New-York tribune. [volume], September 19, 1920, Page 6, Image 48

About New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924

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Student Activities Outside
School a Problem
e
Wise to Encourage Such Endeavors, Says Hacke?,
but Always Within Range of Mental
Capacity of Individual
By Frank S. Hackett
Headmaster, River?al? Country School
With boys and girls and young men
and maidens going back to school these
uro the days when fathers and mothers
come face to face with the old ques?
tion of "outside activities." Beyond
lessons, how much ehnll the student
be allowed, or encouraged, to do?
Be it clear at once that artificial
amusement (theaters, dancing or pro?
fessional sport) lies not within the
pcope of this article. In no good homo
will these interest* be permitted to
become absorbing. Student activities
proper ? those organized efforts of
school life which are no part of the
classroom?demand attention. In the
order of interest and frequency these
are, perhaps, among very many, the
most commoni
Athletics, self-government and self
help, including patriotic efforts, school
paper, dramatic, literary societies and
debating and glee clubs and orchestra,
relief or missionary societies, science
?nd modern language clubs, coin and
stamp collections.
Not all or even the greater part of
these appeal to the majority of stu?
dents, but in any good school parents
will find that there is organized effort
in most of the spheres suggested.
Always the authorities foster; too
often they lead?for these activities
gain In value only as they arc the ex?
pression of the will and of the ideas of
the students themselves. Rightly used,
?hey form Indeed a most valuable
stimulus to classroom effort?. Abused,
they warp the attitude toward lessons,
furthering that most pernicious of no?
tions that there is something more im?
portant than the doing well of the task
in hand.
Psychology Shows Mental Capacity
Where lies the meaning between the
uso and the abuBe of these student
activities? Fortunately, this is no
longer a matter of guesswork, or of
waiting to learn from experience
whether a youth helps or harms his
lessons by engaging with his fellows
in one or moro of these interests. Ap?
plied psychology now informs us de?
finitely what the intellectual capabili?
ties of each boy or girl may be, and
therein lies the answer.
If tho measurement of intelligence
shows a mentality below the average,
these activities should most assured?
ly not be ruled out, but only those
permitted through which the student
may gain that tust? of success which
spurs. Take the all-too-usual incident
cf tho athlete who does poorly in his
lessons. Often it is assumed that his
interest in sport is crowding out bis
attention to book duties?a very fair
surmise, ?is a rule. If, however, the
performance of the youth in a gamo
<>r a erntest is carefully watched, it
will appear that in a critical juncture
where eharp, quick headwork is re
quired, ho does not meet the issue
keenly. Spirit, skill, and brawn are
there in abundance, but not the wit
which unites them in the right effort.
Psychology will show the fact that the
mind of this youth Is really below the
average. That is largely the explana?
tion cf his poor classroom record. If
then, his joy in the game be removed,
and only routine physical training
permitted, he sinks into the slough of
despond, and nothing is gained. If,
o7i the other hand, the test of his men
tality dictates that he should not carry
the fi'.H school course, say but three
cr four subjects out of five or six, suc
f:s in athletics will furnish the means
of encouraging him to feel that he can
do well in lessons which are within his
capability. He is also likely to garner
the invaluable life fact that by inten
Fity of effort he can overcome the
handicap of n mentality somewhat be?
low tho average, and, as a man, suc?
ceed wh?re others fail.
Average Mind Greatest Problem
The average mind, as disclosed by
these tests, furnishes the greatest
problrm in connection with student
activities. Often with marked initia?
tive and superabundant energy, the
boy or girl of only usual mentality
plunges into one after another of these
student interests, and, with but In?
different success In the efforts them?
selves, fails utterly in the classroom
This spells the frittering away ol
energy which causes so many fathers
and mothers to long for the good old
days when school held nothing hut
lessons?seemingly.
Here, again, wo may now have th?
facts. No matter how bright or viva?
cious, how capable ot energetlo a child
m?y seem, mental tests disclosing av?
erage intelligence dictate clearly thai
only a few activities outside the class?
room be permitted, Just enough to giv?
free play to paramount interests, aucr
as music, or organ ization, or col?
lecting.
