New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-01
Notes and Comment

the United States Congress has not juris-
diction"
new housing code for Schenectady Is
one Of the most radical pieces of legisla-
ton as yet proposed by the Socialist ad~
ministration. The requirements Of the
proposed ordinance are similar To the
standard set by the New York law. Prop
erty owners in Schenectady are protesting
vigorously. but the ordinance is expected
to go through.
Superintendent John r. Bruck OF the
Buffalo Truant School is emphatic in his
protest against having the boys cared for
In the public schools and the separate in
stitutions done away with. Such a plan
has been abandoned by nearly every city
that tried IT, Mr.. Bruck declares.
He says the children In the truant
school are under supervision all the time,
whereas If they went to public school and
lived at home they would he under the
same conditions that originally made them
truants insufficient oversight at home
and the temptations of the streets out OF
school hours would tend TO counteract the
good influence OF the school
The building used for truant school In
Buffalo, he points out, Is old. dlapidated
and altogether unsuited for the purpose. 1t
lacks proper fire protection, is ia The midst
OF thick smoke centre. with railroads on
two sides Of II, and IL Overcrowded. Henry
F. Emerson, Superintendent OF Education,
agrees with Mr.. Bruck that there should
be a separate truant school, but thinks II
ought TO be moved out into the country.
Now that so much attention Is being
given 10 the Montessori system Of educa-
ton and II receives such wholesale in
dorsement. II IL interesting TO hear what
|, is said on the other side. Bertha G. Down
Ing. NJ d., writes In The Boston Tran
script:
The so-called Montessor system surely
leads TO an early senilty: For research
tells us the precocious child does not make
good in the world. II we follow back TO
childhood many OF our insane we find they
were precocious In childhood. Oftentimes,
one parent of feeble minded child Will
question arises should we not have waited
to see DR.. Montessori made good I'm the
world and not run the danger OF causing
more mental dcgeneracy which we are
hearing so much Of to-day. Massachusetts,
il to-day developing It's second large insti-
tute for the feeble minded child. To think
Of the hospitals for her insane should
make educators hesitate to Introduce this
new system OF education. One-third or our
schoolchidren to-day are neurotic. These
children need freedom but do they need
perverted pedagogy that trains them to
write at the age OF four years?
The Bureau Of Municipal Research is
asking some searching questions as 10
efficiency In public schools. The following
extract is from circular recently sent out:
VIII you call children who never fail
''laggards' because they are Oyer-age,
VIII you call children who fail normal?
VIII your average tables show the grade
the pupil was actually I'm during the last
year. or the grade he will be In next fall?
VIII you show the number and age at
" hich pupils enter school?
Number of terms taken 10 graduate?
Number of pupils retarded and the num-
Ter of grades they lost?
With these facts you can make plain 10
the school commissioners and to the public:
How much money Is being wasted by re-
peating grades.
What reduction YOU have made IN The
number OF these repetitions.
How many years are wasted ny COM
neneing school late.
What solution you have found FOR Tie re-
tardation problem.