New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
GIRLS TRAINED
TO EARN LIVING
Commercial Course De-
veloped at Julia Rich
man High School.
Bv HENRIETTA RODMAN,

There are twenty-five hundred girls
In the Julia Richman High School and
its half-dozen annexes. The majority
of these girls are taking a commercial
course. 1t includes three years train
ing in English and in the use OF the
most complete office equipment in the
city.
The graduates of the Julia Richman
are prepared to make good in Offices.
No other school, | think, except the
Washington Irving, can show so per
cent of its graduates making 81 or
more a week five months after gradual
ing.
1T is reasonable tot suppose that
these girls will be raised 50 week
every year" said Dr.. Arthur Wolfson,
the principal. "My chief problem since
| came to the school has been to de
velop a commercial course and secure
commercial equipment which would
make our girls worth living wage.
and believe we've succeeded"
At the trade annex Of the Julia Rich
man, girls who have done Office work
but are now out of employment are
given Office practice and are paid so
cents a day. Two-thirds Of these girls
obtain positions. one-third of them are
found unemployable and have to be
dismissed.
They came up, one by one, to Miss
Axes desk to be told that they had
been found unfit to earn living at
Office work, usually for lack Of training
in the use Of English.
Miss AXE gave each girl note TO
Miss Beegle, at the Manhattan Trade
School. They thanked her rather
hopelessly and went out-all but three.
"My mothers sick and nobodys
working but me-" said the first girl,
and began to cry.
The next girl was a delicate, very
pretty little creature. There's six
younger than me home; gotter work.
she said.
The third girl stood looking at US
(silent' and hopeless).
This isn't news. Forty thousand
children leave our public schools every
year unprepared to make living.
These girls are an arraignment Of
our system of education.
MADAM: hear a great deal OF
criticism Of Mrs. Stoners methods OF
teaching. ! should like to know what
you think Of them. HARRIET DAY"
From talking with Mrs. Stoner and
reading her book, Natural Education"
| have gained an appreciation Of the
responsibility Of a mother to have
very intelligent and stimulating rela-
tion with her child. The idea of
mothers studying 20 keep up with her
older children is familiar enough. but
that mother should study to keen
ahead OF her baby IS a comparatively
new idea
The objections TO Mrs. Stoner's avs
tenn seem 70 me the excessive and ex-
elusive intimacy of mother and child
and the lack of stimulation to creative
activity. | differ from her in regard
TO what Is and what is not legitimate
use of imagination. when Winifred
imagined that child who was vain
would get smallpox | should saw she
was making an illegitmate use Of inn
agination.
The board of representatives ~ IN.
High School Teachers Association will
meet tomorrow at o'clock in the
rooms Of the Merchants Association
Woolwortn Building. The senior rem.
resentatlVes are requested to notify
other representatives.
Reports OF the delegates sent 70 Al.
oany and the revision of the educa.
tonal article in the state Constitution
will be discussed. 'N'''"