New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-12
VACATION SCHOOLS OPEN.
EIGHT HUNDRED CHILDREN ADMITTED
INTO ONE BUILDING ALONE.
ME MAIN IDEA ~ TO TEACH THE CHILDREN 70
DO SOMETHING TO IMPROVE SURROUND

vhE MAIN IDEA ~ TO TEACH THE CHILDREN 70
DO SOMETHING TO IMPROVE SURROUND
INGs IN THEIR OWN HOMES
large number of happy-faced children throngeo
the doors of the vacation schools yesterday morn
ing awaiting admission. Thes1 schools are truly
vacation schools" and the outline Of work wholly
different from that done in the winter months.
The daily sessions from $50 until II 20 o'clock.
No home studies given to the children.
The work is TO be mostly departmental. with
special reference TO manual training. sewing ana
nature study.
Miss Isabel Oakley. OF Flushing. has been ap-
pointed outside collector for sending boxes OF how-
ers plants. shells. etc. to the different schools to
be used in the nature study.
One has only to visit the crowded districts
whore of these schools are remarked .
visitor yesterday, Ito realize what Joy It will b
TO the children to receive these nature supplies"
one little boy who stood al the door Of one Of
the schools while the children were entering ana
who had rather an unwashed and unkempt APP
pearance asked If he not going to school.
He replied NO" and upon being further ques-
toned as to why. folded his proudly and.
with toss OF his head responded:
Cant; I'm going to Coney Island for a month"
The eyes of the children about him grew big
with wonder hearing the reply. To these poor
little waits day at that place seemed heaven.
and a whole month more than they ever dared
TO dream or. Some of the little girls were 80
afraid OF wasting time that they appeared with
their sewing work in their hands.
At School No. a. No. los Broome-st.. Of which
Henry ". Smith is principal over eight hundred
children admitted This school includes gram
mar, primary and kindergarten departments. The
highest class OF boys I'm the grammar grade regis
tered between fifty and sixty In number, ana IN the
kindergarten there were over two hundred .
The principal stated that the main idea for the
summers work is to teach the children 70 40
homes In the higher classes the pupils are
10 be allowed TO govern themselves AZ much az
school journal published. edited entirely by the
pupils This school has a large gymnasium. which
the grammar grades the smaller children having
School 10 l. No 60 Chrystie-st, Miss Mary e.
Wcch principal. opened with go pupils. being con-
nn to n% vq 10 arS years Of
enough pupils over twelve ysaps Apply tSf ac som.
earnest boys beyond that age have made applica.
ton for admission and the principal is In hopes
A special teacher will have charge OF the play.
room. teaching the children new games and keep
The morning at all the schools spent in or.
ganizing. but to-day they expect to be In running
AN EXPERIMENT IN SCHOOL NO. l.
In School No. /, In Henry-st, an experiment 10
10 be tried in the introduction Of directed sports.
This has been done with great success In other
countries and Francis H. Tabor. an Engshman
by birth and graduate OF Christ College Cam
bridge. has been appointed director He has made
a careful study of both the English and Contl-
mental systems and finds the former the superior
besides being better adapted TO our needs While
experimenting the games himself and having them
subject careful regulation they will still retain
the necessary element of spontaneity. Besides the
physical development as the result OF these games
they will train eye and brain, the failure TO do
the latter being one Of the defects OF the German
system. The wisdom OF his opinion In regard to the
merits Of the English system is shown by the fact
that many of the Continental countries are CIV
ing up their old systems In favor OF the English.
The French system he considers too efeminate Tor
robust race
II this system meets with the success expected
OF Il in the vacation schools IL Will be made part
OF the curriculum OF the city schools.