New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-15
PUP1-a SCHOOLS CRITICISED.
Women Of Brooklyn Find Much to Condemn
in Present System

According to the Wornen's Health Protective
Association of Brooklyn. which has a member
ship $50 the public schools of that borough are
a magnificent Juggernaut" 10 whom yearly the
children Of the municipality sacrificed The
association has been making an extended inFestiSa-
ton Of the schools and has little 10 say in their
praise. They have been found wanting in both
sanitary and educational conditions At recent
meeting of the Health Protective Association. q
report this subject presented by Mrs. James
Hart reused so much interest and concern for tho
welfare OF the children that 1t proposed TO send
the report TO the Board OF Education But the
prospect OF polite piGeonholng caused this plan
to be abandoned. and instead committee was APP
pointed 10 continue tho investigation and agitate
the matter. The report of this committee. com
posed OF Mrs. James NJ Hart, Mrs A j Perry.
Mrs. Jere Johnson. Mrs. A. t. Frazer and Mrs
James McKeen. has just been presented and is
even more strongly wOrded han the first one. II
reads follows:
and report the public schools of Brooklyn beg to
eighteen months ago there was reported from your
association to the building and repairs committee OF
primary department 81 School No q was In an un
brick built close against the schoohouse and under
the windows OF a recitation room The Board OF
that several cases Of sickness among the teachers
one death probably resulted from it, In Consequence
OF your representations the toilet house was closed
day to this through the and storms OF all last
ter tbe az W re s~ 6 81 this toilet
have been obliged TO travel outside the school
yard Of the larger BOYS md the necessary accom-
mGdat5n This i only one eSampe Of many that
Your committee mas visited A number Of other
Of the primary schools in this city that in most OF
is impossible. We are told the fundamental need OF
proper caretakers IN each OF these toilet buildings
cannot be supplied because 81 the expense We
wish 70 put on record that. in the opinion ~ your
OF the educational funds would show ample means
The present Board OF Education seems to have
taken It model the New-England village school
schools and depend on them FOR education. In a
large city with us manifold conditions OF p9puta-
the education of the poor. Numerous endowed
well To do, and the rich have their own schools,
which provide unlimited ADVANTAGES ,,-,,
idea or find It impracticable here. At pres
ent when more children than ever before are run
ming streets unable to md places In our primary
schools, II seems TO your committee time to matt
IN providing luxurious accommodations for the well
To- do and to cease teaching the arts ana aeon
pshments until we shall be able TO provide the ee
either get II from MS live without it.
ownership Of public utilities there seems no more
reason why We should supply schools 10 the Wen
~ it is the part of a wise self-protection 10 insist
zcnship shall be given facilities for learning its
duties. As il now stands. even for those VINO
enter the education given Is Inefficient and un-
satisfactory. Your committee has questioned a
hundred and nfty or those VINO nave enjoyed the
finding any with distinct idea OF what State is
we're Si freqacny P told that Albany or PhSdeph
was one OF tie States OF me Lhioni We f Low
who Washington was. They all responded win
vivacity the Affirmative and said that he was a
great man but noae knew anything he had done.
One child said with great tP' eRSected
than this when from orty-fve to sixty or seventy
care Of single teacher Your committee met
bright young girl Of good family and edncah0g
ages ranged from eight TO ten years 80 a.
followers for any INSCRIPTIONS boss and constitute
danger to our republican institutions. ,ta
are required OF each child. Every writer on educa-
ton from GoHs TO I" vSpGF ehIdren few sub
jects until by repetition they gain such familiarity
Jet Of thinking in their own minds. Herbert
ndred by an excess of i'll digested information
dren ianguish under burden of III digested in
Among these twelve studies we find various arts
and accomplishments which in the pressure e1 OF 80
many requirements rather diSSlpatt than educlts
We s.The adverse criticism in relation to the
method which he condemns In music Mrs. James
from the local school board in the Twenty-eighth
D ad Te n monthly eSRfersnces body Of
the regular teachers who in turn are required re
pa tter ITEM Of EXPENSE seems TO your committee
70 no properIy condemned During the last few
years there has been required such a multiplied
ton of reports from the teachers that clerks have
been hired in many OF the larger schools for the
express purpose Of compiling and sending In such
reports Each of the members of the local boards
has received pounds OF such reports since
September !. l90Si
In the matter OF inspectors, your committee
would suggest a possible retrenchment OF expense.
principal OF superior intelligence stated at a
public dinner that six different inspectors called 20
see blackboard before il possible for her 70
have a few necessary lines drawn upon It. And
no ono can have any business with any department
Of public schools without experiencing like de-
lay and superabundance OF inspection. such as
would not be tolerated In any business esta bsh-
ment
II is the opinion of your committee that the main
evils OF the present system Of educatio in our
borough result from the great Capitalization OF
power and administrative function. The local
boards should have authority 10 Initiate
pairs within certain defined limits. Is possible in
local Improvement matters Also. there should be
some elasticity of adaptation OF each school 10 the
needs children. II Is manifest that a school
up children from certain districts not
demand the same courses Of study those coming
from tenement house districts where the majority
Of the parents foreigners 1t Is possible. owing
to this rgidity Of system, that many Of citizens
beginning TO look upon great system OF
public schools magnificent Juggernaut 20
whom yearly children sacrificed.
FIT FOR THE HEATHEN
Mr. stubbs-Yes, that Mrs Richrocks attended