El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-11-04


Expert Critics
The investigation was made by two
expert educational critics, Dr. Harlan
I p. Updegraff. chief of the division OF
I school administration of the Unites
States. and Dr. W p. Burris, dean OF
the college for teachers Of the Univer-
sity of Cincinnati
I have time only to read some Of the
conclusions Of the investigators Dr.
Burris in his report says in part; SUI
perior equipment may be supplied
, This is at present the case Inere IS
the possibility of a bteter division OF
time between the old and new subjects
spoken of as-regular studies and 'spe-
cial activities There is better use OF
play time. thereby preventing mIlu-
ences which undo the work OF the
schools. There is the possibility OF
more expert teaching through the eX-
tension Of the departmental plan OF
organization
More Self Control
DR.. Updegraff says: '"rne pupils of
the Gary schools seem to display great
er self control more self respect and
more thoughtful consideration Tor
others thar the pupils OF the same az e
in most of the better school systems OF
today. 7 am inclined to think that II
comes largely from their games ana
play, but a part Of it is due to the or
-sanization Of the schools and to the
practices that have evolved in its ad-
ministration-"
The investigators enumerste other
conclusions. all of which are favorable
to the Gary plan Of organisation ana
work
Expert Advice.
One of the chief objects for which
the bureau of education exists IS 10
make such Investigations ana reports
as the one mentioned, ana when Iii,--S
they are considered as competent au-
thorfties by the school officials OF TINS
and other nations These reports are
issued as expert advice TO superln-
tendents and boards Of education IN
this country, and school authorities
generally feel justified in trying out
their recommendations.
Ideal of Modern Education.
However we have considerable other
high authority on the Gary plan-men
like DR.. Leonard Ayres. Of the Russell
sage foundation, who has said IN Ell
feet that this plan OF orsanlza non
comes nearer fulfilling the ideals OF
modern education than any institution
of which he knows Numerous oIher
educational authorities have written
magazine and newspaper arucleS com
rnendfug the system TO school boards
and to the people in general In audl-
ton TO all this. the plan has been tried
out successfully. according 10 report
in Kansas City, Mo- Kalamazoo Mich:
Sewickley and New Castle. Pa, and
Troy and New York City. y y
Give System Trial.
With this information before them
the board Of trustees and the superin-
tendent Of the FL PasO schools. year
ago. felt justified in giving the Gary
plan a trial in the Aoy school At first
there was more or less difficulty in
working out the problem Of adjusting
the plan to meet local conditions. Just
as there has been in some OF the other
schools this terFl. but the teachers ana
principal were batient and untirinE IN
their efforts and by the end of the first
term nearly everyone who saw and IN
derstOod the plan OF operation was sat
isfied with the results obtained Miss
Gorbutt has told you what she thinks
Of the plan, after trying it more than
year
Of course we did not adopt the whole
Gary plan at Aoy- We adapted il TO
meet local conditions. The plan has
been in operation at Gary several years
and the system as seen in operation
there now is the result Of gradual de-
velOpment. Furthermore. il may not
be wise for FL PasO or any other -c1ty
to attempt to adopt the complete Gary
plan. Every city in this country has
its own peculiar problems to work out
The features which we did use though
were successful in meeting our needs.
10 Percent Increase.
When the census taken last spring
showed US that the school population
had increased 16 percent over that of
the previous year, we realized that
there would be great increase In the
attendance at the beginning of this
school year Last year the system was
already taxed to more than its capaci-
~ IN several SCHOOLS. so LLlar We naQ
TO resort to the plan Of halt time at
tendance in several classes SO, with
the board unable TO provide but six
new rooms, which were added to the
Beall school, IL was decided to use
notifications Of the plan which had
been used successfully last year at Aoy
in all of the larger schools of the city;
because this plan of organization per-
mits the most complete use Of every
classroom, auditorium and all other
available school space, both indoors and
outside on the grounds
Forced TO Adopt Plan.
So that we were virtually driven by
force Of circumstances to adopt the
plan more rapidly than we would have
under normal conditions Had there
been sufficient school accommodations
perhaps all we should have attempted
this year would have been the adop-
ton Of the new plan in another suitable
school or two on the north side of town.
in order that It's value to meet local
conditions might be more fairly demon
strated- However, with the conditions
confronting US 1t meant either the
adoption Of the part time plan for 40 or
more classes or the Aoy plan We de-
cided therefore, to choose the latter,
because il ensured a full days work
for more children than did the other
plan.
Unnreeedented Increase.
When we closed the first month this
year we found that the enrolment had
increased a percent over the enrolment
10 percent more than we expected: so
that our predictions for an unprece-
dented increase were proved correct
In making these changes in the or
ganization Of the schools the board
and superintendent were actuated only
by motives which they believed would
be for the best interests of all the
children of FL PasO. After trying the
plan for a year we had faith to be-
lieve that it would prove successful.
and wherever it has the sympathy and
support Of the teachers and patrons il
is proving a success-even more sue
cessful than we had hoped.
Department Teaching.
I think there is abroad mistaken
idea as to how great a change has
been wrought One OF the essential
features of the new plan IS depart
mental teaching; that is. special teach
ers for special subjects. as music. draw
ing, manual arts. etc. in the lower
grades We have had this plan Of
teaching for years in this country in
the upper grades This plan now has
been carried down into the lower
grades, and last wear at Aoy it proved
fully as, successful with special sub
iects as ii does in the higher grades.
u should be remembered that in the
lower grades grades one 10 four. in
clusiVel the three RS are still being