New-York tribune., 1903-06-28
P4SS4IC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Declarations That 1t Is the Best an
the World IndOrsed.

Passaic, y. J. June 2T.-When Earl Barnes,
of Philadelphia the well known educational
writer ami lecturer made the statement few
months ago that in Passaic found the best
public school system in the world, il seemed to
many like eXaggeration. Since that time
however. other prominent educators have in
dorsed Mr. Barnes's opinion. and the people of
Passaic are beginning TO appreciate what is
being done for their children by the Board of
Education.
The system is the result Of practical child
study and its application in the classroom. This
subject, which few years ago was popular
fad among educators has now been dropped
in the majority of public schools; but in Pas
sale II has been reduced 10 a practical working
basis. and the results of which educators were
won't to dream have been attained in the class
room. All this has come about through the
efforts Of DR.. Frank Z. Spaulding. the City Su-
perintendent Of Schools. His teachers and prin-
cipals have been selected with great care. and
they devote a great deal of time outside of
school hours to their work. There is a saying
among teachers familiar with the work here
that year in the Passaic schools is worth
three years in a normal school The knowledge
Of this in other places has caused during the
last few years a great demand for Passalc
teachers. which this year has resulted in nearly
one-fourth of the teaching force of the city
The methods which have attracted the most
attention are those used in arithmetic and read
ing through which wonderful results have been
obtained. The work done in arithmetic has been
the wonder and admiration of all who have seen
it 1t teaches the child to read" numbers as
he would read words, taking combinations OF
three and four figures and giving the results
instantly. BY the same method fractions are
instantly changed to decinals and vice versa.
The results in reading, geography and other
subjects are equally surprising to familiar
only with the old methods. A number Of teacn-
ers and expert accountants have visited the
schools during the year to witness the arith-
rnetic work and none have been able to keep
up with the children of eight and nine years
in the sight reading Of numbers, or rapid fire
work as il is called
Among the recent visitors to the schools, at
tracted by reports of the work being done mere
was DR.. Albert Leonard Editor of The Jour
nal of Pedagogy and late president OF the Mich
igan normal school system his words OF com.
mendation were no less strong than those OF
Earl Barnes This has been my ideal for
years he said. but had not dared cream IhaI
il could be accomplished"
\ few weeks ago exhibit of work done by
,,,7-7i1s of The various schools of the city dur
ine the last year was held in the City Hall
This was visited by a large number of parents
and by teachers from all parts Of the state. 80
impressed was Superintendent L. Mackey. OF
Trenton. with what he saw here that he brought
twenty of his principals and teachers mere 10
spend a day in the schools AS q result OF TINS
visit 2 number Of the methods in here will
be adopted in the Trenton schools
In addition TO the weekly meetings or the
teachers for the study of methods and psy-
cbolngv monthly meetings are held at which
Taapers are read practica} child study Sew
eral of these meetings have been attended dur
Inr the last wear by well known educators from
other rlac ces In response the request of a
number of these men that the matter presented
each month at these meetings he put IN suitable
form 10 he given TO the teaching profession and
preserved DR.. Spaulding has undertaken me
publication of a quarterly magazine in which
an these pa pers will be collected. The puhlica-
+ion viii be known a THE Individual Child and
His Education and the first number will ap-
pear early in July.