Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-06-21
LLOYD
LECTURES ON
The SCHOOLS

Il. u.
attentively to an address on The
Schools OF Perth Amboy Ideal and
Unideal," by, Principal Frank How
ard Lloyd. of public schools Nos. 9
and 8. in the lecture room of the
Simpson M e. church last night.
Prior to this a short business meet
ing was held Refreshments were
enjoyed afterward. Principal
Lloyd's talk on this important and
interestingA topic pleased all who
heard him and at the conclusion he
was highly complimented and made
an honorary member of the club.
Mr.. Lloyd spoke on the crowded
conditions of schools. remedies for
defects and gave advice to parents
Being principal of schools s and 8.
where congested conditions exist to
higher degree than in any other
schools in the city, he was thorough
| ly qualified to offer suggestions for
relief. and his talk gave much en-
| llightenment on the subject. More
halliday sessions and a portable
school may become necessary to take
care OF crowded conditions in MIR.
Lloyd's school next year.
Parents Should Visit Schools
In executing his speech on the
schools of the city, ideal and I'M
ideal. he endeavored to teach les
son to parents as to the care that
should be taken with children going
to school He spoke of the indiffer-
ence of parents in general as to
what their children we're doing at
school. and of the average parents
lack OF knowledge of school meth
DDS. He urged frequent visits to
schools by parents for the encour-
agement OF healthful discussions on
school problems and to come to the
subject with minds unprejudiced and
free from personal bitterness and
animosity.
II might MENTION" said the prin-
cipal, several things that could
most profitably engage your atten-
ton, such as the conflict of our COM
pulsory education law. with the de-
Sire of parents to get their children
to earning something and the child's
own desire to get out where he can
do things more to his liking and
with less restraint. 1t conflicts also
with the child labor law, which
causes many minor problems of a
more or less complex nature for the
| teacher and those above her to set
tie.
ver-Crowding Injurious.
The over-crowding of your schools
which is injuring them more at the,
present time than any other one
thing l can think Of Lack of prop
er physical education. and along
with proper play grounds for your
boys and girls. where they can as
semble In safety to life and limb and
conduct their play under proper
moral and hygienic conditions. The
manner of discipline as compared to
| fifty years ago, its difficulty owing
to the fact that suspension, or ex-
pulsion is now our severest punish
ment and teachers hesitate to use
either-that is thoughtful teachers;
for the child is thereby injured. The
tendency ON the part of the parents
to uphold them against the teacher
| in matters of discipline, which works
harm to the child as well as to the
school.
Mental Deficiency.
Turning his remarks to mental de-
fciency often found in scholars, Mr..
Lloyd said that was beginning to be
regarded as a study in itself and Is
being handled in successful man
ner by those who have made 1t
study.
LET us turn" said the speaker,
"to a consideration of the matter OF
our over-crowded schools. This has
existed to greater or less degree
for several years and 1t is probable
that the next year hundreds OF chill
dren will be placed on half-time. Do
any of them belong to you and are
you satisfied? II you are not salts
fed, what are you going to do about
lit? The thing to do. is to build the
schools, IL there is any way possible
A frequent complaint, is that we
keep children too long in the grades
While / do not think this is Just
complaint, / do know that the child
| is robbed of time and of the teach
er's service by over-crowding, for 1t
is done where the child is least able
to help himself-in the primary
grades. Just make tour of the
classes next September and see for
yourselves.
Public Play Grounds.
II want to add my word now to
what has been said already by 9th
ers In an appeal to establish public
play grounds They are getting to
be more of necessity every day
and now is the time to get them.
1.-THE recent baseball games between
the schools have brought forcibly to
our attention the necessity for a
place or places where the children
may carry on their games under
proper influences and without out
side molestation.
The Elective System.
Here the speaker reverted his talk
to the elective system in schools.
He said: '"The elective system,
which has obtained so firm foot
ing in American colleges. has spread
to the secondary schools and there
are those who favor introducing II
into the elementary schools. The
question arises: How shall the stu
I dent be guided to wise choice of
courses and subjectsf' Obviously,
when he enters. the teachers OF the
secondary schools cannot advise him
because when he presents himself at
ttheir doors they know nothing OF
his special aptitudes or of his pre-
vious studies. In the great major
ity of cases parents are quite as In
competent as his new teachers to
give him useful counsel.
'sHow Is the boy ve fourteen TO tell
whether he shall take the college
preparatory course or the CONNER
ciaI course. or some ether course
l TT T. III - f..4