New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-10
LET THE EXPERTS DECIDE
Only They Can Decide Educational
Value of Writ System.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The recent widespread newspaper
discussion of Superintendent Wrt's scheme
Of housing and instruction has been re-
markable as a demonstration of popular in
terest in an aspect of public affairs too
often sadly neglected. Confessedly an ex-
pertinent in this city, the plan has been de-
bated as though it had been already tested
and approved-or rejected Mr. Writ him
self admits that his device is being merely
tried out" Why then, must we in this
paper war either praise or bury him? The
project is now being tested in two schools
ard is about to be put in operation in eleven
others, all thirteen aggregating in the neigh
oihood of forty thousand children. | know
nothing about the City of Gary, but vent
IRE to say that its school population is
hardly more than quarter or fifth OF
that number. Forty thousand children!
surely colossal experiment. as any dis
interested foreigner might observe
Here, now, is Mr.. Wirt's golden oppor-
tunity. He might, indeed, prefer some
what narrower field for this, his crucial
test, since, as a student of science, he *
aware that in any laboratory test the
simpler the original factors and the fewer
the more facile is the Interpretation of re-
suits. But remembering that he has put
all his theories into practice in the Gary
schools, We are bound to do him the honor
20 believe that he looks forward with keen
zest to the intellectual battle ahead of him.
Dir. Writ, as | view him. is a scientist,
not a bungler, nor yet a zealot leaping upon
us with snap judgments and catch-phrases.
lie demands the proper and necessary equip
ment prerequisite TO his experiment. The
required antecedent condtions-au ditoriums,
swimming pools, shops, Fairgrounds. gar
dens-ought, in all fairness to Mr.. Writ, to
bee supplied before he is asked to demon
strate the soundness of his theories, and
i'm justice 10 himself he can demand no less.
To date only one of the thirteen schools
selected has a physical equipment even re-
motely approaching that which Mr. Writ re-
quires as desirable and necessary. That
one is Public School 20, The Bronx But
even that lacks adequate play space, gardens,
etc. Some of the schools. built before the
day Of the auditorium. lack even that prime
necessity, substituting therefor very poor
makeshft, indeed the so-called assembly
room a large floor divided into four or six
rooms by means Of sliding doors
And wha, about gardens? According TO
Nr Writ chart the Il class spends fifty
minute period. from 1880 to $3.50. upon ma
.ture study. But nobody expects six-year-old
babies 20 sit through that length of time
in a school room, listening 20 talk about
a plant in flower pot or even in window
boX. II the time is 70 be used with any
profit at all. if these young ones are 10 de
rive from il any really educative result
they must go out into garden and dig
and plant and observe under the guidance
! OF the teacher.
Some appraisal Of the experiment will
have to be made. The city maintains an
expensive corps Of educational experts. com.
parable 10, let US say, the engineers in the
Bridge Department. Certainly no lay official
not even the Controller himself, would pre-
sumo to question, much less veto, any pro-
fessionsl decision OF the latter board. The
absurdity would be instantly patent. The
school superintendent are salaried. high
salaried, experts. Does il not seem reason.
able to assume that they are the suitabl.
persons 70 decide the adoption or the ex.
clusion, the limitation or the extension. OF
scheme of education? The time has gone
/ b. when the man IN the street can settle
the teacher business for him. for the field
OF education is to-day a highly technical
speciality. Yet certain persons, who ought
to know better appear not TO have realized
that fact. They insist they themselves are