New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-13
ON HOME STUDY.
SUPERINTENDENT MAXWELL GIVES
PRACTICAL ADVICE TO PARENTS.

In the discussion of home study public
school children. with the pros on the side Of the
educators and the cons all the side of the
parents. it would appear that perhaps the physical
strain which is complained of may not he alto
gether the fault of tire teachers who are endeav-
oring to the best of their ability work out the
educational system.
That American parents are prone push their
children in school is heard from many sides, and
here is William II Maxwell the superintendent Of
schools who the fathers and mothers
against urging their children to extra efforts to
obtain promotion. AS the head of the school sys-
tenn he outlines certain regulations for home study
which. being carried by the teacher, leaves no
room for injury to the pupil, unless-and here the
American parent should take heed-unless there
are late hours. social diversions and lack Of at
tention the general health. Il seems almost
fatuous to tell the average intelligent parent that
the boy girl who is in school must go to bed
early, and not he allowed to study before break
fast, but If these common sense rules were more
strictly followed it is claimed that there would he
less Of those overwrought children for whose con-
ditlon home study is said to be the cause
Mr. Maxwell when seen yesterday practically
echoed the views of the other educators concern
ing home study and in advocating, or rather up
holding, it he also repeated his own expressions
as given from time 10 time in discourses TO the
teachers.
Home study he said. lis an important feat
ure of education. but it must be pursued accord
ing to certain rules. For instance. no home study
except spelling and supplementary reading should
be assigned to pupils in any primary grade and
even in the four lowest grammar grades other
work should exceed half hour period Prob
lens in arithmetic should be assigned for
home study III any primary grammar grade
Even pupils in the nigh school should not be re
quired u put in more than two hours out Of school
'Instructions this effect had issued TO al
the teachers and principals while | was IN bLQ4GH
Ign III order 10 prevent overWork among the pupllS
That the pupils might not he tempted TO nlsreP
home. ..,o,,.
afford material for the next DAYS lesson. ana
supplementary to classroom work. BY this mean
dealing with the matter treated in previous les
son. As Il rule. however. home lessons should he
supplementary rather than preparaIory II ,6 JHS
eaten some Of her own Interest and entnuSIaSm ~
10 take sorle troIbe in mastering those details
clearness 10 their knowledge Any one who eX-
poets children 10 master with ANY earnesthtss ut
ing them TO make bricks without straw. and VIII
TO give dehniteness and also TO thrust the
lesson home into the memory. home Work s9ouId I
DEFINITE and most of all they should he within
the students ability to perform With an these
i, no reason why home study should tax the child
provided {h[ parent does ms paF Evidences Of
nervousness or irritabIlity should ne repoIied al
encoura cement are a constant need Of the child
"Chiren should spend not less than TWO h hCuTT5S
take part IN games that require skill ana actlvtE
They should spend AT least twenty minutes t'rIE
day in practising home the gymnaStl. eNeteiscs
they learn At school They should sleep lot le-7
than nine or ten hours out of every t~enty-foEr-
Charles C. birmingham president Of the Board
OF Education said.
Il am not an educational expert but consider
some home study necessary and valuable. thihK
children should he taught how 70 study, and FOR
that reason there ought TO be IN all schools study
periods The school hours should not be taken up
wholly with recitatons. hut should allow intervals
when children might prepare lessons under
trained teacher. Then hey can learn how 10
study.
IF there IS "a constant pouring in Of knowledge
by the teacher the child never learns Conccntra-
tion power OF thinking
Il DO think that young children should Dc
required study a. home. AFTER sChool they
should play and then 70 bed carly. When / see
children going home with enormous bundles 81
books I think there must be something wrong
with the schools The thing needed Is =
teach children To- think. 10 use their own minds
as 50 best for children TO enter regular school
Al six years 81 age BY an means You can OBJ
serve this from m" way the children I'M the most
crowded districts develop