New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-02
TOO MANY STUDIES.


There is no doubt in my mind of the existence Of
the evil of overstudy in many parts of our public
school system, especially in girls school and the
high schools. From my own experience and OBJ
servation 1 know that the amount of preparatory
study in those institutions averages between three
and four hours. including the thirty forty min
utes period allotted TO study during school hours
This is certainly too much. since it deprives the
children in large measure, Of the hours Of open
air recreation and exercise after school hours
which are so necessary to their healthy physical
development.
The causes of this growing evil many Chief
among them are the numerous subjects included in
the course of study and the introduction of the
departmental system of teaching in the last two
years in the elementary schools. While heartily
approve of the latter the best system OF in
struction. there is no doubt that it tends TO in
crease the chids home study. when used IN con-
junction with a crowded curriculum Under this
condition. each teacher in charge Of given sub
ject will naturally strive to make that one sub
ject pre-erninent in the pupils mind. With many
subjects to be covered in and out of school. and
the attendant lack of cooperation and correlation
the result must inevitably be increase in the
chiId's home burdens.
AS a remedy for the crowded condition Of the
courses 1 would suggest the following plan:
The reduction Of the curriculum at least in the
first six years of the course to the essentials Of
language numbers. history and geography. with
the simpler elements of form drawing. the addition
OF the more advanced elements of manual work
science technical music. etc. 10 be accomplished
bv suitable distribution the last two years
of the elementary course and the first two years
of the high school course The doubling of regis
ters in each school so that. nearly as the dis
trjbution Of school population will permit, each
building will have two sets Of pupils in two dis
tiuct groups each group being divided info Two
sessions Of one and half or two hours each the
same teachers to instruct both sets OF pupils, ms
pIan would require the majority Of principals and
teachers TO be on duty eight hours instead OF
seven as is nov the case $50 10 o3o,. 49,
am aware that A proposition To- simphiy ths
IN certain quarters But u IS becoming evident 70
ali who are CoN ersant with the situation tina even
with the addition II the eighth year 70 the eIe-
rnentsrv course the results obtained in tests OF
lions kinds are not commensurate with the time
end energy eYnended. Consider the results OF
tests in the essential subjects submitted 70 the
graduating classes last June. lhey We're lar from
Satisfactory Better results in similar tests were
obtained under the old seveE-Tear course Win a
simpler curriculum. What is the cause?
No one will maintain that 1t IS me tault Or the
is far more efficient and better equipped Tor Us
work to-day than il ever was Inc cause must ps
found in the large classes and IN the oNerourdehed
curriculum. ,. -. J..
the seven-year course but material cutting out OF
the time now devoted 10 the So-callei non
tials. Let not be misundTrstnod DO nu'
doubt the cultural value NJ studies In FORM col9i
techn. cal music and the manual aIts but condl-
ton not theory, Confronts us. snail We deprive
one hundred thousand children 81 tulI SchoollrS :"
q little knowledge Of those arts which Waen az
80 haan said are not the essential foundations OF
a. elementary sNnool course -,.1-e -.9oeo
r,~ssida,- Ncawvorl< CITY Teachers Associat ton.
Pubic School No {. Eighty-hfth-st and Madison