Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-05-30
Complaint from a Misin'
formed Mother

Dear Miss Doom:
l saw in the Evening Star of a
recent date thai two schools OF. New
ark are going to be kept open all year
as an experiment. | think 1t Is out,
rageous to keep children in school
especially August. When the children
are home they wear the least clothing
that they possibly can and they
lounge around or do what they please
are in school they cannot do that.
They must &C to school dressed de-
Gently, with those hot collars n ties
n other hot clothing on, and they
n discipline, regardless how rest
less the heat makes them or how I'M
comfortable they are. Besides many
children are sent away to the country
away by the city and other fresh air
outing societies and unds. Miss
Doom, you can ask any teacher of any
public school and she will tell you
hat May and June are the two hard
est months of the entire school year
to compel the children to keep dis
cipline. Now, Miss Doom, If the chill
dren are restless in May and June,
what will they be in July and August?
The rich will have their children
away at the seashore or to the coun-
try, while the poor children Will pc
shaving with their lessons at school.
is this a free country? Rats! 1t is
free to the rich; the poor are slaves;
let them suffer.
Must the poo children suffer be
cause a few men and women wish to
enrich their bank ACCOUNTS
Miss Doom, will look for your
opinion in the Evening Star. yours
very truly, X. v. Ia
/ fear you have committed the error
common to many mothers of taking facts
as reported by school children with
out verifying them by the word of those
in authority. 1t is true that the Bel
mont Avenue and Seventh Avenue
schools will be open this summer, but
as a benefit and not as a detriment to
the children. Registration is entirely
voluntary, u attendance after reg
istration is obligatory, under the same
conditions that hold during the regular
school year.
The Board of Education has formulated
This plan in order to give backward chill
dren an opportunity Of making up the
I studies in which they have failed, ana
bright children of advancing a grade;
that is, If a pupil in the ga grade mas
!, failed in his terms work, and there-
fore is not eligible for admission TO
. high school in the fall, he may, by sue
cessfully completing the summer course
! and passing the examination, enter the
! high school In the September instead OF
waiting for the mid-winter term. Again.
q bright pupil of grade sb, taking the
summer course, may enter high school
in the fall instead of beginning his
"a work at that time. This rule holds
! good through all the grades OF the
school.
In these days of Industrial competition
when so many children are FORCED Out
into the world without proper prepare
ton. any arrangement to provloe ior
! their better equipment Is a blessing. 4,
foo believe hat children need a period
of recreation, but those whose nealth
will not stand the strain are, as l nave
said. under no obligation to attend the
school. On the other hand many mothers
who are under the necessity OF trying
To keep children DOL in cramped quar-
ters or of sending them out into the not
streets in order that they may not De
An the way when homework Is to be
dome. will welcome this means OF Keep
ing them employed during the heat OF
the day.
From this, my dear lady, you Will see
that the arrangement which you criti-
else is for the advantage of the poor
not for the rich, and not for the gain
of those faithful teachers who will put
forth their best efforts to impart knowl'
edee to those in their charge during
the hot summer months. Yes, this is a
free country with untold advantages
for those who through circumstances of
birth nave started life with a handicap,
I am sure that you will regret your bit
ter feelings, which I know were engen-
dered only by a misunderstanding OF
the facts.