New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-30
"FRlLLS AND FADS" GO.
Mr.. STERN WINS FIGHT.
Board of Education Votes Shorter
Hours for First Year.

School Commissioner Abraham Stern won a
victory yesterday and "frills and fads' were
defeated.
The board voted to shorten the hours of study
for the pupils in the first year of the elementary
schools. and decided to change the course of
study in that year so to abolish so-called
mon essentials
The resolution adopted by a vote of % to IL
shortens the hours Of study from five hours to
three and a half
The teaching of sewing physical training. or
ganized games. physiology. hygiene and draw
ing will be eliminated. This resolution also
provides that in non-congested districts the
teachers who have beer in charge of the classes
abolished shall be assigned 10 clerical work
Commissioner Stern for a long time has op-
posed Superintendent Maxwell While the for
mer's victory yesterday only affects the pupils
Of the first year. IL is beeyed that it viii act as
jects in higher classes.
Some time ago special committee was ap-
pointed to consider a revision in the course of
study. Commissioner Stern, in his minority re-
port, favored doing away with the teaching of
'frills and fads' in the elementary schools, AMI
giving such pupils three and half hours Of
instruction in essential studies. He argued that
the presen. overcrowde1 conditions in many of
the schools would thus be relieved He was
alone IN this report, the rest of the cornmittea
supporting DR.. Maxwell's opposition to the plan
DR. Maxwell argued yesterday that the eff
feet Of these changes would be TO make the
part time day, only local universal He
added: THE aims of our school should be to
produce all around men and women whose
minds work logically. whose lips speak truly,
whose eyes see accurately, whose hands exc
cute with skill and whose hearts are filed with
love for their fellow creatures. For these rea-
sons let us preserve the school day as it has
come down to us through three thousand years"
Commissioner Adams. in support of Commits
sioner Stern, stated that in his opinion the
present school system in this city was not so
good to-day as It was ten years ago. Only
a short time ago. he said. "I was directed by
a concern with which am connected to secure
the services of two young men as clerks
There were about 100 applicants for these POSI-
ttons. The greater portion of them were from
the public schools of this city. You ought to
see the letters they wrote! They were abso-
lutely disgraceful The spelling was bad. and
the writing itself was worse
Commissioner LummiR did not believe that
the schools of this city should be turned into
nurseries for parents Three and a half hours
is plenty of time for the children to be in school,
he declared.
Commissioners Wngate. Babbott Barrett,
Field and Green spoke against Mr.. Stern.
The changes VIII not go into effect before
September ]. While the resolution called on the
Board of Superintendents to recommend the
changes, there is some question whether il will
do so. The charter provides that changes in the
course of study shall be recommended by this
body. 1t is likely however, that in this respect
the Board of Superintendents will cooperate
with the Board of Education