New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-27
! STRESS ON THREE RS"
Bronr Men Prefer These to Basket
Wearing for Children.


The course Of study in the public schools is the
subject Of widespread discussion in the borough OF
The Bronx at this time Albert E DAVIS presl-
dent OF the North Side Board OF Trade IN me- an
n,,al address recommended eliminating special and
non-essential features abOiishing educatonaI &c
c.ntr,ci;ies and leaving basket work weaving end
the Ike 10 the Herni-civilzed, 10 whom such &C
coulplishrnents OF practical value no eOH.se
OF study should be continued SAID ne winch
does not teach thoroughly the rudiments OF & sood
common scboo. notwithstanding writing. spell
ing grammar arithmetic, history and geography.
More common sense and less nonsense IS tne neeE
O, tho hour In educational administration
Numerous EXPRESSIONS OF approval foIoNeo the
-,,tri,s-,o, of This address and the Committee on
T-svcstion William stebbns Smith. former schoo!
Commissioner; George ". BIRD, OF Inc btoAh
Business Institute. and John c. NaI"orlh' OF
Ualworths Institute, took Up the question: ~ 'l0
regular meeting Of the North Side Board or Iraue
LAST Wednesday evening there was an animated
discussion on the subject which came near oecoin-
Ing an indignation meeting. as MEMBER ''I.sF 'l''
her expressed his personal experience el'He' WI
his own children public school graduates IN ii'0
employ all developing remarkable unailiHI'y
Architects educators. lawyers. doctors oroNe'S'
builders publishers plumbers. merchants ana man
rractarers were present-a thoroughly representa-
tive gathering. All protested against the mcgee.
OK what each regarded as the rudimehls OF II" fOOu
common school education. the three KS
John C. WaIworth said that OF the public schooi
graduates who applied for admission 10 ms l"s''-
mar dclClent IN bhe44lIlb anu
,r,Dosiou and hadn't the reyuotest idea OF punct-
,,.tfo, Samuel Marx said applicants for places In
his store were lacking in knowlege OF spelling writ
ing and arithmetic. Gerald Chaplin, related lu-
5icrols examples Of bad spelling under his ooserva-
zion and President Davis. Jonas a Rossulan Or
Iucius W How. Hermann c. Friedman and Fred
erlcl, " Hot;enroth spoke along similar lines and
a resolution was adopted strongly urging the COM
mittee on education 10 make thorough inVestga-
ton of the course OF study and report at an early
date On the subject
The following correspondence has passed be-
tween Albert T. Davis and Thomas S. O'Brien.
Associate city Superintendent OF Schools regard
ing the course Of study in the schools:
Albert Z Davis. Esq, President. North Side Board
Dear Sir: an in receipt o: a copy. Of your ad.
dress at the meeting OF the North Slae boaIo o.
with care and interest and have to thank you for
c cor ~ study and other school matters.
About four thousand children were taken on part
month nom There are coparativeiy few Bronx children
on part time NJ present and these chiIdTen are az
f5il tine FOR children Of tender years.
II is difficult TO secure unsnrlty OF sentiment
20 what constitutes educational ecCertrclucs. II Is
o az wR R Srs tb s essentials o course o study
fo- elementary school pupils Horace Greeley would
rule out spelling; being himself poor speI,er, Inc
typewriter Is driving penmanship INTO lost art
NE knew little or nothing about grammar. AS FOR
history and geography there IS wide divergence OF
'Eil-iel -A~-I t-lo N-~SN'4- INV --Nt 9--N1-" -
] should be glad 20 hear from you at any tine
upon these questions Thanking you for your
courtesy, I am. THOMAS s. O'BRlEN.
Associate City Superintendent
March y 1904
Thomas s o'Bren. Associate City superintendent.
Sir. Your favor Of the 2s'h is before me- and
thank you for the opportunity OF addressing you
upon the question OF the course Of study IN the pub
lie schools. Upon one point we all asTee-tEe chli-
drcn II NeU-York City entitled 70 the best Oh
tainabIe euca ton. But your letter indicates that
you DO deem spelling. writing grammar, his
Tor the children OF to-day. and Il IS here that our
views GIycrge.
when YOU cited Horace Greeley IN your support
YOU must have had IN mind his handwriting, fof
hc. and his biogra9Eers tell that he was csI"-
ciaIlv clever spelling lnEorscl saws he was
proficient IN reading arithmetic and grammar, IN
addition 90 his uncquailed proficiency as spcll"r,
and he acquired the knowledge or geography al an
unusually early age" The great journalist began
IFS career as n printer vocation n which CORE Q
spelling. punctuation nni grammar are essential
prodciercy in these points. for mistake ore more
ro-icea bic than iu Handwriting Beside is g. not
bad form 90 conduct personal correspondence
through such a MEDIUM or the bulk Of the Iopl-
'9tf- r.v- ma rr, own ard can use a fyr-svg-tc-7
T. seems that q the great captains OF IN
du~t-v and Tho merchant princes OF our day. tH'se
who know utt.e or nothing about grammar are the
exception rather than the rule.
Concerning history and geography, on two points
a least there need he wide divergence or o0in-
'1u-the need Of a thorough knowledge Of at least
The history of our country and the geography OK
the word Of to-day.
II Is the studies referred 20 that and those for
whom 7 speak deem essential. and VIC md a very
strong public sentiment supporting US And as u
ask Won with an the earucstucss born ot convc-
ton % their necessity and q the vital pubic Inn
former position OF importance in the curriculum
ALBERT !. DAVIS.