New-York tribune., 1910-04-03
Ynsfsfs Thar The Three
r. Are Neglected for
Unfmporfonf Topics.

IT hecarne noised abroad recently that
= small earthquake had been distinctly
felt in The Bronx. The shock Was
first received by the Bronx Local School
hoard No. % when its chairman, John
J Fox. introduced during meeting res
splrtion condemning -tcat feature or our
educational system which suboruinates
grammar 70 erasshoppers. reading TO cater
pillars spelling 10 gOldenrOd, arithmetic
TO bullfrogs and penmanship 10 tadpoIes
and attributed to these and other equally
rerrehensible fads the atrociOus English
spoken bv the school children of this city.
and further resolved that the time has
come when taxpayers should 'inausurate
a movement for the entirpatlon from our
scbcol system Of all the nOnsensical fads
rhar have crept into IL during the past few
.saTs," etc.
7 went back IN memory 10 my own public
school days in New York City, twen-
several wears ago. when the curriculum
Was Euiltiess Of tadIoles and buiifrogs
soldenrOd and nature studies; when Eng
lish in all her glory-Or the normal schooi
graduates version OF twas ladled out
10 our inQuiring minds l remembered
particularly going home one day from my
third grade primary class and informing
my mother that strength" was pro-
nounced -'strennnth teacher said so
which The mater combated with some
Indignation. saving that ii robbed the word
o. al SIS native quality. From that day
she kept q u-stchfuI parental lookout
for other vagaries Of my successive teach
e-s; but bullfrogs were not in the curricu-
lum "a my time. SO I went UP TO The
Bronx 10 see Mr.. Fox 20 find out when
they were introduced
When I arrived he seated in his Of
fee az No. ises Bathgate avenue.
y came 10 talk TO you about the resolu-
tion you introduced before the School
Board ] announced
That resolution has apparently made
ecnle talk" said Mr. Fox, smiling
he IS a big, vital man. and ne struck me
sr first sight as one who could laugh
heartily and fight hard
What first awakened you to the fads
and frilis stnat have grown up in the
schools" j ostechised in q bUsinesslike
manner.
Nv own children he responded with
sudden gravity. 4 had three OF them in
The public schools, then. I've taken my
Oldest boy out now and sent hi INTO q
private schoo,, where ne is learning some
things he should have known long ago.
That's how serious think the situation.
How about the other twog" j asked
They're stIn in the public schools. I'm
going TO pait little whil. with them and
see what happens. Why, II was this way,
reyer,inE 10 my earlier question, the
Youngsters used 10 bring home paper boxes
and rafia work when / knew they were
behind in spelling, SO one day ! started
ASKING ny boy questions and found That
one OF those paper boxes took over hair
an hour 10 make-and whst good Was IL
when st was mace? What had the child
learned that IL WAS essential for him 10
know Nothing. Time had simply been
wasted that might have been Infinitely
better employed"
Did you go 10 q public school yourself"
/ queIied.
Yes right here ia The Bronx, and
learned English ena arithmetic aud pen
lnanship-I got good common sciiooi
,sucatisn. Ian great for the three Rs lac
lsasi,ed / had been right about that laugh
a. max big END vital, like himself
--Fsu;. seriously lac continued, there Is
this fact which should never De lost sight
,f-a large percentage OF our public schooi
children VIII have 10 earn their own living.
An elementary school education Is all they
v-jlI eve get and what they need is = good
fo.ndztion. Give them that foundation ana
Hou eouip them with something 90 build on
-s-.- IA Life but II YOU MI them Up with
fo- .. ruhhign that's 10 use 70 them theyre
he.ten before they start For example.
.he-e'. nv ne..hbor. Mr.. Mckenna. They
as1eo rs boy IN examination TO describe