With the child of roperlor tnteBV
gene? as disclosed by these teste, th?
use of student activities affords a solu?
tion of a problem upon which manj
psychologists themselves have gon?
aotrny. Lacking long classroom con?
tact with boys and girls, they have toe
frequently sought to use the surplus
mental energy of these extraordinarilj
capable students in advanced subjects
"Opportunity classes" are too ?fter
given over to the accomplishment, ?!
it is put, of "two or three years' worli
in one." The result is the anomaly oi
a boy or girl, let us say, of twelve
years, with only that maturity and de?
velopment, in a class vith youths o?
fifteen or sixteen.
Service to Fellow Mao
The mental age of the child nurj
abundantly warrant this, hut what wi
have, nevertheless, la a child lackinj
too often the balance, the Judgment
r.nd, of course, the prestige of his com
panions. Few figures In school or col
lege are more pitiable than these ao
called "Infant prodigies."
Justice to these unusually capabh
r.tudents demands that they be givei
large scope. By/all means hold then
to high standards In lessons, give then
vastly more to do tn every subject thai
their fellows, enrich their courses witl
heveml additional studies (it will oftei
be found that they particularly nee<
training in the use of the hands; ther?
fore, extra drawing, manual training.
etc.), but above everything, eneonrngi
them in self-expression through abun
diuit student activities,
I have in mind one lad whose parent:
and teacher? had always known him t<
be of remarkable intellect, and hac
accordingly encouraged his reading si
far afield that his range and his inter
osts were extraordinarily beyond hii
yours. No one had surmised, however
the fact disclosed by the mental test -
that his mind was over six years be
vond the rest of his make-up. Thi
temptation was to advance him two co
even three grades at a time. Withou'
any difficulty at all he might b(
coached to enter college at thirteen 01
fourteen. Upon conference with th?
parents it was decided, however?an<?
most wisely, as it seema to me?to do
nothing ao freakish with this boy: to
Intimate to him in no way any differ
?n?e from his fellows, but rather quiet?
ly to encourage his reading and to add
ether Interests.
Service to Fellowmaa
Finishing his lessons in bnt a frac?
tion of the time of hi? fellow?, he
jfould pursue hi? reaeavche? in ?eience.
la-other study periods he would go
into the ahop or tho nrt room. He
liked music 1 irst, lessons on the
piano were given; then the violin.
Presently he began to write and be?
came the representative of the school
! paper among his group. Then his fel
| lows elected him chairman of tho prin
| cipal society, which did really a fine
work under his leadership. He be?
longed also to the school orchestra,
carried one of the principal parts in
( a most carefully prepared play in Eng
! Hsh and another in French, and still
| had time for an abundance, of athletics.
Here wero eight separate channels,
| in addition to much enriched lessons,
; into which tho splendid mentality of
! this lad poured itself. In each, he gave
: pleasure to others, and this uncon
? sciously paved tho way for an unusual
service to his fellow man. As his de?
velopment unfolds, it cannot be doubt
I ed that this natural expression of his
| interests among ?ads of his own age
and maturity will render him far bet
; ter balanced than the mere absorption
? of the advanced subject-matter of
1 which he is capable. I
For all normal minds, therefore,
student activities hhve an important
? place. The number to be engaged in
1 depends almost wholly upon tho capa
I bility which the measurement of in
j telligence discloses. Any school which
I fails to use this means of discrimina
! tior. does its students the injustice of
! relying upon impression only, not upon
! fact.
Discipline a Verrlng Problem
So accustomed are parents to think
? of education in terms of books and
I of recitations that often tho great
I value of such a splendid influence as
student activities is quite overlooked.
It is to be remembered that these
represent "learning by doing." The
magio touch which physical training
receives through athletics is at onco
apparent. It is no less so with other
vital subjects or impulses.
Discipline, for example, the most vex?
ing problem in school life, is wonder?
fully improved by the practice of so
called self-government?which means
really as largo an approach to student
control, at best immature, a3 the school
authorities find wise. Greater ad?
vances have recently been made in
this field than in almost any other
extra-curricular activity. Starting
with class committees elected by the
fellows to take over one responsibility
after another, thrso plans have gradu?
ally come to emhraco the conduct of
study periods, and disciplining for or?
dinary offenses without reference to
the faculty. In one school, indeed, all
dormitory supervision baa been taken
over by the students.
