New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-15
This is a Teachers Column To-day.


Dear Madam: Why not give some OF
your space 10 the teachers point OF
view? ! am convinced that what the
teachers need is some real education
in regard 20 the Writ plan. II Mr..
Wirt's report on p. s. SO and P s. IS
could be printed and sent 70 all the
teachers II would automatically clear
up a good deal Of prejudice which is
due 70 shear lack of knowledge Of the
way the thing works. The teachers
really need information. incredible as
il seems
at strikes me, also. that with all
their conservatism and fear Of a change
which will introduce new horrors. their
demand for information about petty de-
tails is not as selfish and small as it
sounds They have been 'goldbrcked'
so often by the Board Of Education that
they fear that any change will be for
the worse. And when they say, We
are worn 20 the bone teaching now,
with perfect quiet outside; what should
we ever do with children shrieking in
the playground and singing in an audi
forum while we are trying 20 teach IN
our classroom . they are trying TO point
out a real difficulty as il appears 20
them. They nave seen things put IN as
temporary makeshifts and left til the
end Of time, thereby Increasing the
difficulties under which they worl, and
they are afraid this is going 10 lie an
other case Of the same sort. II is an
honest fear, end think it would be a
good idea to 90 after IL. Very truly
yours, A SfMPAIHlZLK.
New York City"
This letter hits the nail on the head
The lack Of knowledge and misinforma-
ton among teachers in regard 20 the
actual operation Of work, study and
play schools is astonishing Il Is true
that 4 great deal Of Misunderstanding
would Be cleared up II the teachers
read Mr.. Wirt's reports. And they
probably would be glad 10 read them
If they could get them. Why have they
not been able to get them? Since Jan
uarv. 1915. Mr. Writ has submitted 70
the Department of Education, In addi-
ton 10 many short reports. the follow
lng importa1. reports on school reor-
ganization:
REPORTS by William Writ 10 New
York Department of Education.
THE Reorganization Of Public School
20. Brooklyn Report made January
10. 1915. 20 President Thomas IS.
Churchill, Board Of Education. New
York City.
work. Study and Play Schools Re
organization for Districts and :. Man
haitian" Report made April Is. 1918.
70 President Thomas W. Churchill,
Board OF Education.
Report Of Public School IA. Brook
I'm" Submitted May 7, 1915. 20 Asso-
ciate Superintendent William Mean
drew.
Report on Proposed Reorganization
for District H. Manhattan" Submitted
April %. 1915. at the request Of Su-
perintendent Andrew ". Edison.
Report Upon Proposed Reorgani-
zation for Public Schools Nos. e. 2, -,
s. 80. ~. 3, 50. 30. 80. and IS Bronx.
submitted April. 1918. together with a
letter from District superintendent J0-
seph Taylor emphasizing the necessity
and desirability Of the reorganization
Of these twelve schools.
Only One of Five Writ Reports Pub
lished.
Mr.. Palmer. secretary OF the Board
Of Education. and Mr. Shieis. Director
Of the Bureau Of Research and lnfor-
nation. stated on Saturday, November
10. in answer 10 inquirers, that only
one OF these reports has been pub
lished by the Board Of Education.
On April II. 1915. the Board OF Edu--
cation had mimeOgraph copies MADE OF
Mr.. Wirt's report on p. ). ~. BROOK
i'm, together with the reports on we
schools in Gary submitted oy hrs. -
b. Ritter. Principal p. $. SO, brooklyni
Mr.. Angelo Patri. p. {. 20. ! ne bro,H'
District superintendent Iayior ahu r. -
gociate Superintendent McAndfeW AZ
their visit 20 Gary last spring
tarv Palmer informs ne tnat heIe
only one copy Of these repoTts a. E ~
Board Of Education, and thal - no 80. 80
4is.-ihu,ion. You must read u ~ lIe
Hoard OF Education II you des'ie u
read It at all. ~ W., him
soif on the reorganization OF the az
sore,, school districts are important
fo- the teachers, because they no; only
i've Wr Wirt's educational point OF
ssicw fully and convincingly. but they
alec show in detail how the reorgan-
'@s,.on II these districts on q work
s.rdv-and-risy basis can be effected.
Thov would eusble tho teachers 20
understand the Writ Plan, or a. least
give a basis for incl. gent questions.
Why should not copies OF all Eve re-
ports be published and sent 70 each OF
the 500 schools in the city? Why DO
not the teachers and public demand
this
In the mean time this department
will be glad 20 answer teacher que5-
ton as rapidly and fully a. space per-
mits. Judg ng h. hose received this
week. one Of tn chef concerns Of the
tescher is the the children vii. be
harder T. ,ra~n u.Ger the work-study-
and-play plan. Under the present sys-
TEN teachers must prepare children 20
pass certain examinations and 70 pass
muster before the supervisor. The ex-
animation or the supervisor is their
sword of Damocles. IL Is not TO De
wondered az that they fear something