New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-08
NO OVERTIME STUDY
MOTHERS THINK SCHOOL CURRICULUM
NEEDS TO BE CHANGED-TOO MUCH
WORK FOR YOUNGSTERS

Z think there should be a law passed prohibiting
home study for children" said Mrs Mary D.
Chambers al the Brooklyn Institute yesterday
And II we cant have that I think the parents
should rise IN body and make q protest that
would force school boards 10 DO away with the
practice"
It was the first meeting OF the extension class Of
the domestic science department OF the institute
and the programme took the form Of questions
and answers and Informal discussion The latter.
as was natural in q meeting Of mothers. turned
on the food and digestion Of children. and from
that got around to the schools
Teachers have told me-" continued Mrs. Cham
bers. that they felt like executoners as they saw
The children come in from the country in the fall
tresh rosy and robust, and watched them fading
oay by day, growing pale istless and dull They
san see difference in their vitality between morn
ng and neon. and again between noon and the end
OF the session. The bad air. the restriction in
freedom q motion and the nervous. strain over
their studies. combine to sap their vitality. and
then al the close they leave with two hours OF
evening study ahead Of them"
I've beer in and about public schools a good
zeal in my llle" said one Of the audience. land /
know there are some teachers there who have no
business 10 be. They get in nv political pull"
ITS entirely unjust 10 blame the teachers -
spoke Up motheTy looking little woman they
are the victims OF q system Just the same as ne
ere. They have got TO keep their classes I'D 10
grade or leave"
The public school teachers are fine body Of
women said Mrs. Chambers ard the standard
rs rising all the time. The examinations grow
would be complete change IN curriculum The
young o. no other species does any sor, OF labor
before maturity. Even the young Of our domestic
la5orins animals are free the air until fully
developed. Ne DO not realize what strain is laid
upon our children"
And yet some parents want their children 70
study al home" said some one. They think they
are wasting their time II they DO not"
No child should 90 10 school before il Is nine
sears OLD" said AIRS Chambers.
What about kindergarten ?" asked some one
oh Kindergarten isn't school" replied Mrs
Chambers. kindergarten never hurt a child, unless
there was TOO much fine eye work"
Then you think child should 90 to kindergarten
and Their be kept al home until he is nine years
a." Inquired listener
There should be q new system bridging the
eiasn between the kindergarten and regular
school" said Mrs. Chambers something carrying
o. the kindergarten methods into more advanced
manual work and nature study and a little grad
IT our elementary grades" said Mrs. John Ken
partment of the institute would only take les
son from the vacation schools The children love
Al one time" SAID refined looking woman Il
~ -,l+tl - -, - rctli b-,,,sss T5,it
somehow paralyzlus influence seemed 10 creep
rn.t5e rI,rrer ef ne I9csI School comnttee
present, they do not dare venture criticism.
They were surrounded. submerged IN the profess
sonal and official atmosphere"
We'll. the Kindergarten principle is all right
said a young mother. but ! wouldn't care TO have
my baby 90 TO public kindergarten. In the little
private where he goes he IL treated like
baby. Re isn't over-stlmUla ted, so for him at
noon and he plays all the way home. Just as II he
nad been home all day. But In public kinder
sarten. with sixty children in room. and the bad
air and the teachers-oh. know how tired they
get-no ] couldn't have him go there
y often think that about our big school out al
jamaica said another. so many children IN
one little and one poor woman 70 look after
Them ala"
AND yet" said Mrs. Chambers. Its palace TO
some children A friend Of mine taught public kim
oergarfen n tenement house region One tiny girl
came who absolutely refused 10 join the games.
but entirely happy II allowed 10 take her
little chair 10 one side and sit and gaze her I'LL.
My friend al last drew from her the reason why
she would not play She liked TO look around.
hhe said. cause there was so much room The
teacher visited The home and found twelve people
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