New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-30
HAVOC OF NEW IDEAS
How the Gary Plan Muddles the
Minds Of School Men.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir In the general campaign Of misrsprs-
sentation which Is being vaged agsins. the
extension Of the Gary plan IN this city a.
tennis have been made during the last few
DAYS to utilize the investigation OF the Gs1
schools made By the school authorities OF
Elizabeth. y. J. The educational writer o.
one of the evening papers quotes this Eliza
beth report TO the effect that Il would be
quite impossible. even IL desirable TO reor'
eanize the schools OF Elizabeth and MAKE
them like those Of Gary
May 7 call your attention TO The fact NAV
IRE very next sentence In this repor'-vhieh
the writer thought il desirable not 70 quote
runs AS follows: AT the same time your
committee believes that many valuable 'es'
ures OF the Gary system may be used IN '',
schools. especially in those which me oos'u
is planning 20 erect in the near future
What this means IA that the Elzaoeu e'"
mi.tee was so much impressed with me e.
cellence OF the Gary school plant tns' 'ne'
new school. will be modified in accordshe'
u.,.b m. new ideas which they received n
Gary.
In another section o. the same report
which the writer failed 20 quote appears ''''
comment: ct would appear that the aims 'n'
ideals in Gary are those Of all edues'o'
Briefly. thew are 70 aid and to stimulate U.
mental. moral and physical Developments
children into useful and efficient members"
society. In Gary, however. there - NOR
distinct and notable effort being MADE 'n'
elsewhere 20 correlate study, York ana P's''
and In manner so natural as 70 eNciuue ".
idea OF artiiciality; to follow the line Of le'"
resistance, permitting each chhd 70 90 'no''
THINGS which il most desires 20 do' ou' ~ w
same time TO assist the child IN Making
right choice. and then 70 guide, 20 lead sn''
wben necessary, 10 direct the cnid Aoa'
nroner lines of effort and development -"
neonl. in Gary are making an earnest "
Intelligent and unselfsh effort 70 resl''s Inv"
aims and attain their ideals
Asa matter Of fact, any on. rno WIZ
thl, report will agree with me-, 'n'n'' v"
il is important only as showing 'n' e'"'"
r,,dd,ad minds OF school men when suoo'"1
confronted with new ideas. ! happen 20 w
so,,o.birg Of the extremely superfcla eh'
acter OF the pedagogical examination g.,
these Elizabeth people made o. 'ne
schools. | was in Gary at the same ',"
,,is;,.d number Of the identical reei'''N-
and work periods that they did. II
=. ,r. ~eeks when visitors are not "e'''
at the Gary schools -certain spe a..
being set aside for the purpo" "".
committee Of New Jersey super'n'eno. :,
como q, was informed By one OF '''"
"a. oxnre., condition that they ~oulo =.
oh.srv, and not interrupt the WORK o.
school BIZ asking questions. ,..o,.
On. can only imagine the heId TOT o,
.,ruction and Misunderstanding 'n'
thrown opon TO Investigators unoe' .,h.,.
d;,ions Having seen with more symP'~
the very work when 'n',
eord.mn can only say that they imp'' ;.
every opportunity FOR missing the pom"
hi, report. however, the Elizsoe'h -,,s
tsrdsn, actually suspends judgment 'N
that "it is quite impossible TO determine .,
bv anv examination OF the work done
uI,ima,. results Of the system OF in'''''" III
nod :, Gary. We must defer judgment w."
children have passed through the senV
taken their places and lived their ls.s ,,,s
member. OF society before finally sppr0,
or condemning the work OF the teaene' -.
Carvp Six months later he has seen
light. though with no further inyesus." a.,
IN. cary schools. He is now quoted -.
inc that "our study caused US 70 os'e'e a
children are not really educated or Tram,
10 ANYTHING we'll" Any opponent o, 'ne o '.,,
nl,r who can derive consolation from ~
conflicting statements is weIeone ~
comfort he can get. He needs H. ,,xr
RANDOLPH s BoVH"~
New York. Oct 81. ie0A