New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-09
SCIENTIFIC CHOICE OF SCHOOL IS
NOW NECESSARY PRI-
VATE SCHOOL PROBLEM DIFF
FERS FROM THAT OF OUR
"GRANDMOTHfRS' DAYS"

Long ago, in the days Of our grand
mothers. the choice Of school used 20
be quite a simple task. The boy or
tho girl, as the case might be, was, as
matter Of course, shipped Oft when
he or she arrived at school age TO the
same school TO which the father or
mother had been sent. But, alas, that
was In the good old days of 'plain
living and high thinking" In those
DAYS each school taught about the
same standard course-a rigid ancient
language course for boys and semi
household, semi-culture course for the
girls. There was no talk Of "voca-
tons" The boy, and especially the
older one, followed in the footsteps Of
his father so far as his profession
WAS concerned. TO be sure, perhaps
he disHkcd IL intensely and sighed TO
crtc. other fields. bu, that would have
beer high treason 10 the family ideals,
10 tbs family honor and TO the fam
ily expectations Of him, so he man
fully struggled on and succeeded as
best he might.
The daughter Of the family had no
though. Of "voca,ions,' save the one,
MARI . She learned how TO manage
o horschold on practical if not on sci
crufc lines, and then she learned the
iladyike arts Of piano playing, Of sing
ing, Of embroidery and the like. In a
few years she married and became TOO
busy TO even dream Of careers.
Then the public schools rose into
prominence and it became "the fash
iion." so TO speak for the children OF
all classes and ranks of the families
~ that day 20 attend them. Later on
there came a change of heart and the
private school came again into Its own,
bat In much greater degree than
ever before.
AT first the private schools. like the
public schools Of that day, were very
much the same IN regard 10 currlcu-
,lum. discipline and the other elements
o. which d school is composed. Then,
The number Of private schools began TO
.1nultiplv TO such an extent that differ
entiation began and private schools be
gan TO be of varying types. This al
Iferentiation was helped along greatly
fEF tho Altl LUdl AiNAt was q SNNe@Ns
increase in the number OF pupils VINO
legsn 10 attend these Institutions.
Soon the types into which the
schools classified themselves became
4cry distinct and the military, the col
lore Dreparatory. the business, the
classical. and many other xmas OF
schools came into existence and began
go scientifically prepare the PupllS
Who attended them. Not only ala
these schools belong TO these static
tvucs. but they also became c!asslhed
i'm another way: that is, on basis OF
low long they kept their pupils, l. e
as TO whether they we're boarding
schools. day boarding schools, country
boarding schools, or simply day
schools.
Tbe. also lent themselves to another
,Iresifcation. !. G.. as 10 whether they
existed for the purpose OF educating
bows. girls. or both. The question OF
expense also furnishes basis OF clas-
mis- differentiation Of schools into
typcs. and the widely divergent ann
Of each type have combined 10 make
tho question of the selection OF a
scbooi for the bow or girl a task OF
great difficulty. Each year TINS type
differentiation becomes more pro-
pounced. and thus this question OF
choice becomes even more dlincult as
each year passes ny -
The Tribune has for long time Deen
aware of the fact that the average
naront did not base his choice OF
schools on the actually existing condl-
ZION of the private school field to-day.
THO average parent is apt TO be too
busv with the duties of life to be well
able to spare the great amount OF time
which a careful study OF the school
situation and its type differentiation
Ia
would entail.
Moreover, the parent Of to-day is very
n ant 20 allow the child himself TO choose
III his own school OF course, this IS
" great mistake. for the child knows
nothing about this situation and viii
probably choose his school because OF
:ccuaiutance with other children VINO
attend that school
This is the day Of the specialist, the
specialist in education as well as in
any other department Of life Realiz-
ine this. The Tribune has prepared a
nl9n which should be very helpful TO
every parent in search OF a school. Inc
Tribune Education Bureau has made
scientific analysis of certain schools by
taking each Of these chosen schools and
treating 10 specially under the same
topics. In the Saturday numbers OF
The Tribune, beginning yesterday, Au..
gust n. inc WtSL NudPNtl " ''Ai'N ~
these analyses may be seen.
The plan Of treatment is TO take the
same topic and talk of each school un-
der that topic. The discussion OF the
frst tonic in last Saturdays Tribune
forms the first chapter in the series:
The topic chosen was Aim" Each Of
several schools was discussed under
that tonic. This discussion offers 20
tbe narent the opportunity to compare
ali The schools treated in respect 20
that one point. Thus. each parent who
makes use Of this discussion IS saved
the waste of time involved in the con-
.,I+stion of many catalogues so ar
ranged as 10 make comparison wellnigh
Inc schools also have the advantage
~ Getting "bird's-eye view" so 10
sneak. OF their relative merits as set
fartb ir comparison with those Of their
ncigbbors. This stimulates a generous
Tiyalrv among them-a rivalry very
helpful 20 growth.