New-York tribune., 1912-04-21
AIDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Public Spirited Citizens Give
Valuable Help.

investigations usually are aimed at con-
dltons which are considered to be so rotten
that something must be done. The reports
Of these searchlngs into the depths OF cor
ruption and Encouragement are likely TO
be lists OF discriminating circumstances ac-
companied by supporting evidence Per-
haps the investigation or study or the
! extent of the voluntary assistance offered
10 the public school system OF New YORK
/ CITY by interested citizens and the Charac-
ter Of its reception, which has been con-
Quoted under the wing Of the Bureau OF
Municipal Research, was intended as a
searching out OF evils, but the report which
has just been put forth. under the title
"Outslde Cooperation with the Public
Schools OF Greater New York." Is docu-
ment which reminds one little Of an invesu-
cation II is stimulating rather than de-
pressing. although II points out wherein
the Board of Education and the supervis-
! ing officers OF the school system have failed
! to take full advantage Of the help offered
without charge. yet It impresses one more
with the volume Of the active interest taken
by New Workers I'm measures for the fur
nishlng of good citizens In the "foreword'
! OF the report It is estimated that the money
value alone OF the outside help contributed
/ Is 100000 year. II IS an additional evil
dencc. IL one is looking for fresh proof.
/ that one can find many persons in this
| great commercial city who are willing, even
} anxious TO perform civic service.
The investigation revealed that there
wcrc seycnty-six agencies engaged In FUR
! nighng direct. continuous and gratuitous
| co-opcrat ton. Thlrty-seven others, through
! Investigations, parents meetings and pub
/ lcty offered indirect cooperation. Special
opportunities for instruction and recreation
| for pupils and teachers are provided by SIX
| organizations The number Of persons
working through these agencies. and thus
! making their efforts effective, It would be
' difficult to estimate
There IS hardly need real or imaginary,
which IS not remembered by some person
| or persons Is II art? There are societies.
leagues, groups OF artists. women's clubs,
and last, but not least, the Metropolitan
Museum Of Art, with its great resources,
seeking ways Of stimulating interest in
pictures and other forms Of art. Is II the
expenditure OF school funds? Ten different
ORGANIZATIONS or groups Of associations keep
I
budget for educational purposes. Boards
Of trade, civic associations, taxpayers as
soc!ations and the women's welfare depart
ment Of the National Civic Federation
watch out" when school building is or
can he made subject Of interest.
, PLENTY OF CIVIC TRAINING.
Civic training is remembered by seven
agencies. including the American Civic
Alliance, the Boy Scouts. the city History
club. the Peoples Institute, the School Citi-
zens' Committee and the Womens Health
Protective Association. The women are in
all things pertaining TO education.
Is there danger that boy or girl will fall
Of an education? There are four different
agencies which put forth their efforts 70
see that such do not escape schooling, or
get 20 work before they have compiled with
the law regarding mental acquisitions. The
settlements and five organizations take
thought for the unfortunates who cannot
advance because OF mental or physical de-
focts.
AZ for health II is one OF the maryels
that n younester gets through alive, that
is 10 say. without a good constitution. The (
list OF different groups looking out for his
physical welfare is the longest in the cata-
loguc The New York schoolboy ought 10
be as robust as the Spartan youth. No less
than eighteen different agencies have their
attention rveted on the health OF the child
in the schools
Medical and hygenic associations, COM
mittees and associations interested in the
extinction OF tuberculosis, the Anti-Clgar-
cite League. a dental clinic, hospitals and
dispensaries settlements. the Peoples Uni
verslty Extension Society, the School
Lunch Committee, the Society of Sanitary
and Moral Prophylaxis and the Womens
Health Protective Association are all TO be
included I'm the catalogue.
kindergarten training has been remem-
bcred through the organization OF the
New York Kindergarten Association ana
through the interest of the settlements IN
the subject The boy living in this great
city has facilities for learning natural SCI
ence which attract the attention OF tho
youth from the country. Puohc-splr'eu
citizens have supplied museums or natur@i
history aquariums, botanical and zoologlcal |
gardens and there is an organization "hlch
furnishes plants. flowers and fruit as ma
terial for study in the schools. The parents
look after the welfare OF their OFFSPRING III
the schools through mothers clubs the
Federated Parents Association, the Italian
Educational League, the New YORK Federa-
,,on of Womens Clubs, the New York CITY
Mothers Club, the Parent Teacher Associa-
tion I'm Queens, and the Public Education
Association, which is active In all Good
works where the schools arc concerned.
The degree to which the health OF chlI-