New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-16

Professor Dewey ana inc UdTH t'a"'
The need o. "evaluatng' the Writ
nlar OF work-study- fer chill
dren now r. operation in two schools IN
this city is often urged by school men
as ain argument against extending the
benefit, of this plan at the present
time to other schools in the city. 1t is,
therefore. Of particular interest to
learn what Americas foremost educa-
tor. Professor John Dewey, OF Column
bis University. thinks Of this plan and
Of its applicability to the needs of New
York City.
More than twenty years ago Pro
lessor Dewey gave expression to the
now educational and social philosophy
Of Learning by doing which has been
gradually reyolu;ionizing educational
aims and methods throughout the
country. His "School and Society and
SCHOOLS Of Tomorrow" have doubtless
had more influence on the educational
world than any other two educational
books Of the century. New York could
turn to no authority so competent to
give judgment Of value on the Gary
plan. During the last few months the
question has so often been asked,
What does Professor Dewey think OF
the Gary plsn7" or. ~ want TO know
what Dewey thinks Of it before ] make
Up my mind" that we have become con-
vinced that nothing would help TO clear
the issues on this whole question so
much as q direct expression of opinion
from Professor Dewey or the subject
Of work-study-and-play schools. We
therefore sought an interview, in the
course Of which we put the following
question:
zone Of the arguments most fire.
ouently advanced against the adoption
Of the Gary plan is that it needs to be
! evaluated' before it is put into opera
|tion in any additional schools in the
',ity. What do you think Of the need OF
such evalustion?'
Professor Dewey Says No Need OF
Evsluating the Writ Plan.
Professor Dewey, reply was prompt
and emphatic. an my opinion" he
said. "the uork-study-snd-play plan as
developed by Mr. Writ does not need
any further evalustion before it is ex-
tended 10 other schools in the city. On
the contrary, | am already convinced
that its value is established
81 firmly believe that the work
study-and-play plan ms developed by
Mr. Writ is one which secures the full
and efficient use Of the school plant
which co6rdinates the. educational re-
sources Of the community. centring
them about the public school, and Wnlch
makes practicable a richer ana more
flexible educational programme thsn
any other schemes yet presented. ~
cur coneested cities il offers the only
feasible plan as vet suggested Tor the
prompt abolition of the part time oVli
and the absence Of adequate school
facilities represented by that evil
WHY 'evsluate' further plan when
irsures all these advantages TO the
schools and community?
Gary Plan Gives Full Value OF Money
Expended.
AFT Is true that the work-study-and-
MAY nlan is economical II should be
remembered. however, that there are
two kinds Of economy. One means
snending as little money as possible
tho other means getting the full value
Of every dollar expended. The WORK
study-snd play plan Is economical IN
the sense that it gives the full value
Of the money expended. 1t Ia dlfhcult
70 understand how any one could object
IN tyne Of economy which delivers 10
the citv the full use OF its money and
TO the children a richer education.
"When we realize that the entire
school equipment Of the ordinary
school building is actually unused for
one-balf of every school day, not to
mention summer vacations ard Satur-
days. the tremendous waste OF the or
ranization in the ordinary public
schools becomes apparent. That me
buildings and equipment should lie idle
for half the time is an extravaganza
i'm itself. but we only fully realize this
extravaganza when we consider no"
little the children really get for the
money expended; how few hours they
spend in school and how incomplete
and inadequate their education is.
Under the work-study- plan
the school takes care Of the children
more hours Of the day and gives them
far richer educational opportunities
than it is possible 10 give them at the
present time.
Richer Education for Children.
There is no doubt that the work
study-snd- play plan makes practlcapie
a richer and more flexible educational
programme than any other scheme yet
presented. For years educators nave
preached the importance Of playground
activities for children. For years they
have realized the educational value OF
manual work and science, musis and
craving for young children. But UP 10
H. nrosa,, TINA tho schools have not