New-York tribune., 1906-09-16
NOT EMPTY BOASTS.

..tyov vo,, like 10 boast!' said the sociologist
AN New Workers. I believe. have the oreg
habit"
Coming from O Bostonian." was the reply
athe criticism. OF course. carries particular
weight. but do not regard these comparisons as
boasts They are mere facts mere statistics
7 would like TO introduce you to all the
teachers Of No. lss" said NJ. Mandel. turning
into another hallway. but there won't be I@nle, @
] fear There are il5 teachers an told' me-
the principal stopped down TO pick up Zoos; =;
peucil and pad which some careless pupii @ Ilao
dropped Ii caught the attention OF tne NIM Io
York visitor, and. with twinkle OF 'he eye "o
that's right. Be economical. The city needs
every pencil It's school children last year useu
nm only two million Of them, and books, TOO
ast wears biu for textbooks. tho biggest item
of all I'm fits educational ledger dHlouii'SN ~
S717,000. .,-.,.- ,s.,., -, n,ey,
York children last year 10 half fiji the largeSt
library in the world. the Bibliotheque National
Of Paris. which contains 26OO'O0O No.ulles- mes. o..
.Fut OF course, New York doesn't spend as
much money for schools as London said the
writer. -. .,,,,o,, nc >yo,,
York for education. Even London takes second
ranlz +" was the response. With 100000 more
inha bitants London apprOpriates several million
dollars less a year for schools than we 40; IN
1e00 that city spent for 800 900 pupils S16,98S,OOO.
or a little more than two-thirds New horK
appropriation for an enrolment OF $4,000.
MlnQei
close nv leading the visitors into another class
room This is the foreign class OF boys ne
explained Here we take them almost out OF
the steamships When we have sifted this class
thoroughly we will leave not one who can speak
the English language" -,
AS n happened the teacher had just asked all
those who could speak English TO stand up
Only two rose TO their feet. one, bright eyed
black haired lad OF fourteen, said he had Just
arrived from Jerusalem; but that he had stuoled
English there in institution called the Zlonlst
Normal Polytechnic kindergarten College. He
said he could also speak German. Hebrew span
fish and Arabic.
I'm willing 20 bet that your Massachusetts
school never enrolled such linguist." Whispered
the New Yorker TO his companion. The second
pupil said he had picked up enough English 70
understand most Americans, because or haVlnB
lived two months I'm London. He was a Jew
bOy also and was born in Russia. Nothing the
matter with him. either" said the sociologistS
friend so loud that the boy himself heard and
bowed his head modestly.
The two lads were told that they would ne as
signed 10 other classes and then the lesson pro-
ceeded. The teacher was endeavortng 20 make
her pupils understand the words "Open' and
shut" She would go 20 the door and, swing
ing II back say, 7 open the door" Closing II
she would say. II shut the door" Then retreat
ing 20 her chair she would point 20 some pupil
and give the command: You open the door
This done. she would address another boy with.
you shut the door"
After the class had apparently caught the
meaning Of the new words. the teacher put II 20
another test. Nodding 10 a little Hungarian.
and closing the door az the same time. she
lad showed that he had already imbibed A little
English from his East Side playmates, for he
shouted at the top Of his voice, You shut up-
You shut NJ"