New-York tribune., 1910-09-03
SUMMER VACATION ENDS
Soon Reluctant Children viii Go
Back to School.
PARENTS SERIOUS PROBLEM
Preparatory Period Regarded as
Most Important in Pupils
Education.
ARENTS' SERIOUS PROBLEM

September has come, and with it the vari-
Gus schools and colleges viii soon be filed
with pupils. old and new. Some of the
larger institutions will not open their doors
until the end of the month, but the great
number OF primary and secondary schools
will be under way within A week.
In this state two kinds of preparatory
schools are offered to the choice of parents
and guardians for their children. The pub
lie school system consists of both the pri-
mary and high schools. while there is a
wide choice of excellent institutions con-
Quoted by experienced educators as private
schools.
It is impossible to attach too much i'm
portance to the preparatory school, for
there the character and hbre of the future
citizens are formed Hamilton Wright
Mabie, in recerJ address. said: The ele-
rlent most needed in the education of the
youth of this country is culture In this
term he includes seIf-control and respect
for all that is worthy, whether il be in
persons or institutions.
II is the particular function of the sec
ondary school to instiJ these very quail
ties Of self-controi and respect At the age
when the boy and girl are forming their
and can hardly be eradicated, on the
other hand if good seed is not sown a that
period it falls later Oil soil that is apt TO
have become hardened and barren The
preparatory school period may therefore be
regarded as the most important in the edu-
cation of the pupil.
In the city of New York last year 554, ,699
children attended the primary schools and
90
pected that the number will be larger this
year. Besides, there are in the city 273
private schools. including some coIIegiat te
institutions.
With tie influence of the parent at home
and the Instructor in tne school it is hoped
that the tendency of young persons to
leave school before they have finished the
course of studies available will grow less
year by year.
The choice of a suitable school for the
boys and girls Is q serious problem for
parents and guardians. Each institution
has its own separate advantages and its
strong points TO recommend it In some
cases military discipline gives particular
tone. While in others the scholarship is of
such high order as to attract attention
throughout the whole country For some
pupils the country offers an attraction,
while others find a greater advantage in
the city. Some children need the refining
influence of the private boarding school.
while others may obtain advantage from
the broadening influence of the public in
stitution.
Abundant choice is a hand for all classes,
for this country offers d variety OF institu-
tons that make the solution OF the prob
lem for parents comparatively easy Some
schools train their pupils to fit them for
trades or mechanics others for classical
work, while others again fit them specially
for certain professional pursuits.
DR.. Pritcnett, president of the Carnegie
Foundation, in discussing this question a
short time ago, said: THE best advertise
ment a school can have comes from the
presence of great scholars and teachers
the possession of adequate equipment and
the attendance OF d homogeneous. alert
student body
These are the points which parents have
to examine closely in the choice Of the
school to which they are to send their
boys and girls.