Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-18
ITS INFLUENCE ON SCHOOLS
COMMENT UPON WORK
MOTHERS CONGRESS.
Welfare of the Child Paramount.
Public and Private Institu-
tons of Learning.

regarding the work spf the mothers con-
gress and the influence of the organlza-
ton upon the public schools Mr.. Horace
Holden of White Plains. n. Y, all inter
ested spectator at several of he sessions
of the congress. had this to say:
THE excellent reports that I--e Star
has given of the proceedings Of the
congress for the welfare of the child,
held in Washington. without doubt have
raised unusual intehest in the progress
of the fathers and mothers of the next
generation. Our great American insti-
tuition, the public school. is not only full
filling it's Institutional function, but Is
becoming more widely educational in the
attention it is paying to the Improvement
of the social life and morals of the COM
munity.
THE attendance a: our public schools
is so vast when compared with that Of
our private institutions, that the interest
of the congress centered naturally in the
former; yet the private schools are not
without their sphere of usefulness and
influence upon Young America, and as
they draw their patronage from the first
families of the land they are entitled to
their share of representation. Cntortu-
nately the converting of the congress was
called to my notice at so late date that
was only able to attend few OF the
sessions, and my opportunity to speak OF
the work and influence of the private
schools, and especially of the boarding
schools of the east, which it was my
purpose to represent, was limited.
Difference Noted.
1.-The boy at boarding school is vastly
different subject of psychological study
from the one who attends day schooi
and remains under the immediate infiu-
ence of the family. In the first place. he
has more regular life than the boy
who is subject to social demands at home.
and his hours of recitation. study ana
recreation are all arranged with the idea
of maximum mental and physical eXpan-
sion. In the second place. he has a, bet
ter chance for the development of char
acter than the boy who is held, as II
were tied to his mothers apron
strings.
Boarding schools do make mistake
in permitting certain indiscr!mlnate as
sociation between older and younger
bows, which now obtains in many of the
schools. despite their advertisements to
the contrary The interests of boys be-
yond puberty are so dtnerent from nose
of lads still in re-adolescent years that
both are injured by unrestrafned init
macy a boy of fourteen or fifteen Is
sent to the boarding school for the pur-
nose of a better training for and expert
ence preparatory to college life than nome
environment affords. The younger BOY
usually goes because he is an unsOlvab!e
nrohlem in the family. The school has TO
found him i'm elementary subjects or
study and nstill culture. obedience ana
self-responsibility as we'll. Inc older
bow with a character we'll formed beloIe
he leaves home, need suffer no contaml-
nation, but the temptations which beset
the Younger boy in his formative years
seven to conference.-the, for counter
action, infinitely greater attention ana
the administration of headmaster VINO
can truly stand in loco PARENTS.
Schools Numerous.
"Roarding schools are numerous in the
cast and one may be found to fit any
nurse and the requirements of any boy
above fourteen The need. however, of a
thoroughly satisfactory institution for the
Younger lad, although several schools
are directing their nobleSt and best efforts
i'm the direction of the junior departments.
Is most urgent. The virtues of intuition.
patience and 'mothering make women.
as rule the superior teacher for the
Younger boy: but l believe men are In
fintely better for the lad himself If those
can be found who combine the feminine
characteristics / name with masculine
authority aggressveness and ambition
.Discipline is the hardest problem OF
the private school. for the cooperation OF
narents is difficult to secure. The law OF
love is the only law for the proper control
of a Young lad yet my Interpretation OF
this law does not eliminate punishment
when it is deserved. and such punishment
as brings the clearest realization of cause
and effect to the eyes of the child. De-
ferred or accrued detentions and the I'M
position of extra translat1ons or mathe-
NAUTICAL solutions are inferior to summary,
impartial. temperate Justice. coupled with
all the time possible allowed in the open
air for the release of animal spirits,
which are certainly most natural 10 the
yOungSter.
Brief, But Thorough.