The training in leadership and in re?
spect for elected authority which this
plan affords is genuino preparation for
life in a democratic government. The
one danger to be avoided is any sem?
blance of espionage. Offenders report
to their fellows, who set the penalty in
I all cases except those involving actual
I viciousness. Here, of course, the school
i authorities must use their power. That
is the solo great limitation of self
government.
Self-Help Spreading
Self-help is a comparatively new
Btudent activity, but it is spreading.
Arising from the ordinary complexities
| of tho servant problem, it is empha?
sized by the exceptional difficulties of
these times. Boys and girls aro now
enjoying advantages of which they
have long been robbed by too much
service. Why should they not learn, by
keeping their own classrooms clean,
what it means to litter them? Doubly,
! of course, this applies to boarding
I school, where tho students' own bed?
rooms are concerned. Why, too, should
they be deprived of the privilege of
sharing in the setting, the serving and
the clearing away of the meals?
All of these activities take far less
time than had been supposed, and
make clear to youth how much human
energy is necessarily expended in
! doing for us what we can to greater
I advantage do for ourselves.
I There are obvious limitations to this
? plan, of course?the danger of hurried
I and careless work; the. tendency to
| lean upon tho few who are willing, and
I the failure on tho part of tho tchoo!
? authorities themselves to give to co
I operation with tho students the tim?
[ and the thought which the scheme de?
mands. On the whole, however, nc
other Btudent activity holds mor?
wholesome possibilities than that o?
self-help.
Wise to Eaconrage Activtttea
How debating, literary activities and
school Journalism transform English
and give opportunity for management
for leadership and for expression;
how patriotic efforts, fucb as were the
Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives
permit love of country to speak in ac?
tual work; how music becomes a Joj
through the Glee Club and the or
chestraj how Shakespeare becomes rea
through actual presentation of "Juliu:
Ctesar," for example; how Latin oi
Greek is no longer "dead" when usei
by the Classical Ciub in actuul scene;
from the trial of Catiline, or a dia
logue of Plato; how "being good," tha'
lifeless state, becomes actual througl
"doing good" in tho relief or tho mis
sionary society; how physics or chem
istry become, through tho Science Club
subjects for enthusiasm?all these aiu
many more works of magic, will hi
clear to parents and educators wh<
carefully consider how much to youtl
an organization of his own comes t<
mean.
The wise thing, therefore, Is to en
courage atudent activities ? alwayi
within the range of the mental ca
paclty of the individual.
(This la the closing article by Mr
Hackett in a series of four, deallnj
with the private school, which hav<
appeared in successive Sunday issue:
of The Tribune.)
-a
Golf and Polo Attract
Scores to Garden Gtj
Crack United State? Army Tearr
Wins Match for McLaughlin
and Prince Cups
Bpertal Dispatch to The Tribun?
GARDEN CITY, L. L, Sept. 18.?Gol
and polo were the principal topics o
conversation here during tho week
Scores of motoring parties stopped her>
to witness golf matches in which na
tional stars appeared and then motorei
? short distance from Garden City am
Hempstead to see the national po'.c
tournaments at Meadow Brook, when
the crack players of tho United State;
Army crossed mallets with a te;in
Wednesday and won the cups offerei
by Frederic McLaughlin, of Chicago
and Frederick II. Prince jr., of Boston
Earlier in the week the first of thi
series of matches for the open nations
polo championship was held. Thesi
matches will continue for the next ter
days.
Next week will be "Horse Show Week'
at the Queens-Nassau Fair at Mine?la
and lovers of saddle horses, hunter?
and polo ponies have already engager
many of the boxes around the horse
show ring where New York and Long
Island society colonies will enter the
pick of their stables in the various
dassea.
The Store Accommodating
f HE GREATEST STORE and the GREAT?
EST BUSINESS In Brooklyn have arisen
here on the foundation of PUBLIC SATIS?
FACTION, with the beit service and the
lowest prices, always linked with high quality.
ina
Weather To-marrs&
Faw and Warm
Telephone Main 6100
Store Hoars: 9 to 5:30
The A. & S. Crossway connects the downtown platform of the Hoyt Street subway station with the elevator in the East Building, thus making it possible for our patrons
using the Nostrand Avenue and Eastern Parkway extension trains to enter The Store Accommodating without ascending to Fulton Street. Patrons from Manhattan using
Lexington or Seventh Avenue trains can enter direct from our private entrance at Hoyt Street.
tbe Comfort of tbe too
Important Sales
Chosen from the Wide Range of A.& S. Stocks
Mahogany Finish Floor Lamps
$9.95 from $13.50
A PLEASING STYLE which makes a pretty addition to
die surroundings in living or music room. A plain column highly
polished and gracefully turned. Two lights.
24-Inch Silk Shades for these lamps. Silk lined. Plain shirred
top with border of plain and figured silk and panels of sunbursts.
Trimmed with tassels and fringe to match in rose, gold and blue
and rose lining. Reduced from $24.95 to $19.95.
Table Lamps, $8.95
Hand-painted, electric lamps
finished with a beautiful design.
One light. Figured silk shade in
choice of colors.
/ A. & S.?Third floor. Central.
Vase Lamps, $8.95
14 Inches high. Mounted with
one light and wooden base. In
several colors. Parchment shade
in plain color to match base.
HIGH ?RADE SEAMLESS AXMINSTER RUGS
At Prices Offering a Rare Opportunity to Save
. Substantial Sums and Obtain Exceptional Values
A SPECIAL PURCHASE of fine quality Seamless Rugs which, although sold to us by the manufacturer
as slightly imperfect we guarantee the service each one will give to equal the same grades at the regular
prices which are 25 to 33 ?/3 per cent more than the sale prices.
We have carefully examined every one of the several hundred rugs as they were opened and very few
show any defect at all. None contain any flaw that will affect either wear or appearance. The imperfections
are merely technical defects in outline of design only. Fine Oriental and Persian designs.
Best Grade Made in Seamless Axminster
Second Quality Seamless 'Axminster
Much Needed Houseware
Greatly Reduced
EACH ARTICLE was* selected with the idea of offering an item
whose presence in any well-regulated household is absolutely neces?
sary. The merchandise has been in our regular stock and priced at
considerably more than we ask Monday.
// Perfect Salt
Would Be Price
27x54 inches. $7.75 $6.50
86x72 inches. 14.00 10.9S
4%x6y3 feet. 27.25 20.95
6x9 feet.49.00 39.75
7%x9 feeff... 64.50 53.50
// Perfect Sale
Would Tie Price
8%xl0% feet 82.50 64.75
9x12 feet_90.00 69.75
9x15 feet_130.00 105.00
12x15 feet...172.00 137.50
If Perfect Sale
Would be Price
27x54 inches., $7.00 $5.75
36x72 inches. 11.75 8.95
4%x6% feet. 22.50 17.75
If Perfect Sale
Would be Price
6x9 feet.42.^0 33.75
7%x9feet...- 56.00 47.50
?^xlOMi feet 70.00 54.75
9x12 feet-75.00 59.75
Made by a mill whose name has one of the best reputations in the country.
Aluminum Double
Boilers, $1.24
Reduced from $1.98
2,000 of them. 2-quart capacity.
Can be used as two separate Uten?
sils.
Metal Carpet Sweepers,
$2.79 .
Mahogany finish; removable
brush; nickle trimmings. Perfect?
ly sanitary.
"Mirro" Aluminum
Convex Kettles, $2.38
Highly polished, heavy gauge
aluminum with deep set-in cover,
and ball handle. 6-quart capacity.
Can be used for many purposes.
"Mirro" Aluminum Con?
vex Sauce Pans, $1.60
Highly polished, heavy gauge
aluminum with deep set-in cover,
and long side handle. 8-quart
capacity.
"Mirro" Aluminum Pre?
serving Kettles, $2.48
Heavy gauge, highly polished
aluminum. Bail handle, 8-quart
capacity. Lipped to make pour?
ing easy.
Linoleums arid Carpets at Unusual Reductions from their Regular Prices
Inlaid Linoleums, Wilton Carpets, Cork Linoleums,
.59 and $1.79 Sq. Yd. $4.95 Yd. $1.19 Sq. Yd.
Were $2.00 and $2.15 2?r f5,^ Grade Slirt
ill
Aluminum Coffee
Percolators, $1.38
Reduced from $1.98
Glass top, hinged cover, side
handle. 6-cup capacity.
