New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-26
MAXWELL BOOKS, 1882
REPORT MADE TO CIRCUIT.
Committee GiUes That Total for TsCo
Years-OppoSe Special Courses.


Of more money for textbooks by Superintendent
Maxwell Of the Schools Associate Superin-
tendent Walsh and the former associate super
intendent in charge of Brooklyn. Mr.. Ward. than
any others. An interview with DR.. Maxwell, by
the committee. Is given also. Mr.. Grout sent the
report to the Committee on Economy appointed
by the Board OF Education. and sent with 1t a
letter to F. n. Warburg, chairman OF the Com
mittee Of Five, in which he said that after some
more specific reports had been transmitted and
they had examined them, he would be ready for
any conference they might wish.
Referring to the courses Of study, they COM
ment thus:
There can be 10 knowledge, training or accom-
plshment, however desirable, OF snlncleht LeIauEe
Importance warrant its requirement In the pup
lie schools at the expense OF what Is ordinarily
isd to be- the primary OBJ
iect Of the public common school system.
They say extra and special branches have
found their way into the curriculum on the
ground that attendance at school 80 monopolizes
the pupils time that the special branches must
be taught him there If anywhere. They add;
It viii hardly be contended that pupils graduated
almost any other city are rs wen grounded ana
study as could well be desired, or the time and
money Ostensibly appropriated to that end would
There can be little hesitency in forming the opn-
not too much, perhaps but too many things, 10
permit their dong s9yh4s 5 5 TS 9s benee
Introduction OF this and that specially into me
s6oDfion I bv Other Cities.
While philosophizng about natural methods IN
teaching, we have brought about artificial condl-
tenn is ever more and more.
The investigators say It was hardly TO be ex-
pected New-York would long withstand the
temptation to make It's system second 10 none in
its provisions for whatever. is provided else
where. They declare:
sionsi educaors 70 What most layfne regard as
an oyerioadng OF the common sGnool sy5te5n; -
to sympajhlze with and even defend whatever the
educational associations OF the country may, for
the time. seem to approve, however unaovisedly.
They say so strong Is this influence of this
spirit Of conformity that open opposition on the
part OF q superintendent teacher might re-
suit in the loss Of his position.
Under a subhea6ing, "a Glance at the New
Course" MI Crosby and Mr.. Mcintyre say this
It needs but q cursory view Of the several
courses Of study prescribed for the New-fork CRY
elementary SCHOOLS TO raise tne query IN my IN
prejudiced mind as to whether II Is posSible for
ton OK such courses together with an Inspection Of
their accompanying syllabuses, viii lead 10 tho
conclusion that the ordinary child between the ages
Of six and fourteen years cannot begn to digest the
rgidly prescribed for him
The investigators then say that teachers IN
charge Of different branches OF the course for
the last five months regard II as too heavy and
impossible OF completion
They assert that, IN addition TO tho ordinary
common school branches which difficult.
the pupil IS required to attend through all the
grades upon instruction given In elaborate
courses OF study IN drawing, construction work.
sewing or cooking, and physical training and
hygiene, IN music. and. during the first Ave
years IN nature studies" FOR which special
teachers are provided.
The investigators declare that These pursuits
should be limited, Ito the time and opportunity
remaining after the pupil has first been afforded
ample time and provision for successful and
not too arduous prosecution Of the essential
branches" and they then declare:
Whatever may be the virtues OF hard work,
It Is not beneficial to young children. not any
more so IN schools than elsewhere"
The investigators continue:
The conclusion reems inevitable that a sound
the doing away n elementary Schools with 80 much
at least Of instruction IN special branches as may
time and opportunity for efficient prosecution Of tho
ordinary common school course of study.
Mr.. Crosby and Mr.. Mcintyre say that the
amount Of money saved would depend upon the
number Of teachers dispensed with and the cost
Of textbooks and other supplies formerly but no
longer required. and they say they believe a
large saving could be effected in this way with
out injury and with much positive needed I'M
provement TO the public school system They
declare they have reason to believe that a ma
tority OF principals and teachers would favor
some such change OF programme.
Going into figures. Mr.. Crosby and Mr.. Mcintyre
say that over 30 per cent OK tho total appro-
priation for supplies for all boroughs In 1902
was spent for textbooks, and that over a per
cent Of the appropriation for 1903 was so spent
The investigators state that prior to 1902 It
had been the practice IN preparing lists OF the
different text books TO be used IN the boroughs
TO make q separate list for each borough but
In February Of that year the Board OF Superin-
tendents passed a resolution requesting the
Board Of Education to adopt list Of text books
apparatus, etc. to be made up by the consollda-
ton OF the separate lists. Mr.. Crosby and Mr.
Mcintyre give the vote among the supernten-
dents showing that Mr.. Maxwell the City SUI
perintendent, and Mr.. Jasper voted against IT,
and they then say;
MIGHT SEEM HE WAS OPPOSED.
From the way in which Mr.. MAXWELL tho City
Superintendent Of Schools. voted the resolution
II might appear that ne was opposed TO the prac-
the bOroughs and yet, on the other hand, II would
also seem that had his opposition been as pro-
nounced as II may have been sincere his reputed
influence with the members OF the board might have
brought modification OF the resolution. eliminate
ing the objectionable practice He may, however
have voted he did for other reasons than that
The consolidated list OF books approved for USE
In all boroughs now contains quite a number OF
books the authors Of which ore understood to be
Education. u
The Investigators say the practice in this mat
ter Is one susceptible of almost unlimited ex
tension. and they then say: