New-York tribune., 1915-03-02
Teacher Would Give Cred
il for Character as Tor
Scholarship.
BELIEVES INFORMAL
METHODS ARE BEST
Some Explanation of Why Chill
dren Do Not Speak Oftener
in Glass.
By HENRIETTA RODMAN.


army and now teacher in the Eastern
District High School.
as not moral training given indi-
rectlv in connection with all OF the
school work." Mr.. Rittenhouse was
asked
"No credit is allowed for such indi-
rect training" he replied. "On the
contrary. teachers and pupils are
forced to regard development OF char
ac,er as urimportant. The record Of
Students excellence Is kept only in
academic subjects.
"The progress Of pupil toward man
hood and citizenship is surely OF no
less importance than is his record IN
foreign languages and mathematics ond
should be as carefully kept After
given period OF training, when the day
of graduation arrives, the boy or gir!
who can show satisfactory record OF
effort 10 do honest work should De
given a diploma certifying his quail
fication for citizenship, although he
may have failed to meet our standards
in some of his academic wo- :.
Under such a system young people
will become aware that the state IS
more concerned in what they are and IN
the quality OF what they do than IN the
amount of their achievement.
The chef fUaction OF th~ pubic
schools in a democracy is TO lay a
strong foundation for social life, by
fortifying the characters OF young peo-
pl- to Cppo and withstand evil and
injustice. Only in this way shall we
build up a body of citizens capable OF
realizing ,he ideals of democracy.
"One per.Od a week should be given
70 direct instruction in the essential
virtues underlying good character and
10 such related subjects as self-control,
self-government, elementary c!ylcs and
the purposes and bearing of statute
laws in the regulation Of social life.
The nature and scope of such lnstruc-
tion should be adapt. TO the age and
development of the pupils.
Interest and appreciation in these
matters will probably be secured better
by informal methods than by formal
lessons. The cooperation Of intelli-
gent teachers would soon provide suit
able manuals OF courses to embrace
this subject"
Board of Education, please note
initiative.
MADAM: Az an indignant taxpayer,
| wish 20 protest against the recent ac-
ton Of he Board Of Education in ap-
pointing Dr. Maxwell the cOntdant OF
married women teachers who expect
TO become mothers.
"I am informed by statisticians that
without the protection Of penalties on
marriage and parentage normal condi-
tions may prevail in the public schools.
Under such conditions | am told that
nearly 1.200 women will absent them
selves every year for child bearing. |
Undere tand that this need not cost the
city anything, as the absent teachers
will not be paid But the employment
Of the City Superintendent at a high
salary TO receive reports of possible
pregnancy involves serious expense
to the city
Not less than six women will neces-
sarily report each day. Allowing for
the general inaccuracy OF most women,
and the oyer-cOnsclentiousnes Of
few, it is quite possible that there will
be twelve reports day to deal with
besides retractiorJ and requests that
leave already granted be rescinded.
"Who is to perform the other duties
of the City superintendent? This ac-
tion of the Board of Education is
disgrace to a buSi iess administration.
HARLEM TAXPAYER"
The children in the schools don't
talk enough" | complained. ITS in
human TO speak only when you are
spoken TO. 1t destroys initiative"
III you were pupil IN an element
any school," returned Dorothy, you'd
hardly open your mouth in class ex-
cept TO yawn."
what about the reading lessons"
asked.
That's once snapped Dorothy.
minutes. There are fifty children in
class. You read your share in half
a minute, or you don't read at all"
But the language lesson!" I urged.
Here's a language lesson for you,
orthodox style she spoke very sweet
ly. ~
Now, children, as | was coming TO
school this morning | saw tree. And
on a branct of the tree was sitting
what do you suppose? Yes, Il was a
bird and il had a beGk and Wigs and
a tail. and a red breast
"Now who can tell me what kind of a
bird il was? Yes, il was a robin. And
as watched him he chirped and pecked
and hoped about.
Position. Take your paper and
pencil. Paragraph margin, one inch
81 write on the blackboard: 4 saw a
robin
Copy. Don't write a single word
till you're told"
But" protested, you did all the
talking"
"Of course, did" said Dorothy.
That's the only way to get the re
Qulred work done
ITS stupid" said. Dorothy agreed.
"Of course it is. but what can YOU
and | do about it,"
Well. the auditorium periods that
Mr. Writ is bringing into the New
York schools may be pure JOY.
Providence has home school" Pro-
fessor Charles Zueblin told me. A
house is rented in a congested quarter
and furnished BY the students Four
teachers take charge Of groups of
thirty girls. These are not regular
teachers, but specialists IN cooking,
sewing and general housework
THE girls have the entire respon-