Porcelain Top Tables,
$8.75
Reduced from $13.50
Pure white enamel base with
white porcelain top that Is sani?
tary and easily cleaned. Equipped
with drawer. Size 22x34 inches.
"Mirro" Lipped
Sauce Pans, 98c.
Heavy gauge aluminum highly
polished. With side handle. 2
quart capacity.
Reddy Electric Toaster
Ranges, $3.98
Broils, toasts and fries. Very
inexpensive to operate. Complete
with cord and plug.
Martha Washington
Electric Irons, $4.48
Reduced from $5.48
Fully nickle plated, with de?
tachable cord and plug.
A. & 8.?Subway floor. East.
Many designa and colors. Pull rolls.
Slightly misprinted.
Full rolls.
A. a B.?T?re floor. Eut
4 yards wide.
FOURTH WEEK OF] THE CHINA SALE
Brings Dinner Setsy Cut Glass, Table Glassware
and Clocks at 10 to 50 Per Cent. Savings
THE OPPORTUNITIES are every bit as good on this, the beginning of the fourth week, as they
were on the first day of the Sale. If you have been out of town and have been unable to attend
the Sale, you can come here Monday assured of finding a remarkable selection of exceptional
values waiting your selection.
200 American Porcelain Dinner and Hand-Painted Nippon China Tea Sets
Luncheon Sets, $4.95, $10.95, $19.95 Reduced from $12.95 to $8.50
White and gold band and line design on good, durable
porcelain. This particular design la carried in open stock.
32-PTECE LUNCHEON SETS.$4.95
52-PIECE DINNER SETS. io.95
100-PIECE DINNER SETS.19.95
White and gold design.
CHOCOLATE SETS in same material and design, reduced
from $10.95 to.$6.98
12,000 White and Gold Tea Cups and Saucers
25c. Each
Limit of 2 dozen to a customer.
Hundreds of Pieces of Handsome Cut Glass Greatly Reduced
Reduced
from
9-ln. Fruit Bowls.$4.98
Ice Cream Trays. 4.93
7-Piece Water Sets_14.95
Sugar and Cream Sets 6.49
Ice Cream Trays. 6.98
Reduced
At from
$3.95 Footed Compotes.$4.49
3-95 12-ln. Flower Vases_ 5.98
11.95 16-in. Flower Vases . . .14.49
5.29 Rose Bowls. 5.98
5.29 Banana Dishes . 3.93
A & t?.?iSubwuj floor. Central.
At
$3.75
4.29
11.95
3.95
2.93
Reduced
im m
12-in. Flower Vases. .. .$5.49
Square Salad Dishes . . 6.98
Water Pitchers .5.49
Bon Bon Dishes.2.49
Water Bottles .?;.7.r>
Olive Dishes. 3.39
At
$3.93
4.98
4.75
1.85
4.98
2.39
DRAPERIES ? PORTIERES - CURTAINS
*f* a.
A Remarkable Collection of Offerings
One looks to soft draperies, rich portieres and crisp curtains to add the finishing touch of homelikeness and
charm to the furnishings of a room. So they are essential in one's Fall furnishing plans. The wide stocks of
the A. & S. Upholstery Store come forward with a wonderful variety of appropriate offerings at great savings
in pnce.
Portieres
Curtains
Fine Linen Offerings
Very Low in price
Linens are one of the fundamental essentials of house equipmentl
You just can't afford to buy inferior quality, but when you can buy
superior quality at such prices as these, buying is a wise investment
Many of these prices are less than it would cost us to import these
goods today.
VELOUR PORTIERES, single-faced, with embossed border;
brown, rose and blue; very low priced, at. . . .$7.98 each
CHENILLE PORTIERES, reversible, with plain-colored
centers, at.$21.95 pair
ART SILK PORTIERES, allover designs and plain centers,,
with the new serpentino edge, at.$20.95 pair
Draperies, Etc.
