New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-21
ADAPT SCHOOLS TO LIFE
Make Changes Which Expert opin
ION Demands, However Radical.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
CIR. Mr.. Howard ". Nudd's recent letter IS
timely exposition Of the advantages Of the
Gary system and q persuasive plea for It's
extension in the schools of this city.
The United Hebrew Charities, through It's
committee on vocational guidance, has re-
Gently been giving considerable thought to
this subject and feel It opportune that we
record at this time the results OF our STUDY
Of the vocational needs of the children OF
some of the families under our care
We fully realize that 1t Is not the function
Of this or any committee on vocational Sulu-
ance to appear as advocates OF any parucuIai
educational system; but, needless TO say the
success or failure of work in vocational guld-
ance is to a great extent determined by the
educational preparation of the children ap-
plying for such assistance.
In order to ascertain the vocational apu-
tude Of these children we made thorough
study of their capabilities, personalities ana
family circumstances, as well as school rec
ords and physical condition. The result Oh
our investigation for the first thirty-elgh'
children showed that twenty-four OF these
rave no marked evidence of an aptitude lor
o,y particular trade, and neither their voca-
tional school history nor their personal PREF
crence would warrant any choice. we iuAy
rcolize that the number Of children men
toned Is not sufficiently large to warrant
any definite conclusions; still the inclina-
tions of those interviewed were so uncertain
and undetermined that we were naturally
compelled TO realize that these chIareh TO-
ouired an opportunity to test their aptitudeS
IN the elements of the various manual com
mercal and academic callings.
Our present educational system with INC
exception Of few vocational schools, which
are limited in capacity and open only 10 the
Children Of certain ages and school standing
affords no such opportunity, and this COM
,,i,tes naturally concluded that what was
reouired was a period during which children
would have the preliminary experiences ABOVE
described in their regular school Curriculum
Consequently we determined that children Oh
this type should be recommended to Gary
school. provided we could secure their admis-
sion to such
II is this experience which leads US to
iudorsc the pleas which are being made 1or
a greater adaptation Of our school system 10
the changed conditions Of industrial hte'
Whether the Writ plan or the Ettinger plan
should be adopted is question with which
our organization cannot be properly con-
cerned until their respective merits are de-
termined But this organization is so deeply
concerned in the task of helping that portion
Of the future generation to whom it minis
tiers to become happy, useful and self-Sus-
tanning citizens as to impel US TO hope for an
intelligent analysis Of our school system and
q courageous readiness to institute such
changes as may commend themselves to the
prevailing expert educational opinion, how
ever radical they may be-
HENRY J. ECKSTEIN,
Chairman Committee Vocationa! Guild
ance.
Now York Sept II, 1915.