The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-24


They are not matinee girls
nor tee dance girls, OF course; but out
side Of such categories they come in
amazing variations when the vacation
days are over and the registration
books for, the evening classes open In
the fall. Rebeccas from the lower
East Side. Carmencitas from the upper
East tide and Marys and Elizabeths
from everywhere pour into the big
building At Seventeenth street and
Irving place until the registration
reaches between four and Ave thou
sand.
The smart college graduate comes
to brush up on some language Of SCI
ence, but little Mary O'Grady. barely
W her three r troubles, has the
same chance. and both are equally en-
thusiastic. When school closed last
year II was possible TO select In the
school perfect types Of all the nations
represented-France. England. Ger
many, Switzerland. Holland. Russia,
Scandinavia and even the Far East
each representative recitins In her ma
tive tongue some cherished sentiment
Of her native land beyond the seas.
and At the end all Joined in the sa-
lutte to the nag with true American
vim.
Statistics are not usually thrilling,
but Of course it all depends On the
statistics. One hears a lot about
women who %fritter away their time
at bridge and csbarets but little about
the women and girls who are seeking
better opportunities 10 increase their
efficiency and who are eating their
hearts out in poorly paid and uncon-
genial employments.
!, These are they who crowd the reg
istration lists Of the evening schools
these are the women and girls 30 in
terested in self-culture that they
gladly give up four evenings a week
to school work and enthusiastically
enter upon difficult studies with no ap-
parent regrets for modern dances and
the white lights OF Broadway.
Evening schools are not a novelty
in the city's educational plan of
course, but an evening school for
women with the scope c~omprehended
in the New York Evening High
Schools plan must be a novelty any.
where.
In the first place II is for women
exclusively, the working women OF
New York, and under the name Of the
New York Evening High School for
Women II was the very first evening
school for women ever opened In New
York. 1t was down in Twelfth street
then and only attempted the elemen-
tary branches, but from that nucleus
has developed a splendid high school
.sAlAh nHars tvntS a nar1rnArnio
and academic training to wome and
brings together in It's classrooms 81
many different n~ationalities that II
actually becomes a melting pot as well
% an educational centr and its infu.
encs In disseminating the English Ian.
guaSe and principles Of America,
democracy.
There is now q move on foot. espe
cialiy In this school. to set aside TIT
prejudice that has existed In regart
to evening school work. siipshot
methods have been superseded al
along the line by efficiency and tn,
work 10 being put on a plane Of sucl
excellence hat It is only a question
of time when credits will he given 70
evening work which are equivalent L
IHO0S 6INCu toI duy bttooi
means that eventually evening schoo
pupils will be eligible to qualify a.
teachers In the city's schools, which
not the case at present.
Evening work is naturally intensive
There Is no opportunity for scattere'
thought or division of interest of an.
kind. the entire study period being de
voted to the m or two subjects pos
sible to cover in an evenings tim
The almost entire lack Of schoolgirl
frivoiity and gayety bespeaks the seri
BUSINESS with which the pupils regar
their studies, These women have bee
In the market place and realize no,
Uneven are the chances OF the traine
and the unframed, and eagerly see
every possible advantage from tn
scant two hour session.
This IL certainly the day Of voca
ton and special training In all line'
and the girl who has not realised thi
in her early school days realizes
when she comes into open competttio
With the trained worker. The WomA
nowadays who ~ not specially traine
or experienced Is at u tremendous dis
advantage,
Uncertain qualifications. no matte
IN what line, make chances Of success
too vague for the prospective employe
TO take the risk Of employing he
He lays great stress on the COLLEGE ID
gree or nigh school certificate. c