UPHOLSTERY VELOURS, 50-inch; In dark blue. Copen
hagen and rose; in 117 to 10 yard lengths; for draperies
and furniture coverings, at.$2.35 yard
VERDURE TAPESTRIES, 50-inch; for furniture cover?
ings, at $3.45 to.$6.95 vard
DRAPERY DAMASKS, for doors and windows, ?O-'inch.
at $5.95 to..,.$7.95 yard
A. & 8.?Third
FILET NET CURTAINS, figured, at.$1.85 pair
With plain or figured centers, at.$2.90 pair
SWISS CURTAINS, with colored borders, and Scrirq Cur?
tains with hemstitched edges, at. ..98c. pair
SCRIM and MARQUISETTE CURTAINS, with lace edge
and hemstitched border, at.$1.85 pair
SCRIM CURTAINS, with extra wide lace edges on good
quality of scrim, at.$2.35 pair
IRISH POINT LACE CURTAINS, imported; allover and
Duchess designs; 2 Va to 3 Va yards long, at
$8.95 to.$39.95 pair
VOILE CURTAINS, good quality, filet motifs and inser?
tions, at' $4.95 to.$18.95 pair
FILET NET CURTAINS, plain and figured centers, on good
net, at $4.95 to.$18.95 pair
floor. Central.
UNEN TOWELS, $1.15
Of heavy all linen; hem-stitched.
DISH TOWELS, 29c
Reduced from 39c
Part linen, colored border.
TABLE CLOTH, $2.35
Reduced from $2.75
1 % yds. square, extra
bleached cotton.
heavy
BATH TOWELS, $2.25
Reduced from $2.75
Large size, with colored border.
GLASS TOWELS, 55c
Reduced from 65c
Part linen, Irish typed in red
and blue.
TABLE CLOTH, $3.45
2 yds. square, highly mercerized
damask. Stunning design.
A. * S -Street fi"?r. r*s*
The September Sale of Silverware
DRESENTING an unusually fine collection of brand new Flat and Hollow ware for the silver chest;
* they are all from standard makers, and all are offered at savings?the prices being considerably
under preesnt market values . v
Three Important Groups Are Found in this Sale
No. 1?Silver Plated Hollovr Ware in a
number of handsome pieces showing
handsome designs; the majority being
American Sheffield plate, heavily sil?
vered on hard metal bases.
No. 2.?Silver Plated Flat Ware
of standard grade, from ^m.
Rogers Manufacturing Co., the
well-known maker.
No. 3.?Sterling Handled Hat
Ware in 3 beauitful plain pat?
terns; the handles are Sterling
silver with silver plated bowls,
tines and blades. ?
Silver Plated Hollow Ware
Cheese and Cracker Dishes, In
pierced design ; silver handle ; glass
cheese dish with silver cover, at,
$5.65
Bread Trays, In the bright or gray
finish; mostly plain with a narrow
fancy border, at.$2.83
TEA SPOONS?95c a set of six.
DESSERT SPOONS?$1.85 a set of
six.
Roll Trays, oblong shape, with han?
dles; a simple rich design, at.$4.10
Syrup Sets, consisting of Pitcher and
Tray in several different designs,
at .$3.20
Tid Bit Servers, in a pretty pierced
pattern, bright finish; three sec?
tions, at.$10.30
Silver Plated Flatware
TABLE SPOONS?$2.10 a set of six.
DESSERT FORKS?$1.85 a set of
six.
Vegetable ?)umes, perfectly plain,
with handles on end of cover, mak?
ing two dishes, at.$9.30
Cake Baskets, bright finish, with
fluted center, witli handle, at $5.10
DINNER FORKS?$2.10 a set of six.
DESSERT KNIVES?$2.35 a set of
?ix.
DINNER KNIVES?$235 a net of six.
BUTTER SPREADERS?$1.85 a aet of six.
A Heppelwhite
Dining Room Suite
$575.0.0 from $675.00
Both the high character of A. & S. Furniture, and the moderate?
ness of A. & S. prices are illustrated by this offering?one of a large
number of fine Period Dining Room Suites in our stock.
The Suite ?3 of 10 pieces, in selected American walnut; the design is an
excellent adaptation of the Heppelwhite style. The five side chairs and
arm chair have seats covered with blue figured damask. The dining tabla
is 54-inch, extending to 8 feet.
Other dining room suites include Jacobean, Elizabethan, Georgian,
Italian Renaissance, Span-Umbrian, Queen Anne, William and ?*J7'
Sheraton and Colonial, in mahogany, American walnut and oak?a ???