New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-01
PROBLEM OF OVERSTUDY.
VIEWS OF AN ASSOCIATE SUPERTN-
TENDENT OF SCHOOLS

prominent educator and certain well-known ply
scians were published, that the inquiry has been
carried still further George S. Davis. Asso-
ciate Superintendent Of Schools for the boroughs
OF Manhattan and The Bronx. said yesterday In
conversation with a Tribune reporter;
Two years ago there was change made in
the curriculum OF our public schools because TO
certain branches had been given undue impor-
tance. and there is going to be another
change. The course OF study has always been
more or less subject to revision AS soon as any
part OF It needs correction that part is altered
During the last year we have come TO see very
plainly that the manual training courses take
up too much OF the pupils time. This branch OF
the work is to be considerably reduced. AT pres
ent It is taught in the kindergarten and through
all seven years Of the grammar grades. From
the very beginning the work is divided into three
classes-free-hand drawing, color and designing
and construction work The first trains the eye
the second cultivates originality and the third
lends skill and mechanical dexterity To these
ends then is such work as clay modelling. paper
cutting. working in wood and cooking for girls
As the courses are now arranged, manual train
ing requires about one-seventh OF the scholar
time Nevertheless II has been seen that 1t en-
croaches still further upon other subjects. and
therefore it will be reduced proporuonately
Mr.. Davis was then asked II children were
compelled 10 study long hours at home.
IT do not think So" he answered and read 'he
following paragraph from Section - OF ne pio
scribed course Of study:
mo lesson shall be given to a puph 10 oe
learned out of school until 1t has been suni0ieH'
" explaincd and illustrated to the class; hoi
shall the lessons be such as to require more thah
two hours study each day from child OF aver
age ability"
"studving at school," he added rs always en-
couraged. so that the pupil can decide more u
,ess himself how much must be done at hoHi'.
Then again It is only for the last three years VI
the grammar school that home study Is at I'LL
necessary. and II a high school eouca'ion % ~
eouou, surely there must be some such prepara-
ton"
FRENCH AND GERMAN NOT CONF Cb'0Ni
He said further that the cry raised aeaiis'
the compulsory teaching OF French ana ger i'ia'i
WAS entirely without cause. Ihese stuuie' q"
,,.rodrced in the fifth year. but only by request
- bis statement more clear, Mr.. Davis
read this paragraph from 0e0''o' ~
scrihed course of study:
'>-o liza sbar he compelled to study German
80 urarcb contrary to the wishes OF It's parents
- Guardians expressed either personally or III
writing" .o,ors ,,ero
when asked If It was true that teachers "e''
,ros.rated because Of undue nervous sHa' !"
said: ..oo.
..r 40 mot Doubt that one can find such cases
hut for the most part it Is their own lauI''
bean IN work for themselves. since theF "'e Wv
sirous to prepare their pupils Tor eh'ianOe ~
49, >-or,,o, college or other institutions whlch
~ a.,ro,oo examinations. SO evident were
,, efoots of this mode OF examining th9'
49,, poord nassed r. bylaw which MADE IL pos
IL Tor nunils to enter affiliated city schoois
~ q higher grade without e1 iminatloh. l uur'
Sone The time is near when III system Vi IN
,napdation will entirely supplaht INC W go
@ e oxarinations with all its struggle anu
worry of extra and often unnecessary
ton, zt.,o,s ore exacted from
.ha nnnils daily?" was a question In answer ~ ~
which Mr. Davis read the foNoWlhs
from the prescribed course or STUDY; . ..oo .
"Compositions shall be written at ieasl 9AU roi
,veek in all classes; and shall be crltlclseu oi"'
" I'm respect to thought and expression. ,,oa
~ they are required oftener ne eApiai1t ', .
.p, must he because the teacher is imposing
extra work upon the class 49,. 10 prev ~
MIR Davis ended by saying that ne kne" d "
nbsrgfs outside of the manual training ue
no Em" hut he was assured that what seemed
Of minor Importance would be supoIuiiia.e Cond,
every course adjusted 10 lie P'iU
tione of teacher and pupil ,,,. cohool
Frnest r Brkins principal OF PuDnc S choo.
No 10 was quoted as saying that the PIeseH'
course Of work was too severe. . .,u -o,erenca
E Isl a1;,oi raining work, which has seri-
onsly cut into other departments' bue IlI%o
much as this is 10 be rectlneu' l h"N' Nv ~
nlaint whatsoever TO offer.
RESTS WITH THE PRINCIPAL.
William J. O'shea. principal Of Public Schooi
No IL said in the course Of an intervie" WIFI
a Tribune reporter: !.
81 have not heard any complaints IN regaru "
overwork. All this can easily be attended 10 o'
the principal To be sure ne ,n mas !, Is in his
,ou,er "a make It severe or liberal as he sees
fit" ,, - tho tnsnectors
H. cornnoon schools for the First District or
the Borough of Manhattan, on being asked II ne ne
had heard any SUI. complaints replied tna ~ ~ ~
she district OF which he had most ih'i'n"'o
Knowledge no such trouble had arisen; ,. =,
az oil deppnds on the class Of children ne
said finally whether they can stand the sti an
or not Why. some Of them go 10 sSilool II. II. .'
lining with only a crust OF bread or stI@y
&c oS nestry for breakfast. The poor ntie
things haven't the strength even TO sPeii vs. i
own names The severity OF studles shouIu a.
yavs be in accord with the stIeheth, vi ~
Htid,, evstem 1t is a fact that the majority VI
tba cases Of insanity are 10 he t0uhu III u'iu tl
Cd ard oyerstimulated brains setter 10 eiS'
them food than lessons Wltnou, o INFO the c6ndi-
.ins ~ the district in which his schooi Is STU
ated and regulate the cuTIIcuIuin a. a, Itio,
] believe this TO be 'he oi'''
of the problem ~ ,d al
VI Ctper nrominent educators were seen ana az
exnressed the deepest interest IN me pIese nv
inquiry 1t the consensus Oh op',,i ar in cer
n,,reas of study have been too severe III Cei
go districts and that the changes cohtempla.
Cd nv the superintendent ana MS aSs's''"
win rectify any existing faults
VIEWS OF STATE OFFICIALS.
.,.swoRru AND MR. ROGERS ADMIT NEW
vopt SCHOOLS TO BE CROWDED