New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-14
Practical Courses in City
College Are Fruit of
New Methods.
MUNICIPAL EXPERTS
WORK WITH STUDENTS
System ForeshadoWs Supplant.
ing Of Ignorant Jobholder
by Trained Employe.
BY HENRIETTA RODMAN.

The result Of allowing initiative to
the teachers at the City College Is
the development Of courses which meet
the present needs Of the community
and of the students.
There are the courses in municipal!
chemistry, for example, created by DR..
Frederick Brethut.
The City College is a municipal in
stitutIon," said DR.. Breithut, land
should aim especially 20 train young
men for the service of the city. Tho
city needs experts, the boys need pro-
fessions. 1t is obviously our part 10
select yOuag men Of ability and TO
give them the training which will en-
able them TO make their ability count
for the community.
The Department OF Chemistry can
prepare expert inspectors Of products
purchased by the city, such as asphalt,
cement. coal, oils and paint, and OF
products the sale of which is con-
trolled by the city. such as milk, but
ter, drugs and drinks.
"Our students work in cooperation
with the standard testing labora-
tory of the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment and with the
food and drug inspection labora-
tory Of the Board OF Health. Their
field work is done under the direct
supervision of city inspectors. In
short, the city is our laboratory"
I'm wondering how many of US
realize the magnitude of the effect
upon our community living OF replac-
ing the ignorant, incompetent job
holder of yesterday by the man or
woman trained in civic ideals and civic
service.
To the clubwomen who have asked
how they can best work 10 improve
the public schools ! say, hold meet
ings and discuss one by one the sub
jects taught TO your children.
Submit each subject, algebra, for
example, TO the following test: Will
it help to prepare my boy or girl, or
yours, for work or play, for friendship
or citizenship, for marriage or parent
age? II not, no child should be re-
CURED 10 study il.
Offer algebra as an elective subject
for boys who wish TO take up en-
! gineering, but don't waste your city's
money by teaching 1t TO everybody, or
by teaching il as we teach now TO any
body. Save the blessed years OF your
children's lives and save your common
resources for something worth while.
. When you have cleared nine-tenths
! of the mathematical junk out OF your
curriculum set your mathematics teach
ers TO teaching economics, practical, APP
piled to the problems of everyday life
such topics as a reasonable standard OF
living in your community, proportionate
expenditure for house, food, clothes,
service, etc, wages, hours and con-
ditions of labor, workmen's compensa-
ton, etc.
MADAM: The teachers are now
about TO elect delegates TO the Board
of Retirement. II is, of course, i'm
portant th0t we should choose to rep
resent US those who desire equal
justice for the teachers and the city.
I'VE should not ask from the city
more than 1t can afford TO give alike
TO all employees who have served for
thirty years say six hundred dollars.
IAN additional income may be pro-
duced by the teachers own contribu-
tons without expense 70 the city.
IF. Z. LEWIS"
A regular meeting OF the Frank A.
Young Alumni Association Of Public
Schools % and 80, The Bronx, will
be held in the auditorium of =. s. So,
The Bronx, tomorrow evening at 3
o'clock. The regular business of the
meeting is to be followed by an en-
t4rtainment and social hour.