New-York tribune., 1904-10-26
COLUMBIA MANS VIEWS.

The recent discussion in The New-York Tribune
OF the curriculum OF the girls high schools OF
New-York City has interested very much be-
cause forcibly brought TO tho attention OF
the .arents what have always considered to be
two serious defects in the New-York City system
OF secondary education for girls, one defect being
in the system Of mental education and one IN the
system Of physical education
One OF the fundamental problems OF adnninistra-
ton with which every executive has TO deal is the
problem OF so guiding and controlling the tndivid-
ual ardor and enthusiasm OF his subordinatos
that these officials may not in their conscientious
endeavors 10 secure the welfare and success OF
their branch OF the work seriously inJure or de-
stroy the administrative whole An interesting e1-
ample Of this danger occurred in the United States
Postofice Department recently. The chief OF thS
money order division, IN order 70 increase the
business of his division caused circulars 10 be
distributed calling attention TO the fact that the
money order system furnished the only safe means
for the transmission Of money in the mails and
that the registry system by means re-
liable. The chief Of the registry division. on the
other hand. issued circulars extolling the merits
Of his system and calling attention 70 the many
technicaIties OF the money order system which
made II an extremely undesirable medium for the
transmission Of money. The result Of this inter
necine warfare was that the public began 70 doubt
the safety both OF the money order system and
Of the registry system. and the receipts OF the
Postohice Department began 10 fall of. Only the
Ing this dangerous Of his subordates prevent
ed the permanent impairment Of these two branches
Of the postal service
The situation IL the girls high schools Of New
York City Is, in my judgment entirely analogous.
The departmental system OF instruction Is IN force
in these institutions and by this system OK tnstrUc-
ton each subject is taught by different teacher.
Each Of these departmental teachers. from wholly
IaudabIs desire have the work Of her department
perfect crowds work upon her pupils. The mathe-
ha-h zr,phO Of gcfR
knowing well that facility in the solution OF math-
ernaticaI problems can be obtained only by the
actual solving OF such problems by the pupns, as
signs twenty or thirty problems for home work.
entirely ignorant forgetful OF the fact that the
Latin teacher the same day and for the same
reason has assigned long exercise In prose COM
position the German and French teachers each
a long exercise in translation. the English teacher
a theme OF several hundred words. and so forth.
Ought we not pause inquire at this point whether
the individual zeal OF the departmental teacher is
not inturing rather than benehtting the cause OF
secondary edGcation for girls?
In the elementary schools there many rsa-
sons why the danger OF overworktng the girls Is
less great In the first place much OF the instruc
ton in the elementary schools is impaired by class
teachers rather than by departmental teachers and
when all home work IS assigned by one
woman she Is better able to judge how much work
can safely be done by q girl Ia the afternoon and
evening then when several departmental teachers.
,enorant OF the demands OF their colleagues at
tend 10 the assignment OF home work Secondly.
the work OF the elementary schools is generally
~ such e character that parents able
70 assist their daughters with their work in
evenings, while the high school work IS generally
such as 10 require the individual enort OF the pupil
herself else relates TO subject with which the
parents are unfortunately not acquainted Thirdly,
Tbe elementary school girl being young and full
~ the play instinct reluctantly devotes her home
tasks the hours which her parents compel
ber 10 spend this manner. and then she goes of
- ,,lay II her class teacher unconsclouSy
sIerT 100 much home Work. the result will simply
bS fhat the work is not prepared. When a girl
1sacTgs the high school age. however she arrives
a. an age when she lrst feels a sense Of respon-
sjh5Iifv All school tasks that are assigned are
Terforned the best OF her strength and ability.
- any failure in class ability maintain
the same standard some classmate better
Sovvsd by natural gifts becomes a little tragedy
a. me life Of nigh school girl which II is difficult
for the mature man or woman fully 10 comprehend.
- dually, while the elementary school girl has
a large force OF reserve energy which may be
drawn upon II necessary in the preparation Of her
S1Tna work, must never lose sight OF the fact
Thai the high school girl is always severely handi
can-ed BY the demands which nature makes upon
every girl during the adolescent period OF life.
Anv oVertaLation. AZ this period physicians as
snre u. may cause Tia high school g1El not only