New-York tribune., 1910-04-03
600 Many Frilks 6au6bf
In Our Schools, Says Fox

I have no objection to the girls being
taught cooking and sewing, but not in the
hours when they should be learning TO
read and write. Even this nature business
would be all right outside OF school hours
If from TO the children Could DE taken
by the teachers over into the parks where
they could roll IN the grass and count the
grasssboppers' legs, that would be fine
thing and good for everybody. But I object
10 these trips being taken in the regular
school hours.
Did you hear" he asked suddenly, mis-
eyes beginning to twinkle, about one of
f2r special teachers OF carpentry, up
here"
No" / answered, expectantly.
well, you see he was one of those theo-
retical teachers, and everything was lovely
until one day he was asked TO put up
shelf-a piain ordinary, actual shelf-in the
principals room, and he couldn't do It.
He knew all about the theory Of It, but
when it came to doing business with
board and a saw and box of nails, he got
lost. They got some practical carpenters in
then to teach the boys.
And do you suppose continued Mr..
Fox, that the girls learn enough cooking
or sewing TO amount TO anything? Our
at public school, nor our grandmothers,
nor great Grandmothers, yet were here to
tell the tale. There are certain things that
should be taught in the home in schools
specially for that purpose; they have no
place in the public school. If the girls
were really taught anything as It is, there
would be some excuse for il, but | tell you
truly that to-day our children get only
smattering of a lot of things-it's a table
d'h6te bill of fare. only instead OF a little
soup. fish. etc, it's a little history. little
nature study. a bit OF sewing. "A dab OF
raffia work, a dash of French, German or
Spanish, a seasoning OF natural science.
and Heaven knows what else. and when
it's all over. what do they know? Can they
write a legible. concise business letter ask
ing for a situation? No. Can they speak
simple. correct English? They cannot.
Time has been frittered away. concentra-
ton destroyed. because like the grasshop-
per they are SO fond OF catching they skip
from one subject to another never light
ing anywhere lone enough TO know any
thing thoroughly"
But your resolution was killed" | in
terpolated mildly.
Yes" he answered. calmly. There are
five members of the board altogether; one
fourth, Mr.. Coakley, new member. didn't
vote al all. He is heartily in favor OF it,
only he wants 10 go even further lie
wanted me TO cut out music while we We're
about it. I couldn't do that-I like music
| / think 1t does the children and every body
else good" Mr. Fox's eyes softened. and
he beamed genially when he touched on
the subject with which he was I'm sym
pathy.
Shall you go fighting, now the reso-
luton is killed?' / insisted
Yes, indeed. Why. I've got the parents
and everybody else back OF me-even the
principals and the teachers, though they
d0lt dare say SO out loud. Why, in the
last few days you've no idea how many
congratulatory letters | have received. nor
how many people have stopped me on the
street 10 thank me for presenting the reso-
luton aud to tell they were with me in
the matter.
AS far as our Local Board goes-Why,
local boards don't amount 10 anything,
! anyway The Board OF Education never
pays any attention To them. about all 4
! Local Board Is good FOR IS To sign teachers
requests FOR absence and sick leave. but II
We do take ourselves seriously ana really
offer suggestions az To- the conduct Of af-
$1,000 ''ii'' - 49, 4'4NN i''t4F i'ltfi bd'h u
from the BOARD of Education-and that
ends Il.
But" lac went on again. after d slight
pause Il am going on with the fight be
cause / believe II is "a just fight and be-
cause I've got the people back of me, and
when the people are back Of a man IL
means he has pretty near the right of
thing don't You think"
And under favorable circumstances you.
look as il YOU might not be exactly averse
10 good hght" | hszarded
Again the geam in the eye and the big
laugh Yee, he can fight and smile. too
laugh, GEORGIA EARLE.