New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-28
use GROUP SYSTEM
in HARLEM SCHOOL
Teachers in No. .83 Keen
Two Glasses Going at
Once in Same Room.
LEAGUE DISCUSSES
SCHOOL ART WORK
BY HENRIETTA RODNAy

visited Public School No. s3. IN
10th Street, yesterday, and met My
Edward r. Mcguire, the principal.
"Harlem thinks ! waste more finn.
than any other teacher in the city -
he said, genially. 81 do spend a 10.
Of my time and the chiIdren's in dane.
ing and singing and plays, but We learn
arithmetic and grammar on the side
as you might say. It's fact that VA
got the highest rating In these sub.
jects Of any school in the district
Mind that.
when we work, we work. Coma
with me and I'll show you" Mr.. Ma.
guire brought me TO a room whera
there were about seventy children and
forty-fye seats. There were two
teachers.
One teacher stood at the front Of tbs
room surrounded by group Of
eighteen boys. They were busy with A
grammar lesson.
The other teacher stood at the back
OF the room with another group az
work on geography. The rest of the
boys we're studying in their seats, and
q number OF seats were empty.
I'll admit that ] was astounded. By
combining Mr.. Wirt's method with NJ.
Maguire's we could have four schools
in the same building, for no boy needs
a seat when he is standing 10 recite.
TIE boys we're amazingly quiet.
That's because they've got plenty 10
do and they know how 70 do it," said
Mr.. Mcguire.
"You see, each teacher has only
about eighteen boys at a time, so she
can give them individual instruction.
She explains the lesson 70 them, zoe,
over il with them and then sends them
to their seats 10 study it.
"The wall charts furnish outlines
and questions and the boys write the
answers. When they go forward 10
recite again, they'll take their papers
with them to show the teacher. II
any boy hasn't understood the work
she'll find that out and be able 20 help
him.
"The boys like this system because
they're not being fused over By tho
teacher all of the time.
"DO the teachers like it," asked.
"Well, they have smaller groups 70
work with and no disciplining 10 do
because every boy is kept busy svery
minute"
The group system, one-hslf the class
reciting while the other half studies.
is undoubtedly helpful for very large
classes; and the two classes in a room
is a clever device for housing seventy
classes in tifty-seven rooms. as NJ.
Mcguire mas had TO do. But the situa-
ton impressed me as that OF a wise
man meeting stupid conditions.
P. s. 83 is giving an entertainment
Of plays and dances at Days Thurs
day evening.
The School Art League met at the
Mcdowell Club, Monday evening, and
discussed the development Of art appre-
citation in the public schools
John ". Alexander, the president a.
the league, said, at is our work 70
teach young people that there is beauty
in every thing. When we begin 10 see
it. we are well started on the way 20
happiness"
Dr. Edward Robinson. director OF the
Metropolitan Museum. explained that
the museum is offering the public qp-
portunities, not only to see its treas.
ureS, put 10 nave Inem explained Oy
competent instructors. Nj less than
$4,000 school children have visited the
museum this year.
DR.. James P Haney, the director Of
art in the public schools, gave a clever
talk on art appreciation.
By the way, the state gives three
thousand scholarships TO young people
who wish TO so to college TO become
doctors, teachers or even lawyers, but
none, so far as can discover, TO those
who wish TO become designers.
Do we need no designers?