Greek French German.
Spanish physics. solid geometry and plane trigo-
nometry. English. history. art. psychology and
ethics In this year four electives must be taken
by each pupil.
No classes IN elective subjects ure TO be formed
for less than twenty-five pupils In the first year,
twenty In the second. fifteen in The third and ten
in the fourth Glasses for beginners IN German.
French and Spanish may be formed at the opening
Of the first second and third years; but 10 prevent
any pupil from getting mere smatterng OF
language which he may elect II Is prescribed that
those choosing any foreign language must pursue
II al least two years. Pupils so desiring may study
a language In which they are specially interested
for the entire four years; and II will be noted that
while English and history are required throughout
the course they made electives IN the third
and fourth years for the benefit or boys and girls
wishing to give special attention to these subjects.
III
will take sewing once a week during the first year.
and cooking once a fortnight during the second
year
COMMERCIAL AND CLASSIFIED COURSES.
The commercial course Is also made up OF two
classes OF subjects The first class is identical with
the required subjects In the general course. AID is
designed TO equip students with substantial. foun-
dation Of general training the object OF the second
ella a. is 10 supply pupils with such technical know:-
edge Of bookkeeping commercial law etc. as will
enable them to meet the demands Of ordinary bust
ness life.
The studies for the FIRST year are English his
tory. physiology algebra. drawing. physical train
ing music French or German or Spanish. biology;
for the second year. English. history. 'hysics.
geometry drawing. physical training. music,
French or German Spanish. bookkeeping and
arithmetic; for the third year English, history.
ciyics drawing physical training music. French
or German or Spanish. bookkeeping and arithmetic,
stenography and typewrting for the fourth year.
English history physical training. music. French
or German or Spanish. commercial geography COM
mercial law and history OF commerce. stenography
and typewriting. English composition
The necessity OF a knowledge Of at least one OF
the modern languages Is recognized and choice
among three s allowed throughout the course.
Spanish having q place by the side OF German and
French on account OF the growing importance OF
the relations OF the commercial world here with
the Spanish American republics.
The classical course Is fixed in its principal feat
ures and has been framed TO meet the requirements
OF admission TO the largest and most important
colleges OF the country. 1t u believed BY the prin-