New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-18
european ON SCHOOLS.
THE EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE LISTENS
TO SUPERINTENDENT MAXWELL.
THE WOMEN PLY HIM WITH QUESTIONS AND
THEN GO HOME WITH A CORRECT AND
THEREFORE BETTER OPINION OF
THE WHOLE SYSTEM


Chiropean's Committee Education met yester-
day at 1870 o'clock in the home of Mrs. Daniel T.
Wilson No. 16a Rodney-st., Brooklyn. Mrs. n.
W. Powell. chairman of the committee and men,
Der of the Board of Education. had invited William
H. Maxwell, superintendent of Public Instruction,
10 attend and be prepared TO answer all questions
put 10 him by the women interested in the public
school system. Mr.. Maxwell was on hand and
unflinchingly faced the fifty women present. each
of whom ready with her III you please. Mr.
Maxwell. ] want to know" etc.
Among those thus anxious for knowledge were
Miss Everett Swain. Miss Abby Park Reed, Miss
Ella L. Benner. Miss Viola Bell. Mrs. John S.
King Mrs. II Brown. Mrs. William knight. Mrs.
d. T. Wilson. Mrs. E. r. Macintosh Mrs. F. w.
Wurster Mrs. F. w. Young. Mrs. II. w. Powell.
Mrs Susan Chase, Mrs. Orrin Beech. Mrs. w. F.
Garrison Mrs. j. G. Guck. Mrs. Phoebe Foster,
Mrs Little, Mrs Burgess Mrs. John Hess, Miss
Gaylor Mrs. Wyman and Mrs. Ormsby.
Mrs. Powell called the meeting TO order and in
troduced Mr., Maxwell by saying he was man
who always receiving lot Of blame for what
he didn't do, ard little praise for all the good
things he constantly doing; then she ex-
planned that the committee firmly believed in his
superior knowledge the school question, and
had looked forward to this opportunity for telling
him all their trials. troubles and trbulations as
they related TO the Subject of educating children
Mrs Brown began the discussion by asking why
the Of study IN the Girls High School was
so severe: why III. daily standing in studies does
must be made through final examinations. when
the girls nervous and worn out. and why
student either had to take all the studies in order
10 graduate in five years take what is called
half course and thereby be compelled to go to
school nine years before graduating?
Mrs. Brown also complained Of the small rules
like mot TO hurry up and down stairs mot TO go
in groups: and the notes OF excuse demanded
from parents for every trivia. offence made by the
daughter she thought altogether uncalled for. But
ter that provided as bill of fare dOughnuts choco-
late cellars, pie. pickles and sandwiches.
Mr.. Maxwell began his defence by laughingly de.
claring that the Board Of Education not respon
sible for the doughnuts and pickles. and hal never
authorized the furnishing OF them. No doub; the
girls called for just such a and would
nothing else. The privilege Of furnishing what was
wanted had been given TO a caterer. and no dout-
he had filled faithfully all orders given TO him
This caused a ripple OF laughter and started the
mothers into all speaking at once. but MI MaXwe'
held the floor and continued:
'As 70 the course OF study In the Girls High
School have only 10 say II is 10 be revised ana II
is hoped that all irregularities will be Strengthened
out" He added that he would much prefer as I"
the languages. having only one in the course made
COMMUNICATIVE second and third being optional. He
felt that nowadays girls fitting themselves for
q life in which mathematics and the sciences were
much more beneficial than the many languages
As 10 the examinations. Mr.. Maxwell agreed with
neglect their studies during the term and would
.crarn" for the examinations. this often resulting IN
injury TO the student. lie agreed with the mothers
that the students ought not TO know When the e~-
In answer to question Mr. Maxwe. said that in
the elementary grade me te%Cnef Ss'lsro b
might report that thirty in the class were Te4dy TOT
promotion: ten were not II was ihen tne auiE oa
that ihe teacher had made no mistake or the two
dangers IL was more harmful for the pupA 10 De
<,,ba ready
forward when not quite prepared i0r the promotion.
IA compjaned tha. her boy had not been advanced
with his class although ms sedSfGr h h Sa'u lie
90 felt il my duty to have that boy advanced
know hi. standing and ability better than any one
The worst thing possible is the stated examine NINA.
ssndn snS BY answers TO questions; such Is not
sssss s!s S.,r. and tire. month. i. the average
age Tor Examinations for high schools. With few
exceptions the children do better at examinations
Mrs. Gulick thought sh. would IKE German an
taught in the pTmsry classes hs'ead OF y S1
either from Mr.. Maxwell or the members OF the
You don't want to kill the little fellows. do
you?" said MI. Maxwell, larghngIy y think INK
the little brains. We must not forget that true
education consists, in advancing the Intellectual
Education Of the hand helps the education of the
mind"
He advised those mothers who doubted the good
Of the hand training to visit the manual train
ing school.
DIACRITICAL MARKS
"D,acrit,cal marks" created a sensation Half
the women present admitted they did not know
what the term meant and were greatly relieved TO
hear that II signihed merely the markings OF the
rounds; for example. A has six sounds and the
marks indica ting those sounds are called the da-
critical marks. The mothers claimed that the
children injured their eyes with much writing
md diacritcal marking
Mr. Maxwell commended In high terms the strict
discipline carried out In the Girls High Schoo1
and thought the mothers ought TO appreciate more
the great care that being taken of their girls
One bad girl i'm a school would In short lime
6emoraize "A whole class unless strict rules and an
ever-watchful eye were al hand.
The meeting lasted until l2 o'clock and not one
Of the committee felt her time lost In the attending
There is nobody quite like Mr.. Maxwell" said
one woman. "Hc' tells MS plain facts in such a way
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