The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-08
Place of College Preparatory
Boarding School for Boys
ny =. J. MCPHERSON.
Lawrence,i,ie school, Lawrence vile, n. ).

civilized world. In England they are
numerous and influential In Germany
they are increasing. Our Commissioner
OF Education reports that they are now
multiplying at more rapid ratio than
high schools. This Is no doubt due In
part to the increase in wealth and to the
congestion of population In cities. But
the change by no means consists wholly OF
a scramble upward by newly rich. Wise
fathers instlnctveiy seek out what they
consider the best schooling FOR their sons.
1t is moving to observe how eagerly many
of those who In their own youth missed
educational opportunities strive to make
UP this loss to their sons Educated par
ents have naturally a clearer provision Of
how their sons should be trained.
Now It is parents who chiefly create
the demand which educators must meet.
The theories OF pedagogues will not settle
the matter. Therefore to determine the
status OF boarding schools we must know
why many parents want them. The rea-
SONS given usually cluster around one or
the other OF two vital centres
The first group OF these reasons Is
affixed by parents to conditions connected
with some Of the homes themselves This
may sometimes involve a confession that
particular home is not fautless But II
all homes were ideal there would be little
call for schools OF any kind
The conditions demanding the aid Of
the boarding school may be due to the
location rather than to the inside economy
OF the home itself On the moral side the
average village is frequently a poor place
for the upbrnsinv Of a boy and the aver
age city. especially the large city is
worse. II is too crowded and artificial
II has too many distractions. too many
hiding places and too many unknown or
questionable neighbors. We all pity the
boys In the slums. But boys on upper
Fifth avenue and the Lake shole Drive
deserve commiseration too. Suitable
places for natural play are too few or
too distant and the places for mere amuse-
ment are too accessible and too sophistl-
Gated. Degenerate companions are AZ hand
/ Social functions are almost sure t. make
premature appeal. RI the "a nily live In
some hotel OF even apartment the din
culties and dangers. intensified There
can hardly be proper privacy and a fore
| ing process is apt to play upon the boy
! To help In this situation the new type
Of country school" has been sprinsing up
In the outskirts OF certain cities. They
/ take boys from about IN the morning
/ until about IN the afternoon. After
luncheon the time IL devoted partly 70
study under the supervision OF teachers
and partly TO wholesome play out Of doors.
With the cooperation OF normal homes
these schools are a distinct gain over the
1 af -G,ff 90
Younger boys who IN any ordinary case
should 1--we IN such homes rather than in
boarding school. But the effect upon
older boys is more doubtful. They ought
10 do some studying IN the evening. when
/ few OF them can receive much help or
! competent supervision. Their parents
| sometimes complain that they feel The pull
Of amusements and OF social l.fe. More
over, these older boys miss the training
! in self-dependence which the right kind OF
a boarding school Will provide and which
IS usually necessary II boy Is To be safe
In the larger freedom 81 college or bust
ness Some OF the most terrible tragedies
occur among boys who go directly from
the seclusion Of the home or the excessive
vigilance and coddling OF some boarding
schools into this sudden freedom.
But many parents fancy boarding
schools for their sons on account OF con-
ditions within their homes. They may be
travelling or Ill or temporarily homeless.
There may be a division in the family ow-
ing 10 death or some other cause. In
many instances tho father Is preoccup'ed
By business and the mother by housekeep-
ing or social engagements. OF course
such prescription is sometimes needless
and wrong Oftener. | believe. II is due
TO necessity or duty. But IN any case It
obstructs the sons education. which the
parents must entrust to others or deprive
him Of his rights.
stu more frequently parents feel in
competent 10 direct the sons education.
They cannot choose his course or super
intend his studying. Therefore, what
ever the separation may cost their affec-
lions, they turn over both his He and his
work to the training OF a good school
Another consideration. sometimes is-
, nored, is that a youths health is usually
better IN a choice boarding school than IN
the average home. His habits are more
, regular. The hours allotted TO work, play
and sleep are fxed, The school physician
. deals with him IN heilth ana IN Illness
I scientifically and not impulsvely. 1t Is
Z notorious that boys are moro subject &c
e sickness just after their return from thc'i
vacations At homo than at other times
. Moreover, in the right boarding school a
boys play as we'll rs his work is super
= vised The physician and the athletic dl
I rector give him two physical examination:
y year and more II his condition is sus
piciOus. They determine the forms of spor
allowable to his age and strength, the,
prevent excessive exertion n ne Is health,
=, and prescribe suitable exercises II he Il
=, defective or undeveloped and they ar
- present on the playing fields to be read!
[ in case of accidents.
= Tho second group OF reasons given m
= by parents for patronizing a boardn
= school results from their experience q
I local day schools, private or public, !
| many places these are unsatisfactory. TIL
v private schools are often meagre an
i'll equipped. II not provincial. and ar
u sometimes exposed 10 the whims and ca
u prices OF influential patrons and perhar
:, even Of pupils.
:. The public schools are subjected 10 var
n Gus criticisms. in not a few places the
Af