New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-18
CR|T|C|SES HIGH SCHOOLS
System UndemoCratiC, Says Dr.,
Calvin O. Davis.
COURSES LACK FLEXIBILITY
New York Far Down List of
Cities in This Regard,
Expert Asserts.

"Cndemocratic. unsocial and unpeda-
gogical." says Calvin o. Davis. assistant
professor OF education in the University
of Michigan. of the course of study in the
high schools Of New York City. His re-
port. which was submitted 10 the Board
on School Inquiry yesterday. after an in
vesiigation Of the New York high school
system. declares the uniform courses Of
fcred in the city high schools oId-fa sh-
Toned. decidedly narrow. too rigidly pre-
scrihed and utterly neglectful of the
needs Of individual pupils. In the study
of foreign languages alone, according .
Professor Davis, do the New York high
schools lead those in ten other large
American cities.
The chief criticism which Dr. Davis
makes is that New York high school
courses are ''unwisely and unjustly in
flexible" His report declares that "virtu-
ally foUr-fifths OF the entire four years
course offered in the New York high
schools is identically the same for all
students. whether they are boys or girls,
children of cultured homes and surround
I'd by helpful influences or children OF
ignorant. Impoverished parents and de-
prived Of nearly all wholesome. indirect.
cducativc agencies
THIS uniformity in prescription is con-
demned by Or. Davis as vicious in prin-
cple and injurious in practice. In max
ing the work Of each year flexible. and
hence more adaptable 10 the needs Of
individual pupils. New York City ranks
below ninetenths Of the other ten cities.
In the first year New York stands at the
bottom Of the list: in the second year.
next to the bottom in the third year,
third from the bottom. and in the fourth,
second from the bottom"
To render the administration OF high
schools more flexible. and therefore more
serviceable TO a larger number of boys
and girls. Or. Davis recommends:
That the prescribed subjects offered IN
the high schools not exceed % per cent
Of the requirements for graduation.
That principals have greater authority
10 adjust the course of study 10 local
needs and to the needs OF individual stu
dents.
FRAT principals and teachers be encoUr-
community needs and to recommend de-
sir. bile notifications in the course Of
study TO be employed In their particular
schools
That each pupil be required 10 take AT
least three years of work IN some subject
or department other than English before
graduation
That foreign language study and mathe-
mates be no, included in the absolute
prescriptions for graduation. but that d
choice Of these two subjects be permitted,
and that. on the advice OF the principal,
neither BE- prescribed.
That the only absolute prescriptions oi
subjects be English. Introductory social
science United states history and ciyics,
manual training for boys, domestic SCI
once TO- girls. natural science. physical
training. Music and drawing.
Or Davis also objects to the enormous
size Of the high schools IN New York
city. which because OF their size are
comparatively few for city of this
population and are situated long dis
tances from pupils homes. lie suggest
that more high schools bc built i'm var
Gus parts OF the city. with capacity
limited TO l5T pupils or that the city
dofray the daily transportation expense
~ pupils who must travel distance
greater than a stated minimum.