New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-17
TOO MUCH HOME STUDY.
Curriculum in Schools Great Burden to
Children. Say Mothers.

Tho subject Of homo study Is cropping Up on all
sides tbe present time and shows signs OF pass
ing beyond the stage OF mere discussion. IN which
1T has hitherto rested Many clubwomen are anx-
ious that the city federation should take 1t UP.
and an officer of that organization said last week
that she thought 1t would be appropriate sub
ject for the child labor committee
"I don't know any worse kind OF child labor"
she said, than that which goes In many Of our
public schools and think 1t IL time we tried to
find out where the trouble lies and how IL can be
righteG."
The Brooklyn Health Protective Association has
already taken measures to arouse public opinion
regarding this and other matters connected with
the public schools. and the Sociological Club OF
Mount Vernon has asked the New-York City
Teachers Association to send some one to talk to
It on the subject of home study. One Of the mem
bers Of the Sociological Club has written tho fol-
lowing letter to the chairman OF the committee
on children's interests of the city Teachers Asso-
citation regarding the experiences OF her own chill
dren:
had been since he was six years old. for the pub;
Would sHi take him. He graded high in the ward
school and had to use h tw Ssa 70
he spent there HIS reports were uniformly good.
f BS. ts the family iS' iss' IN the evenings
upset with the tremendous amount OF nome wora
under to accomplish the tasks given him FAR
as could, without arousing the animosity or MS
iess home work be given but in spite OF all
could do and apparently all the teachers coulu
do tho work continued to be very trying 70 eye
sight brain and nerves. so much so that when ne
finished his course he on the verge OF nervous
breakdown. Last September. at the age OF 1nIr-
teen and a half. he entered the high school When
seem to comprehend the work." was the burden OF
each report, supplemented by assurances that II
was not apparently through lack OF enors. ne
was greatly mortified. and struggled still harder
until Christmas little buoyed up by the 1act
that most of the other boys did as badly, IT NOT
certain subjects notably those which demand
reasoning power II, rather ean wso@ knew quite
we'll to have a heart-to-heart talk. ana tounu
that the only fault the teachers had Win nm
immature thinking. which simply mean NJ ma Ia
the work was beyond him. The teacher said tnat oy
next wear my would be one or their very pes-
students but this only made the detects OF the
system glartn6. A..
This conversation revealed n state of affairs that
ia heartbreaking and. have three girls, one OF
them launched already INTO q, ,h folinS felt that
something must be done had been thlnkins ZOE
some time OF writing to the Regents to tel them EN-
OF the methods employed in preparing chllaren ior
the Regents examinations, which subject them 20
so much unnecessary strain but had hesltatsu 20
tndividral teachers with all OF whom on the
best OF terms. But when these new reyeLauons
came 10 me I felt that must at least take some
the teacher accountable TO the Regents; his own
Board of Education. the taxpayers Vhuifec-ty
though this latter may 5e9 ana ma 10 ns sne ae e
twice over. and Is practically powerieSs IL IS the
parents who have all to gain and nothing 70 lose,
M1 p feelnes are shared by so many others
only needs intelligent direction TO take shape In
vigorous action IL YOU can ADVISE me wnaI sieps
rossible for us to cooperate with you IN your
work. I shall be very grateful