Seth Low Junior High School - Spectator Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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Ans.: Yes, one of the hardest things, for any boy or girl, is to learn how to study. A supervised study period is intended to teach a pupil how to learn something by himself. This was an enlightening thirty minutes, and we left the office of our City Superintendent, fully satisfied that it was an afternoon well-spent. Muriel Rodnon, RD3 Evelyn Lasky, RD2 O . O INTERVIEW WITH BOROUGH PRESIDENT RAYMOND V. INGERSOLL COMING from the hubub of the subway we entered the street. We walked amid campaigners of the various parties who were campaigning for the coming election. In a few minutes we were gazing upon our Borough Hall. After climbing a long fiight of stairs we entered a hall covered with many portraits of famous political men. Since these oil paintings attracted our attention we were in- terested in finding out who they were. One of the first pictures that we noticed was a beautiful portrait of Mayor Seth Low after whom our school is named. After a while we walked into the waiting office of our Borough President. The secretary in this office told us that Mr. Ingersoll was away on a mission in Manhattan, but was expected there any minute. Then we were ushered into Mr. Brownis office tMr. IngersolPs private secretaryy and he said that he would be glad to answer any questions while we were waiting for Mr. IngersolPs arrival. A few minutes later the Borough President arrived. We were shown into his private office where he greeted us cordially. He told us to be seated and he would answer our questions. We asked him the following questions: Ques.: In view of the iire hazards, donit you think builders should be prohibited from building frame dwellings? Ans.: Fire Limits are established by the Board of Fire Underwriters. The larger part of Flatbush is now within the Limits. New frame buildings may not be built within the Limits unless they are built after special permission is obtained. Qua: Cannot appropriations be made so that roads may be constructed wholly instead of in parts as at present? Ans.: Usually we do construct the roads and complete them. Some roads have been surfaced to give the unemployed men work. Ques.: Do you think that Junior High Schools are an essential link be- tween Public School and High School Education? Ans.: Yes, I think that they form a valuable part in the education system. THE SPECTATOR Page Thirty-five

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CHATS WlTlHl ELEBRlTllES AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. VEIT SUNNY, bright, clear weather marked the day for our interview with Dr. Campbell, Superintendent of all schools in N. Y. C. We traveled for an hour until we reached Lexington Avenue, Manhattan, from where we pro- ceeded to Park Avenue and the Hall of Education of the City of New York. From where we stood in front of the edifice, could be seen a tall, imposing grey-stone structure, nine stories in height. Rather awed, we ascended, via elevator, to the seventh floor, on which Dr. Campbellis oHice was situated. Imagine our disappointment and chagrin, to find that the superintendent was too busy to be interviewed by anybody. The secretary, however, referred us to Dr. Veit, Superintendent of Junior High Schools in New York City. We again ascended in the elevator to the ninth floor and Dr. Veitis oflice. Upon hearing our request for an interview, his secretary bade us wait for the return of the superintendent. After fifteen minutes wait, we were ushered into the presence of that genial person who put us at ease by his friendly manner. Our interview con- sisted of a few questions, which he answered with very clear explanation of which the following gives the important points: Ques.: Do you believe in compulsory education? Why or why not? Ans. : Every school man believes in it. If there wasnit a compulsory law, there would be a tremendous number of children roaming around the streets. Ques.: Do you think that the use of the newspaper is of greater value to the Civics classes than the text-book? Why? Ans.: Yes. Newspapers contain more real, live information, concerning what is going on in the city and country. Ques.: Do you believe in exemptions from the final tests? Why or why not? Ans.: I see no advantage in exempting anybody from the tests. I think everybody should take them. Ques: What do you think of homework as a whole? Ans.: The certain amount of home study is necessary to cover the work of each grade. In a class of 35 or more, the teacher cannot hear more than 8 or 10 pupils recite and therefore the preparation of it at home, is to some extent a substitute for what in small classes can be done in school. Ques.: Do you think that a supervised study period is helpful to the students? Page Thirty-four T H E S P E C T A T O R

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Qua: Do you think that an appropriation can be obtained to complete building the Public Library at Grand Army Plaza and Eastern Parkway? Ans. : The library was started on elaborate and expensive plans. In recent years the City has been in such financial dilheulties that it is impossible to , finish the library. The appropriation necessary is estimated at $Io,ooo,ooo.oo. Ques.: What efforts are being made to eliminate the cess pools now existing? Ans.: Just as soon as we can get the money to construct sewers we will do it. As our interview was over we again shook hands with the Borough President and left his office. We walked silently down the steps of Borough Hall, each girl thoughtfully considering the preceding interview. Evelyn Lasky, RD2 Jessica Greenberg, RD2 O . O A REVEALING TALK WITH DR. 6. R. MASON NE sunny afternoon, I left the school and went to Abraham Lincoln High . School to interview Dr. Mason. I arrived and dashed up the long white staircase in front of the beautiful building. I was bewildered when I entered, for all about me were rooms with signs indicating various activities. I walked down a long corridor and finally saw a sign, tIPrincipalis OfHCC,,, and I walked in. After waiting a few minutes, during which I talked to the principals secretary, I went into Dr. Mason,s olhce. After speaking a few words to Dr. Mason, I started my interview. After having always seen that most of our famous inventors and scientists always came from some small town I naturally asked Dr. Mason if he thought . that the out of town schoolboy had as good or better education than a boy who had been educated in New York. Dr. Mason replied, ItNo, the city boy has many advantages that the country boy has not, from an educational standpoint. The schools are usually well built, they have room for sports, they have libraries, auditoriums as large as some theatres, drawing rooms and in Lincoln we have a swimming pool, with 4, 500 lockers, a rifle room, and in fact Lincoln cost $5,000,000 to build. The text books are excellent, clear and well written, so that the pupil may more readily understand his work. The teachers are well prepared, they must take examinations before they may become a training teacher, after that the teacher becomes a substitute for about one year and then finally becomes a teacher. They have new methods of teaching and know how to make pupils graSp the work. Formerly the person who was a teacher, was a failure in other fields of life, and eouldnit do anything else, and was laughed at and mocked as shown by Irving in his story about Ichabod Crane. Now a teacher is a respected person, and important in community life. The aims are better, for nowadays in our big schools they do not only want to 'Page Thirty-six T H E S P E C T A T 0 R