New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-17
THE SCHOOLS OF BROOKLYN
PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS THAT ADD TO
BOROUGH'S ATTRACTIyENESS.

INFLUENTIAL. PART PLAYED BY THEM IN
IT'S EDUCATIONAL LIFE-TALK WITH
DIR. TRUMAN J. BACKUs.
AS a city of homes Brooklyn has long been
distinguished. and of its most attractive
and commanding features as a place of residence
is the high standard OF it's private schools and
the influential part they play in it's educational
life This has been important characteristic
of Brooklyn for years. but never before We're
these schools better equipped accomplishing
more effective work than at the present time.
Chief among the institutions of this class may
be mentioned the Packer Collegiate Institute the
Polytechnic Institute. the Adelphi College and
Academy. the Pratt Institute. the Berkeley IN
stitute and Miss Christina Rounds's school, in
CIinton-ave. and the Catholic colleges-St- Fran
els and St. Johns.
Dr. Truman J. Backus. president of Packer In
sttute. in interesting talk with a Tribune
reporter yesterday regarding the educational
advantages of Brooklyn as a place of residence
said:
That Brooklyn offers such advantages is cyl
dent from the fact that many people come 10 lhIs
cate their children Hardly year passes that !
am not made acquainted with several instances or
my own school community there are many in
stances that do not come TO my knowledge. -
Brooklyn has three private schools when are
of the character of high schools thorouShly
s rSu an d eI,cb vsrt1asS in mental dis
cipline usually found in schools de-
parents desire such rigorous methods who are not
inclined TO send their children to the pubic schoos,
people to our borough If they have o1yS 5e e9 T
seeking advantages for their daughters Packer IN.
has its attractions. If they are devotees OF
coeducational advantages the Adelphi may attract
them
ECONOMICAL LIVING A FACTOR.
Besides these three large institutions there are
excellent private schools for both boys and girls.
considered and the advantages offered by Brook
Iyn Tor desirable residence at Teaso4ne nrces
and the well supplied market with moderatT pt t
indisputabe. So that the schools, with their
teachers of reputation, and the borough. with its
economical advantages. are probably the most
which are considering education and economy
Illness in the social relations of a family coming
to Brooklyn as STRANGERS. The nelShDoTn2od Is
door neghbor. The educational life of the city IS
sympathetic, the church life of the city is active;
the musical advantages are exceptional the Lecture
courses are varied and interesting. and a tamly
does not find itself lost in Brooklyn.
In reply to your inquiry about Packer lnsutute'
l should say that Its social significance Is inter
families of the large class of professional men who
reside in this city; They come from homes OF IN
time in the institute two hundred or more students
ure rooms The spirit of the school has the
fnement that comes from tradition and from
continue their courses of study for years. In the
last graduating class were four students W VINO naa
been at work under the teachers OF the lnsuI T
for thirteen t years v Inc d Ia fe
pride and their loyalty
For nearly half a century the Packer Col
legfate Institute has held a commanding place
among the educational institutions Of the coun-
try. Some Of the colleges for women have held
its educational system in such high esteem that
they have admitted its graduates to their junior
and sophomore classes without the fOrmality Of
a preliminary examination
THIRTY FREE SCHOLARSHIPS.
The institute is able to offer tuition at much
lower rates than an unendowed school could af-
ford. For the benefit of individual students who
cannot meet the regular charges liberal contri-
buttons are made every year. and there are
thirty-three scholarships awarded TO stu
dents in the higher grades of the school,
Merit as much necessity is considered
in their distribution. Before Vassar Col
lege and institutions of kindred nature were
esta blished students hOcked to the Packer In
stitute from all parts OF the country, but for
many years since then the institution has been
Conducted especially for the benefit of the young
women of Brooklyn.
AT the Polytechnic Institute may be found
lecture and study rooms which are both COM
modious and comfortable. and carefulIy ar
The basis of it's commercial course is a good
elementary English education. ana II atrOrdS a
thorough knowledge OF bookkeeping, accounts
and commercial law, and. with optional studies
Of French German, Spanish or stenography,
gives opportunities not exCelled by those or any
other commercial school, The students from It's
preparatory. classical liberal and scientihc
courses take high rank In the colleges Whlch
they enter.
The institute is provided with large and fully
eouipped laboratories and is thereby enabled TO
add to its courses Of study and research IN the
departments of chemistry and physics and civil
and electrical engineering, and can offer al
vantages found only at the best technical
schools. -,
its work kindergarten, so that p pupils may re-
ceive instruction from the earliest rudiments up
TO the highest branches of the collegiate studies
In the institution. The preparatory department
is omen to pupils between the ages of SIX ana
ten the course being completed IN three years
The ages in the academic department range
from nine TO sixteen. 1t is five year course,
in which are taught the essential branches of a
good English educatiOn-Latin. French and
German physiology, English history and lit
erature.
THE COURSES AT ADELPHI
There are three courses in the collegiate de-
partment and diplomas are given to students
who complete any Of them. Three years are de-
voted TO the classical course which is intended
70 meet the requirements for entrance examina-
tions at college In the literary and scientific
courses the curriculum is four years each, and
for the latter course excellent facilities for lab
orstory practice have been provided. A suite of
rooms is especially arranged for drawing from
the cast from life still life and modelling. The
rooms are for advanced and special pupils The
more elementary class work IS done In the class
rooms under special instruction.
The Pratt Institute has individuality of its
own but in its aims 1. resembles the art school