The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-12
CITY TO GET DATA
ON GARY PLAN COST
Question Of Adopting 1t Is
Likely to Be Decided
This Month.
STORMY MEETING OVER 1T

The cost OF introducing the Gary plan
IN the elementary schools OF this city.
now a subject Of dispute. 10 to be re-
duced to figures so that the Board of
Estimate may be able to decide before
the end Of October whether OF not the
change Is feasible.
After a rather stormy conference In
Comptroller Prendergast's ONCE last
night of members OF the Estimate Board
and the Board Of Education the Comp
troller ended debate by having this
resolution passed
"Resoircd, That the board OF superin-
tendents and the superintendent OF
buildings be instructed to present to the
Board OF Education within ten days
plans for such physical changes as may
be necessary In those buildings where
at present there 10 part time In order to
accommodate those buildings to the
operation OF the duplicate school. work
study n play plan. with an approxi-
mate estimate Of the cost Of such
changes"
Specific mention OF Gary or OF WILL
lam Writ, sponsor for the new school
system, was omitted from the resolution
in Difference to certain members OF the
Board OF Education, who do not object
to the system 80 long as II does not APP
pear TO be borrowed from the middle
West city.
II was estimated on September | thai
the number OF children on part time was
li1 $50. including the first grade pupils.
whose daily attendance was reduced
from five to four hours last year.
JON Martin of the Board of Educa-
ton favored a resolution pledging the
Board OF Estimate not to reduce the
have the Board of Education. advised
by the board OF superintendent.
charged with full responsibility for de-
terinining the curriculum In all schools
and left free to experiment with other
systems. Mr.. Prendergast's resolution
replaced Mr.. Martins.
Mayor Mitchell. Comptroller Piender-
CAST. President McAneny and Borough
Presidents Pounds and Mathewson rep
resented the Board OF Estimate In the
conference. The delegation from tho
, board of Education was headed by
President Thomas W. Churchill.
The Rev. Dr. Wilbur +. Crafts, super
intend.gt OF the International reform
Bureau of Washington, ID. C.. told the
Presbyterian preachers AT u meeting IN
the Presbyterian Building. 1856 Fifth
avenue. yesterday that the Gary plan
was "A great step In the right direction.
At the close OF an address on Seeing
Life Whole" in which DIR. Crafts con-
sidered the duties which ministers owe
to the community as well as to the In
dividuals. several clergymen asked ques-
lions that indicated more or less eensi-
tiveness concerning tn. Gary plan as
operated in n Bronx public school. Dr.
Crafts said there should lie no sensitive
ness over the minor difficulties In getting
the plan started here
The common suppositiOn that this
religious work could he carried on IN the
Sunday schools and In the homes" he
said. rests upon Insufficient Information.
Dr.. Edward Blake. secretary OF the
Methods, Sunday School tnion has
made an investigation and finds there
are 20. 200. 900 girls mt boys between
the ages of 3 and 20 who do not attend
sunday schools of any denomination
either Protestant. Catholic or Hebrew
Therefor. this number can he reached
only by developing something along the
lines of moral education in connection
with the public schools.
The Gary plan should not be con-
sidered as an experiment. II has been
tested. 1t works we'll in Gary. n II
will work here when everything has been
adjusted"
Dr. Crafts aid he has ~mdlsputed ties.
timony that the plan works well In Aus
tralia. where priests. fabb!s and minis
tiers give religious instruction in adjoin'
ing class rooms. and there Is no reason
why II shouldn't work well in this coun
try