New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-16
Professor Dewey of Columbia Says Value of rk-Study
and-Pay Has Already Been EstabGshed-Should Be
Extended to Other Schoos-Richcr
Opportunities for Children.

pedagogical standpoint the desirable
ity II continuous daily work in these
activities Their importance has been
accepted by educators for years. The
Writ plan simply makes Il possible for
the educational world 20 have the kind
of facilities which they have always
desired for children. Each community
can. OF course. work out the particular
kind OF manual work or science or
drawing or music which is adapted TO
its own particular needs.
Development of Individual Child.
81 consider that one OF the most
important features Of the work-study-
and-play plan is It's adaptability to local
needs and conditions. The feXibility of
its programme also makes II possible
TO give attention TO the needs Of the
individual child. One Of the worst
things about our present schools is
their rigidity. Under our present grade
system children are necessarily edu-
Gated in groups. and, much az the teach
ers and principals might wish to give
attention to the individual child, the in.
feasibility of the ordinary school pro-
gramme makes II impossible.
Under Mr.. Wirt's plan, however, Il
is possible 10 make programmes which
are adjusted 20 the needs not only of
the individual school district or the
particular school in question, but to
the needs Of every child The boy who
Is slow in academic work but eager for
manual work may take an extra period
Of industrial work instead OF audito-
rum. And il is almost certain that
through his interest in the shop work
he will come TO see the practical value
OF the academic work. A child who is
not strong physically may have twice
as much play as the other children UNI
I'll his physical health is built up.
In other words, the curriculum Is made
TO At the children, not the children the
curriculum. The infexibility OF the
ordinary public school tends to push
the pupils out of school instead of
keeping them in. The work-study-snd-
play plan tends 70 keep Them in school
by rousine their interest and letting
them develop along the lines which
most appeal TO them.
Gary Plan Should BE Extended to Other
Schools.
AS to the local situation Il is evident
that the rk-study-and-play plan as
enriched opportunities 70 children, but
It is the only feasible plan as yet sug-
gested for the prompt abolition of the
part time evil There are thousands Of
children at present in the public
schools who are not receiving five hours
or even four hours instruction a day.
The first duty Of the city is 70 put all
those children on full time. The work
study-nnd-play plan does put them on
full time and also gives them a more
vital school life.
"As ! understand il, the proposition
at present is 20 gradually extend the
plan to the schools where the part time
evil already exists. This seems to me
an eminently wise and practical proceed
ure. / can see no possible reason for
hesitating to extend this plan TO other
districts on the plea that it needs to be
'eyaluated' before extension"
Practicabllity OF the Gary Plan.
en- regard To n question concerning
the alleged imprscticabilty Of introduc
ing the work-study-and-play plan IN
schools which have little or no play
ground space and which lack other ia
cilities such as are provided in some
OF the Gary schools. Mr. Dewey said:
The whole question is whether the
tendency Of the ork-study-and-p play
plan would not be to emphasize the
need for just such things and 70 make
II possible 10 finance them. II is only
too evident that the present system has
not adequately furnished them. Is that
a good reason for continuing the pres
ent system? II seems absurd 10 use
the evils of the present plan as rea-
son for refusing to adopt system
which in time would put an end to
these evils.
ITO argue that the Gary system is
because the present Sys-
TEN has not provided the agencies un-
doubtedly required for the full success
Of the new plan is kind Of argument
which would prevent any progress any
where. II makes the evils Of a system
q reason for not trying to get rid of
them"
Meetings on Gary Plan.
The following meetings will be held
on the Gary plan on Thursday and Fri
dag OF this week:
Thursday. December 16, II a. nn.-The
League for Political Education will hold
a meeting for the discussion Of the
Gary plan at the Hudson Theatre, 1879
West Forty-fourth Street. The speak
crs will be William Writ, Superintend-
ent OF Schools, Gary, Ind, and Tristrsm
Walker Metcalfe. school editor Of The
Globe At 5 o'clock on the evening
Of December i6 the South Brooklyn
Civic League will hold meeting for
a discussion Of the Gary plan At Pub
lie School No 6. Smith Street, between
Baltic and Warren Streets, Brooklyn.
Public School No. can be reached By
subway to Borough Hall and Smith
Street car 20 Warren Street. The
speakers will be william Writ, Super
intendent of Schools. Gary. Ind. and
DR.. Joseph O'Reilly. Of the local school
board. Joseph Mills. of the South
Brooklyn Civic League, will preside.
Friday, December II, at p. m, the
Brooklyn Institute holds meeting at
the Academy Of Music building for a
discussion Of the Gary plan. The
speakers will be William Writ, OF Gary,
Ind. and Controller Prendergast.