New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-18
Pupils of p. S. as Show
How Writ Plan Works
i'm New York.
DR.. HOLMES HEADS
TEACHERS LEAGUE
F. L. Lewis COrrectS Statement
in Report of Attitude on
Pensions.
By HENRIETTA RODMAN.

How does the Writ plan work IN
New York? Is it succeeding" people
are asking.
Go TO p. S. as and find out. Take the
Third Avenue elevated 70 the Fordham
Road station. The school is work
of art, of far greater importance than
the Morgan collection. For blocks
around the school | found boys and
girls playing yesterday. They were
neither noisy nor disorderly. Others
were at work with a neighbor In the
garden. and several classes were start
ing on expeditions 70 the botanical
Gardens and the Geological Park.
In the pottery boys and girls work
ing with a potter from Five Towns
were making a sundisl for the garden.
"Some day they'll build a Greek theatre
in the grove yonder," said Angelo
Patre.
do you remember what a barren.
ugly spot those vacant lots were?"
said a teacher, "a blurr of tin cans.
gray rocks and dry stubble, giving no
suggestion Of beauty or happiness TO
these who passed by. We cleared the
land, built a fence and prepared the
ground for planting. Soon green things
showed and the garden was slive."
Later No. 40 will gather its har-
vest and conduct a community market.
The proceeds will be used 10 develop
more gardens.
DR. David II. Holmes, Of the Eastern
District High School, has been elected
president of the Teachers League. sue
ceeGing Dr. Henry K. Linville, founder
and first president. The platform Of the
Teachers League, which repudiates the
military conception Of public school
organization, favors the establishment
of school councils and the abolition
of ratings of teachers, was framed by
DR.. Holmes.
F. Z. Lewis, head of the Biology High
School, Brooklyn, has written a letter
TO correct a statement made over his
signature in this column on May 10.
The statement reads as follows:
I'VE should not ask the city for more
than il can afford TO give alike TO all
employees who have served for thirty
years, say 5000. An additional income
may be produced by the teachers own
contribution, without expense to the
city"
Mr.. Lewis says he evidently did not
make himself clear in our talk on PEN
sion matters, and explains:
I beiicsc. We should haze a sound p.n'lon Ia"
iha, should Re i4ir 70 ne ,e.ehsf, .'d ~, re-
believe that Whatever the ci'y cah aif0fd % giss
70 one ,ea her . should si'e 70 S'"g .ne, S n.,,
after thirty ycas q service Illustrated my Poly
by sayiEs believe that II the cs could give u 800,
81 600 or oay so9o 20 one t'afnef ~ sI, s, H2
illustration only. FOR consider mat me smolnt
given by the city toward each tAchers pension
to promote the cflcicncy Of the school system. l
think TIC teacher should Ifciice az Aiiiaonh
ask you % make Nd viewpoint clear. because OK
tho campaign u misrepresentation that mas peeA
To- The Bosri r Retirement. It might be inferred
frou radirg tho article 20 day th1t | aisd
pension u 5000. which is Tot true. have 10 nrsd
' sisni entirely ,or sound pension l,s which !.
fair 70 tho teachers and will sve them adequate re-
turn FOR their contributions ard retirement on de
lnsnd after thirty years o., service Any law worried
oV' a,org these lines will have ny LeaTy support
and cooperation.
I am hot committed to any particular form o.
pension law As las been represented
/ A committee bin which ! was asked 20 pree-nt
10 the teachers for study and consideration last
winter has been used basis n attack May l
state that The Object n the committee 20 bring
he urfucipes Incorporated "a the oill before tbs
teachers FOR studyr The bill represents a. honest
effort on tie part q tho committee 20 solve N.
pension problem and place tho fund on sound
financial basis.
A. the basic principles different from thoss
OF our present law the committee felt thn The bill
should b. presented directly 20 To tescfsrs and not
brought on, as ~ association measure For this
reason 10 EFFORT made when q vas presented BE-
fore an assOci alton 10 have that assoriitioa In
d0rse T.