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count of the many non-English speaking children in the schools. 
Limiting operation of numbers to 1000 was done so that children 
would work only with numbers which were possible of compre- , 
hension by them. 
Prof. Henry W. Holmes, Division of Education, Harvard Uni- 
versity: ''In general, it seems to me that your course of study is 
excellent. Naturally everything depends on the way in which it 
is carried out, but so far as your program on paper is con- 
cerned, it is unquestionably commendable. I have only one doubt 
about the general character of the program : it seems to me too 
difficult. It is not too meager nor graded too low for a good city 
system of schools in the states. I should fear, therefore, that teach- 
ers would find it a hard program to carry out under your condi- 
tions. But of this point you can best judge for yourself. . . . 
"I cannot, I regret to say, criticise your elementary school pro- 
gram in great details, but I will add here one or two remarks 
on certain particular points, which may indicate for you the basis 
of my general reaction as given above. I shall give you rather 
the points of adverse criticism than those of approval, not be- 
cause the former would be more numerous if I spoke of each 
detail in the course, but because I suppose you wish suggestions 
for improvement rather than mere praise. 
"1. Are the stories told in language work the native stories; 
or are they stories of American, English and German inheritance ? 
So large a proportion of your school population is oriental that it 
would seem highly desirable to have your fairy tales, fables, 
rhymes, etc., very largely oriental in origin. 
''2. Are the punctuation marks to be taught in each grade 
carefully listed? If a more general recommendation to teach 
punctuation is given out, it is likely that no one teacher will feel 
responsible for the teaching of particular marks. 
"3. Your nature study program seems to include rather too 
much observation and too little actual growing of plants or ani- 
mals, etc., although this element is not entirely lacking in it. 
"4. Your illustrative work, which stands, I suppose, for draw- 
ing, seems to aim rather more than it should at the development 
of mere technical skill with the pencil and brush, and the capacity 
to make working drawings or semi-scientific representations of 
objects. , . . 
''5. Your course in geography seems to emphasize too much 
and too early the scientific study of the subject. The social side 
of it — conditions of life the world over — should be very strong 
at the beginning, and should yield only at the end to the scien- 
tific aspects of the subject. 
"6. It would seem to me that you introduce technical gram- 
mar rather too early in Grade IV. 
"7. Your history seems to me to emphasize too much at the 
beginning American history ; it would seem natural to start some- 
where nearer home. 
