New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-28

What the Gary Plan Does:
7, takes children of the streets and
Laens Them wholesomely busy at work,
s;edy snd play for six or seven hours
q day. =, ,, -,
...dsmic work as the traditional
achooI. but by lengthening the school
Jsy n gives time FOR practical shop
rork. science. drawing, music, audi
torium and play for all children.
what the Gary Plan Means:
To every parcnt--a chance to give
nj. child the enriched educational OPP
portunities usually reserved for the
Children of the favored few.
To teachers-no more hours oil
,eaching: more congenial work.
To the community--better citizens (;
hotter schools for less cost.
.To the Editor Of The Tribune.
"sir: am interested in the Gary
plan. which Is proposed to be adopted
r. the public schools of this city, and
especially that part of It in which re-
Ycion enters. Now, the writer OF the
srt;,la in this mornings issue-Alice
Rarrows Fernandez-attempts to give
tbo ir,pression that there is no cor
flct Of interests in this connection @,
r.Tcion with the schools. But il will
be noted that the children are taken
out Of the regular school PERIODS 70
be given relicsous instruction. me
school hours being but few in num-
hsr This time should be given wholly
10 secular studies, and the devisive
influence Of creeds should not under
any circumstances, however apparent
iv harmless, be permitted to interfere
during the school hours. After that
OF course. II is the private affair OF
the pupils. As concrete Illustration
~ the noxious effect Of this phase OF
the Gary plan, would state that q
priest recently requested from the
Board Of Education seats for the pu'
nils undergoing religious instruction
which was complied with, this act
slona proving the potential danger OF
the Gary system in that II is condu-
Give to division of the public school
funds for the support Of religious
education. As another instance Of the
evil immanent in such religious in
,truc.ion during school hours, | may
cite the case Of q teacher accused OF
proselyting, which was given somc
prominence recently in the daily pa
pers. WILLIAM ". WILLIAMS.
"New York City"
Thi. Is one OF many letters that have
been received on the subject OF per-
hitting children 70 leave school for re-
ljgious instruction. As il covers many
OF the points in dispute in this contro,
yersy, we are glad 20 answer 1t al
length.
Religious Instruction Not Substituted
for Regular School Work.
Evidently il is important to repea.
again and again that children are not
taken out of the regular school periods
10 be given religious instruction. II
seems strange that here should be
such widespread Misunderstanding OF
this point The only explanation is tina,
the opponents of the Gary plan, in their
attempts 10 prejudice the public. have
spread the impression that religious in
struction is being substituted for regu-
lar school work We repeat that:
1. Under the Gary plan no children
are excused from regular school periods
10 take religious instruction outside OF
the school or 10 engage in any other
activity outside of the school.
2. II parents so desire, children may
be excused for one hour a day from
library, play or auditorium periods Il
attend religious instruction outside th'
school, or 10 take>private music les
sors. o. 20 engage in some other out
side activity which their parents thinl
would benefit them.
3. No child may be excused even from
library, play or auditorium for relig
ious instruction outside the school, o.
any other outside activity, if thei
parents do not so desire. The response
bility rests with the parents. The thinl