New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-20

adjacent social facilities such as parks, Ii
braries, baths, settlements and incidentally
greatly increasing school accommodations.
An analysis is made by Mr.. Nudd intended
to show that In Public School 81, Manhattan,
there has been no lengthening Of the school
day except in the case Of the pre-vocationaI
group, whereas a longer school day has been
provided in Public School as, The Bronx, "a
fact that seems to be distinctly favorable to
the Writ plan Of organization" The facts
are as follows
(a) No change was made in the time OF
the first year children under the Ettinger
plan because Of the mandatory provision Of
the bylaws Of the Board Of Education which
provides for a four hour day for first year
children However, the Ettinger schedule
readily lends itself to an extension Of the
first year school day if the same Is consid-
cred desirable.
(b) AS admitted by Mr.. Nudd, the pre-
vocational group of pupils Of the sixth, sew
enth and eighth years have a longer day than
any pupils have under the Writ plan.
(c) The remaining pupils included in the
double session plan have five or six hour
day, as they and their parents decide,
through the organization of well conducted
afternoon playground open from $3.50 to $3.50
for the group and from $3.50 to 4:30 for
the group-thus making a school day that
extends either from $3.50 to $3.50 or from
$3.50 to 4:30. Because Of the varied demands
in this locality of the home, settlements,
synagogues and industries, attendance dur
ing the last period is made optional rather
than mandatory. However, large percent
age Of the pupils avail themselves of the OPP
portunities offered.
1t should not be forgotten that under DR..
Ettinger's organization, intended primarily TO
insure vocational training rather than solve
the part time problem OF securing increased
school accommodations, swimming pools,
music studies and other novel accessories
were not made part of the school equipment.
An elementary study of Dr. Ettinger's pro-
gramme, however, will reveal the fact that
II funds were provided for the installation
Of these features, the school day might profit
ably be made Of any desired length.
II may not he amiss, however, TO direct at
tention TO the fact that the type Of longer
school day advocated by Mr.. Writ which
makes IA pupils report at $3.50 a. m. for prac-
tically O whole morning of play, auditorium
work and excursions, and which postpones
the study Of content subjects as reading and
numbers to as late as $3.50 in the afternoon
may not be an unmixed blessing.
Obviously the gross amount OF daily school
time should not be taken as a measure OF the
educational progress as distinct from the type
Of educational influence and instruction TO
which the pupil has been subjected during
that time. Things accomplished rather than
time spent is the real measure OF value.
Housing children and instructng children
are not synonymous terms. Pupils engaged
In aimless play under the benevolent super
vision Of pupil monitors, or Willing away
time in idle contemplation Of lengthy audi
forum exercises, may really need longer
school day IN order TO compete successfully
with children working under skilled teachers
supervision on the basis Of a well organized
programme.
Cd Mr. Nudd reiterates in slightly varied
language the argument that inasmuch as a
shop group is limited to half class one
academic teacher and two shop teachers are
required for two classes, or, reducing to
a unit basis, that one and half teachers are
required unit class.
Since the initiation Of our shopwork we
have gone on the assumption that such dis
tribution is absolutely necessary in order TO
insure an effectiveness. Moreover, our policy
is simply an extension of the one our system
has used in handling manual training work
It would be interesting and profitable for US
to learn from either Mr.. Nudd or any other