The Washington herald., 1915-10-14

courses: he may choose the regular
academic prepara ton for college. but In
either case there is a proportion of play
activities for health's sake. Superintend-
ent Writ calls his diplomas for graduates
of his schools work certificates"
Superintendent Writ emphasizes that
his purpose is pre-vocational rather than
that of trade-School He seeks to trans
form the play impulse into the work i'm
pulse, to educate the child by what In
terests him. The children see connec-
tions between learning and living as they
go along. They are not separated from
life to become prepared for life. Values
are revealed to them as a motive for
work by pointing out or creating situa-
! tions in which these values are appre-
ciated by them. Studies are correlated
with activities. and school is correlated
with daily life.
The outstanding fact in the Gary sys-
tenn is that while half the children are
being trained in regular school exercises.
half are being trained In physical, man.
ual. social, domestic and agricultural
matters as much as possible out of doors.
And once an hour they exchange places.
In the special subjects a girl, for eX-
ample. may take a music lesson or ac-
tually help her mother at home on train
ing schedule. The experiment has been
made OF assigning an hour Of the free
activities" to the study of the Bible un-
der the direction of ministers of various
denominations and their assistants. The
Gary idea of a school-plant. In short is
to make II a playground, garden. work
shop. social center. library and tradi-
tional school combined under the same
management. In a city like Gary, with
10000 inhabitants, largely foreigners this
type of school assumes the necessity of
providing much Of what homes" may
not provide for children, and accents the
Importance of free child activity in con-
tact with the earth in order to counter
act the influences Of artificial city con-
ditions.
How Gary Got Mr.. Writ.
Mr. Writ did not set out to astonish
anybody. The story is that he went to
Gary as visitor curious to see the
steel city In process of construction. He
got into conversation with n contractor
who was so interested in Wirt's notions
OF the different kind of schools Gary had
the chance to build that he was passed
along to the man who eventually be-
came mayor and secured him as school
superintendent He has astonished q
great many public-school people.
Some New School Furniture.
The most conspicuous one Of Mr.. Wirt's
innovations consists of grouping pupils
by what they show most interest in rath-
e- than by grades according to age; II
one should be obliged to drop out at any
quarter he could come back at another
quarter and begin again where he left
of; desks, laboratories and other equip
ment are used interchangeably at all
stages Of progress-thc pupils have lock-
ers for personal property. but youngest
or oldest they use other furniture at need
anywhere in the plant: advancement from
stage to stage may be slower or faster
depending upon the aptitude Of the In
dividual child.
Some of the features which seem novel
are:
Children raising SQUADS for market
Ailing children sent to School to re-
gain health
Promotion by subjects instead Of by
grades.
Not the rule Of silence. bu. free ques-
ton and answer in laboratory or shop.
older pupils helping the younger.
A spirit Of self-control and co-ouera-
tion In place of discipline"
Desks convertible into work benches.
with separate tools and loose tops that
car be carried along for sketching or
copying.
Science and shop instructors teaching
mathematics and English involved In
their subjects
Corridor exhibits.
Auditorium exercises including dra.
mancs' music. moving pictures etc
More than one--hird II the schools open
for evening shop instruction OF edults.
schools kept open Saturday by popular
demand from pupi!s.
Fairgrounds, swimming pools, and gym
nasiums open to children and adults on
Sunday.
Part time vacation scy bol term.
Bundles Of wrfgElcs.
Superintendent Writ says to other cities
Where ne has been invited to speak:
the average child il bundle OF twist
wriggie and squirm. and that tendsnoy