New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-13
DEFECTIVE EDUCATION.
4. L. Steuens CriticiseS Present Dan
Public School Methods.

''Iliteracy in the State of New York" was the
subject announced for the monthly meeting OF the
woman's Republican Club, held yesterday MORN
ing al Demonico's. but the speaker Edward L.
stevens. Assistant Associate Superintendent Of
schools. swept # aside Of relatively little i'm
uortance in comparison with the defective educa-
tien - those who do succeed IN learning to read
and write.
'IIiteTacy IS only phase of large problem"
he said. and it seems to the least serious phase
Of that problem. Illlterates Will have relatively
little influence upon the social organism because
they VIII always follow. But those who receive
some education, and that OF the wrong kind. may
become leaders"
Mr. Stevens had many charges to bring against
tie educational system. and he pointed that the
problem had many ramifcations. Rural education.
for instance is bound UP with the question good
roads, improved agricultural methods by which the
farmer and his family freed from the handi-
cap Of poverty centralized authority in educational
matters, state aid To those who cannot get on with
out their children's labor, and on. lie said:
Many rural schools held during the most In
clement part OF the year and between the bad
roads and the weather the smaller children cannot
attend. From May 10 October the older boys can
not attend. because the fathers spare their
Eervtces The man who has taken a farm and
gives a mortgage in return must depend on the
labor Of his fifteen and twelve year old sons The
farmers wife must have the help OF her fourteen
yeGr-od daughter. We have the same problem in
the city Here IS case recently reported to me
The mother is dying. and there are four children
the eldest q girl OF twelve The father earns only
little q dollar a day. II we compel that
twelve ear-old girl go 10 school what is going
70 become OF the family? Another case is that Of
widow who scrubs offices and has an eleven-year-
old Who takes care of the younger children and
sells papers. What win the mother do IL deprived
OF his services? Perhaps one of these days the
viii be called upon 10 reimburse parents for
the loss Of their chdrens services There is an or
ganization IN Philadelphia which pays every widow
- whom the labor Of her children is indispen BILE
S week and know 10 better hed for practical
organized philanthropy.
RURAL EDUCATION.
To the management Of rural education Mr. Ste
vens considers the local powers cutie Inadequate
He used 20 believe more in local government than
he does now. lie admitted and when it comes TO
rural education he has doubt whatever about
the value of centralized authority.
takes any interest III the schools beyond the mega
fssa 0I me taApaysr The school com
sL't year attached to the office, and who receives
or else ne is old man who wanted q 20 to the
Assembly or the Senate, and is Diacsted by being
me attendance officer IS person vino draws
trouole as possible for other people. I know Of
he lowest bidder WHO accepted It for $40 year
We need better supervision Of our country
Schools and there 5 10 reason why that sUper
vision should be entirely in the hands OF men, A
bill TO accomplish this purposS Is ,now being pre-
that Il Will provide fc~ bringing icJO service a
large number Of competent WCUeQ.
Mr.. Stevens also charged IEe RcaoGls WITH disrs-
gard}ng the natural iUcIuRtica5 ard sqtitudes Of
the children and with making = provision for
the atypiCal or exceptional child.
There S story ted" e ssd, 20: = Denver
boy who after leaving tae grammar school entered
the employ II = pluUkey. lie had been a Yrotege
os Judge L.njsaE, and Gay the Judge happened
meet him the and asked why he
dicrr SO TO nigh school and tTy get edu-
cation But Il do that Judge answered the boy,
how am % Se-,crne a plumbers helper?
That Is just the trouble with oar schools. How
IS The boy Who goes through Olc educational mill
10 become 4 plumbers helper? We taken
educational process originally intended for only
sIEal part Of the community. and putting
ali the children through il, thereby diverting them
from the fields OF activity for which they have nat
ural aptitude I indict tie high schools for d.
verting many from pursuits in which they would
have been happy and useful 70 those in which they
be neither. The immediate duty laid upon us
IS establish trade and technical schools, and 10
this have set my hand.
SIR. Stevens said that England, which IS far be-
hind this country IN it's system Of public education
S ten fifteen years ahead OF II n IT'S OF the
aJypical child.
III the absence or tie president. Mrs James @.
NentZ. Mrs William Cumming Story. the first vice
president, presided and was received with enthus-
asfic applause the new president or the CITY
Federation. The guests Of honor were MIS-, Ste
vens. Mrs. Frederick Nathan, recently elected hrst
vice president OF the city Federation: Mrs. Belle
de Rivera; honorary president and Mrs. Lille Dew
Ike