New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-15
Establishes New System in
Brooklyn and Goes
on TO Bronx.
AIMS TO SHOW CHILD
HOW HE SHOULD LIVE
Plan Embraces Both Play and
Work and Fullest Use Of
Instruction Plant.
By HENRIETTA RODMAN.

Build up a splendid system Of ele-
mentary sehools-that is the frst busi-
ness OF the nation" says William
Writ, whom the city has brought from
Gary, Ind, to remske our public
schools.
Mr.. Writ has already remade Public
School SO in Brooklyn, and now he Is
beginning hi, work on Public School
45 In The Bronx. The skeleton OF his
plan IS as follows.
1. The use Of the entire school plant
by having two schools In the same
building at the same time. While the
children Of tho hrss school are using
the regular classrooms the children OF
the second school ara IN the sud!so-
rum, the shops and the playground
This plan was originated by supsr'n-
tendent Ettinger, and It has been made
the basil. Of Mr.. wirt's system.
2. The school is community IN
which the children live for about eisn'
hours day. working, playing ana
studying. They learn TO read and write
and reckon a. other school children do
but thew do many things besides.
They wash and iron their clothes IN
the laundry; they mend them IN the
sewing room, and mend their shoes IN
the shoemaker's shop.
In the laboratory they test the candy
thew eat and the food served In the
lunch. They publish their findings IN
the school bulletin, which they prin'
themselves. They make and repair the
school furniture in the carpenters
shop and paint 1t In the painters next
| door.
| All these shops are self-supportins'
IN each there is a skilled plumber
shoemaker, dressmaker, painter or car
nsnter-a regular worker at his trade
and he plies his trade In the schooi
A he works the older children WORE
with him. The younger ones look on
and help from time to time. Inc
children choose the trade they will
work at, or take only academic SUB
jects If they prefer.
Tho school store furnishes the ma
terials used in the school, and there
the Young people learn to buy and SELL
TO keep books and take stock.
But IT'S not all work for Jack In
Mr.. Wirt's schools. Each school has
twenty acres Of land about 1t, with
opportunity for every sport boy or
Girl can imagine. There are even sKat-
inc In winter and swimming in sum-
mer.
IL perfectly obvious that the child
rem live every day IN these schools, ana
by living learn to live. II there's any
thing in New York that's worth watch
ing II is Mr.. Writ remaking our schools
"Now that the superintendents have
finished simplifying the course OF study
IN arithmetic" said Dorothy, lets
simplify the course or STUDY IN ar'.h-
metic. The trouble with the superin-
.endents Is they don't know how 70
let 60.
"Who wants 70 know Roman num-
her, 70 100? Rubbish Out with III
And more besides.
What is loyalty?
The right kind Of loyalty Is the
highly rewarded quality Of teacher
in our public schools. But there are
wrong kinds. Choose carefully.
First, there is unselfsh devotion TO
the whole community. Is It that kindg
Second, there is devotion to the In
terests Of your pupils. Is it that?
Third. unquestioning acceptance OF
the authority of your "superiors." Is
it, by any chance, that kind'
Who makes the Awards