New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-15
You VIII Find Much Infor.
nation and Food for Re-
Election in the Article
Herewith Presented.
BY c. r.. BURROUGHS.
Head Master, Borroughs School, Great Neck,
Long Island.


Long Island.
At this season OF the year, when the
public schools have Just opened and many
private schools are on the eve of another
vear II may be well to pause in our
search for the right sort of school in or
der to look into the question OF the so
called country schools which have come
into So much popular attention within the
last few years. This question Is the nat
ural consequence OF the tremendous
movement away from the city--a move
uent that is not confined TO ccngested
centres Of population, like New York City
alone. but finds expression all over the
country. While the country school idea
did not originate here, it's popularity
throughout the country seems nowhere 10
have received a more favorable impetus
than In the suburban districts In and
around the confines of greater New York
In a rapidly changing centre like New
York. however, school conditions change
with almost mushroom rapidity. The
church communities have also suffered
from this growth Witness the hue and
CRY raised so often against the rapid
march OF the churches northward in
Manhattan alone The shifting centre OF
homes and the inroads of the monster
called Business have driven both the
church and the school into new woods
and pastures green" The school and
the church are forced to follow the home
no less than the Constitution is said to
follow the flag. All this has tended TO
destroy real school life. and the rising
generation which is Obliged to get its
education under existing conditions Is in
danger of carrying into its later years
only q sorry recollection of its school
days
Long ago thoughtful parents were
forced 10 see the trend of things. and the
numerous boarding schools that have
sprung up all over the East have been
one OF the natural results Of these con-
ditions. These have taken care OF the
older boys for two or three years before
they we're ready to enter college. The
younger boys were sent TO private schools
in the city near their homes But these
private schools have been forced 10 move
further uptown as conditions grew worse,
and they are still moving. Even these
bows the right sort OF school life, in spite
Of their earnest purpose and best en-
deayor The demand for an institution
where the boys could play after study
hours ana have real run, away from the
congestion of the city, was only natural
and the country school IS the result The
ides met with instant success and i'm
nediately jumped into popular favor
Some of the best private schools in the
city have joined the movement by erect
ing buildings far from the congested cen
tres but still within the city line. while
others hare even gone just beyond the
city limits. apparently without any seri-
Gus loss OF city patronage. Now that
the idea IS fairly launched and we'll I'M
ser way We may expect in the next few
years an added impetus to the already
lusty cry OF Back to nature and the
country"
For city parents the question Of choos-
tng school is often one not so much OF
proximity TO the home. of educational ad-
Yantages. or of the personnel OF families
that p8trOnize IL as II is OF another and
more important point The question fire.
auent!y narrows itself down to select
ing the school which will take the best
care Of the boy all day long; II is some
times a matter not so much OF the school
hours as of the hours after school A
boy grows 10 be a man by learning to
take care OF himself-a democratic spirit
is good thing In its place-but the dan
gers OF the city streets to-day are legion.
no less for the young than the OLD
Many private schools to-day have taken