New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-11
Good for Hand Made"
Town, Says Principal,
but Not New York.
MAY STIR RELIGIOUS
FEELING, HE BELIEVES
Scheme a Booster Of Truancy,
Asserts Another Student
of the System.

In order 20 present every side Of the
Gary school problem The Tribune yes
tcrday asked an opponent Of tho
change. Joseph T Griffin, principal Of
Public School IA. TO give his objec-
tons at length. His reasons for re-
garding he step as impracticable and
dangerous he stated as follows:
New York schools are not sweat
shops. Reformers OF the present edu-
catonal system should keep that in
mind when complaining that school
buildings are used for so few hours
during the day.
The quality Of work achieved ia
what really counts not the number OF
hours expended. Education as well as
any other system which attempts to
aid human beings must be modified
constantly and shaped 20 fit the grow
ing needs of community. But is 1t
possible TO take an artificial system,
which has worked under artificial con-
ditons in an artificial city, and place it
in such a city as New York?
Gary, Ind. is not even an ordinary
country town. 1t is a city built over
night By a steel corporation, which
said. L want a school. a library, a
museum, a streetcar service. homes in
short. town. Build it here placing
a finger on the map, and the city was
built.
"One Of the most important issues
this city has ever faced is the attempt
TO introduce the Gary system into the
New York schools The race Of the
future can be made or broken by wise
Judgment or putty brains at this par
ticuar time.
Teachers Get Six Cents a Pupil
whenever the taxpayers think their
educational system is costing too much
they want TO cut down salaries and
the number OF teachers. Since the first
free public school was opened here, IN
1903, there have been periodic spasms
Of so-called economy.
at is a mistake TO call the teachers
of New York overpaid. Six cents a day
for each pupil is approximately the
amount paid 20 ordinary teachers The
highest salared teacher in the city re-
ceives only 20 cents. Is that too mucn
to pay for a well-equipped, mentally
balanced citizen OF the future?
"The Gary plan is not new. 1t is
reversion TO the monit0rial system IN
troduced into England more than ore
hundred years ago by Lancaster and
Bell There was headmaster. Two
of the older boys in the class helped
him. In this way one master could
take care of much larger group OF
children and the number Of teachers be
cut 70 minimum.
."To keep one-half Of the school out
side of the school building during the
day is one of the premises of the Gary
plan. While one group goes to the
library another group ~ TO be study
ing in a museum, while a third romps
with nature in the park. Garyites bank
en- sunshiny weather. Their plans have
no room for rain.
Religious Disputes Feared.
Religious instruction is 20 be given
by the various denominations in CO.
operation with the schools l. teacher
10 say when the hour arrives Tor re-
lieious study, Now all the little Catho-
lies stand; go 20 Father y. All the lit
tie Hebrews stand; you go TO Rabbi NJ
Or is she to notify them by secret bal
lot?
"Since 1889 the Constitution Of the
United States has tried 10 keep all
religions on an equal footing, and thus
avoid dissension. There are seventeen
different nationalities. with their par
ticular religions. in this school alone.
The petty disputes which daily re-
ligious roundup would cause are easily
imagined.
Those who nave studied the prob.
lem of education know that the ideal
atmosphere for study is quiet The
children of to-day are more nervous
than those Of a generation ago. what
will the children of tomorrow be II
even their studies must be picked up
on the jump?
"Vo cite an instance: 4 visitor went
TO a certain school in greater New
York where the Gary plan is now re-
ceiving a trial This visitor spent
day going around with one sB class.
The report was that, though the class
was continuously moving through evo-
lutions. il took so much time getting
around that nothing could be accom-
plished. The first period Of actual aca-
demic work was not begun by that class
until 2.30 in the afternoon"
Another principal, a student OF the
Gary system. said: You might As vel