New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-25
TRUANTS AND TRUANT SCHOOLS.
INTERESTING DISCUSSION BEFORE THE
PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION

PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
'"Truaut Schools the subject Of most IN
teresing discussion Yesterday afternoon before the
Public Educa tional Association. the Berkeley
Iyceum in Forty-fourth-st The speakers were all
educators who had given special attention TO the
training OF truant children. children who be-
cause OF physical or mental defects do not make
the proper advances IN their studies
Andrew w. Edison Of the school superinten-
dents Of Manhattan. opened the meeting ny emu
merating the causes Of truancy. He said that the
percentage of children for whom there was really
no room in the public schools was smaller than
popularity supposed. The announcement Of par
had considerable TO do. he believed, with chill
dren staying from school BY means. he said,
should truant be looked a criminal.
Mr.. Edison called special attention to the grow
ing tendency in the schools to teach masses in
stead Of individuals. This tendency. in his mind.
is one Of the greatest dangers that confronts the
public schools. In other words. the personality or
pupils should be recognized. Mr. Edison said he
hoped that the day would come when the city Of
New-York would have a fine trUant school In the
Borough of the Bronx. whore recreation ground
Of from twenty to thirty acres might be had.
Mr.. Edson is chairman Of the Committee on Com
pulsory Education Of the Board Of Superintendent.
Miss y. L. Baker spoke OF her work In the West
Side School for Truants. established by the Chill
dren's Aid Society. Her class was founded in
1897 and since that time she has had one hundred
and twenty truants placed in her care. She told
how the truants won over by unique methods, had
become steady pupils. Miss Baker laid down three
conditions which she had found necessary FOR the
successful operation Of truant school These
were bright and cheerful room for study. the
interesting presentation Of work and study 70 the
pupils and the heartfelt interest and devotion OF
the teacher 10 her work
In the West Side School Miss Baker said
manual training had been combined with mental
study 10 hold the interest Of the boys. and the re-
suit had been signaly successful. During the
whole existence OF the schooi only Ave boys had
Baker told an amusing story Of the formation Of
an "Ant-Crap Club" in her class Her boys were
at one time dilatory in appearing at school. and
morning she discovered about half OF them
playing craps in the street
She said little 10 the boys. but arranged 70 have
them lectured 10 on the evils Of gambling. Then
she proposed the organization Of the 'Anti-Crap
Club" and the scheme went through with an ex-
citing election Of officers and adoption OF bylaws
Dues Of 3 cents week were imposed. and the
money thus raised paid for occasional entertain
ments.
Miss Julia Richmond. principal Of Public School
No - spoke Of ungraded classes. She advocated
the formation Of three classes for the training OF
defective pupils As for truants. she said there
are truants only where principals ano teachers
have mistaken their vocation" She spoke al con-
siderable length on the driving Of defective children
from one school 10 another by teachers who did
not want the Of them.
Superintendent Clarence z Meeney was also one
Of the speakers II his opinion that uhhhct
could and should be prevented III the p4DHc sCIioO
by the methods used IN the school its' H.