New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-15
COLUMBIA EAGER
TO AID SING SING
In STUDY PLANS
Dean Egbert Offers Corps
of Instructors for Edu-
cation of Inmates.
PRISON ALMA MATER
FOR LOO STUDENTS
Three RS First, Then University
Training Awaits Convicts-
Conference To-day.

Sing Sing prison Will develop into
Sing Sing University, with the aid OF
Dean Egbert, director of the Extension
Department OF Columbia University,
who will lay his plans before Thona
Mott Osborne this afternoon.
arden Osborne, Mrs. John II. Flag
Ter, who is chairman Of the education
committee Of the National Committee
on Prison Labor. and Dean Egbert will
confer on the plan Of sending Columbia
University professors 10 educate the
inmates Of Sing Sing. These instruct
tons will com, from the Department
Of Extension Teaching. and will consist
Of a special set of men.
Enthusiastic and profoundly interest
cd. Mr.. Egbert Yesterday outlined his
project, and said he would do every
thing IN his power to cooperate with
Warden Osborne in educating the 1,7-0
prisoners. Not only will the inmates Of
sing Sing be taught elementary school
and high school subjects, but they will
also get a liberal education in college
courses and professional work.
I'VE Will detail instructors from the
University Extension TO the prison to
supplement the talent, academic and
professional, already there" said Dean
Egbert There are in Sing Sing men
who have had training in different pro-
fcssions. They VIII be relied upon 90
teach the others.
Night Study Plan.
at is Mr. Osborne's one great idea
to keep the prisoners out of their cells.
If we can only take them out of their
unnecessary Imprisonment at night and
teach them subjects that will be useful
when they get out, ! will feel that the
university has accomplished a great
work. ! have spoken TO Dean Russell,
of Teachers College, and he is just
as enthusiastic as |.
Dean Egbert said that he would grad
ually introduce additional courses into
the Sing Sing curriculum. At first the
number viii be limited TO four or five.
81 have suggested to the educational
committee of the National Committee
on Prison Labor. Of which Mrs. Flagler
is chairman. that English, accounting,
history, mathematics and economics be
the first subjects taught. In English
VIC viii have grammar, rhetoric, and all
branches of the subject which will CON
tribute to a liberal education In our
native language. IN mathematics ! suC-
gcStod special stress on commercial
arithmetic. on account Of the great use
20 which the prisoners will pat the sub
icct after leaving the prison
Uplift Workers Busy.
Miss Jafray, secretary Of the Ma
tional Committee on Prisons, at Colum-
bia University, said yesterday the uni
versity had been cooperating with
Warden Osborne through committee
work. Professor Samuel McCune Lind
say Of the Department of Political
Science, is chairman of the commit
tee on humane education, which Is
campaigning against corporal punish
ment and cruelty TO prisoners. Pro-
lessor George w. Kirchwey Is chair
nan Of the legal committee. Dean
Frederick A. GoetZ is chairman OF the
committee on business administration.
Professor +. Stagg Within, Chairman
Ct the employment committee, IS do
ing everything in his power, declared
Miss Jaffray, to obtain work for the
prisoners when they leave the prison.
Dean Egbert has been acting in an
advisory capacity to Warden Osborne.
Miss Jafray in outlining the work
Of Mrs. Flagler said that the educa-
tional committee was interested IN
teaching the prisoners what they really
needed and that they Will not be allow
ed TO study collegiate subjects be
fore they acquire information OF
preparatory nature.
The higher training Of technical
nature will be done by corresponding
courses" said Miss Jafray. But only
ON the condition that the men want
IT. Practically is our watchwOrd. Give
men what they really need. Further
more, the labor unions are planning
TO send up instructors who will de-
velop some type Of apprentice system
which will fit the men to become eff
hcient enough in particular trades TO
become members of unions when
freed "