New-York tribune., 1903-01-14
TE4tHEPS md MOTHERS
PuJfc School Principals Talk. on
Parents Influence.

-7 5or-- advocate the introduction OF any cut
and dri.-d clubs into school work. said Dr.
Boyer. principal OF Public School No. s.. Anster-
Gsr-are ana Seven3y-sevenJh-st-. in his address
before the conference called by the New-York City
Mothers Club 81 the Tuxedo yesterday afternoon
- consider the visibility Of parent-teacher meet
ineS in the public schools. As matter OF fact.
hold mothers meetings every day Of my life
dozens Of them
Tt sounds very fire 70 take this subject up in
svste-nafic manner. only il cannot be worked out
rhar z-ay. lJ might be all very well under the old
regime when every child was supposed to be cut
on the same bias pattern; even geniuses had 10
conform % the general dead level. and pass
erninztions' that depended much On the state Of
the xaminer's digestion es the pupils mental
cs1ibre But with the enlightenment that years
bring 7 have about come TO the conclusion that
the less system the less rote and rule and cut
and d-fe5ness and pedagogy We have the better.
The lax Of love is the only law that works with
81 classes and conditions. at all times under all
circumstances. Let mothers come when they feel
IKE IL Let teachers visit when they feel ike It
And above all don't let US try to polish rough
diamonds into pearls or rubies- Let US have the
utmost freedom, and, above ali. love that casts out
fear
Mis- Richmond. ot Public School No -. First
ave and Eigfty-f7ftl-st-. who was introduced by
Mrs FFsr-v Hastings as gem among educators.
protested that the gem felt far from brilliant at
such an hour after "a hard days work
81 too find she said that the problem OF dis
mothers q cur children have become our friends.
ro-vorkers with the one common object-the vel
fare of the child"
Miss Richmond however. has found regular
n1orthv meetings in which the principals, teach
ers children and mothers all participated the most
conducive 10 good Such meetings have been car
-ed on under her guidance for the past eight years
Everything from changes in school administration
and curriculum 70 the ventilation Of the chhdrens
sIeering rooras has been discussed, one result OF
-fe latter being that the 'parlOr IN q NUMBER OF
small dark in the neighborhooo has been con
Eerted into 4 bedroom -
or Nellie sleeps in room without WINDOWS, saId
Miss Richmond. But teachers who have 10
work half the time on the frayed edges OF worn
out nerves what II means 70 inspire any n
fzreSr IN TChnuie's mind when his eyes are dllii
MS lir1s coIorIess and his cheeks chalky as he
makes his appearance at 3 O CLOCK ana We are Iie-
r. rS-Ilr-rfl7si of public School No. q east
Eorv-second-stD thought that the school should De
regarded the enlargement OF the nome I1Is -
exrerienCe with mothers meetings was mos IL
crira-ine Parents liked meet the teachers, and
-f1r-7ed out 80 strong at his last lnVltauon Ut
F2-UneuthaI urged Informal talks on Ilys5eHt q
s71rb Meetings as most mothers he found, We're
vvofr71Iv ignorant on such subjects. He thoignt
NE ideal would be standing mothers orgahlza-
Sr.Is W-iiIfs1ns Of public School No. % west
ze15v-eigl2tE-st.l. thought that private PeEsoLlL
ro1flrences between teacher and parent were more
NJ +--irr.er OF Primary School No ! (Henry
eDG oliver Etsl. spoke of the pubic school as LIe
oe illustration Of real social democracy. ana con
sidered the informal meeting Of al parels ~
their rl7:Ifrens chers means OF tloerai eu4C0
Clre7sr r5yiucirals and number Of teachers also
e-0Le m -le subject. the Concuf 7nce OF olIlLoll
tz-r s7at closer and intimate ScqIa1ntaI
-eruee- ra-erts and teachers worked ai'Aes i't
~ zood of rhe children concerned