Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-09-30
PLAN EXTENSION
OF ALTERNATING
SCHOOL SYSTEM
Instructions Committee, Favors
Action to Relieve Present
Congestion.

To solve the problem Of relieving
congestion in the schools of the city
il was practically decided at a meet
ing last night of the committee OF
instructions and education supplies o
the Board of Education to extend tht
present alternating system in use II
the Madison and Cleveland schools
The instruction committee discussed
at length new policy of instruction
an alternating system. in numerous
ways similar to the William A. Wiri
system originated in Gary. Ind, by
Mr. Writ. and now also in use in the
public schools in New York city.
A change in the present school sys-
fem has been under advisement by
the local school authorities, and by
arranging a new policy along the
lines of the Writ system it is thought
by some of the board members that
a halt will be called in the incessant
demand for new school buildings and
additions at other institutions.
DIR. Poland Makes Report.
! In a report submitted by Dr. Addi.
son b. Poland at last nights meet
ing the city superintendent of schools
fayorably comments on the Wiri
system. During his remarks DR. Pc.
land recommended that the new sys-
tenn, with several moderations, be
tried out on much smaller scale ir
one or two of the schools as an ex-
pertinent.
I'VE don't have 70 copy the Wirt
system or any other system" re-
marked the city superintendent. I'VE
can develop our own system. We
can work out something more perfect
than thtlt which we have. The only
thing to do is to try 1t out and see
what we can do"
ASomething should be done to re-
leyo the present congestion in some
school dis atricts," said Commissioner
Charles r. Taylor, but we should
know mora about the new system be-
fore adopting il. This system will
YepolsAioni2e the present school sys-
tenn. We may not be able to adopt
the Writ system without incurring a
large expense to the city"
Commenting further DIR. Poland
said; I'VE can be duly conservative:
We don't have to launch out on the
open sea without sufficient prepara-
tion The details can be arranged as
different phases of the work come up.
Bv following new policy to meet the
demand of our increasing school sys-
ten we would not have TO adopt the
Writ plan but simply extend our own
scheme, an alternating plan
A number of the commissioners re-
garded the matter in the same light.
but Commissioner Taylor, while not
directly objecting to the adoption of
a better policy, contended that more
thought and study should be given the
question before definite action is
taken by the board.
Edgar S. Pitkin, principal of the
Cleveland School, where the alternat-
ing system is now in vogue, spoke
favorably of the Writ system. He
eontended the system would serve to
meet the congestion problem IN many
OF the schools. He stated that by the
new system from thirty tn forty per
cent more pupils could be accommo-
dated in a school building than at
present.
Longer school Hours.
Mr.. Pitkin added that the school
hours under the new system wouid
be from $50 O'Clock in the morning
10 3,50 in the afternoon, with one hour
and ten minutes Tor noon recreation
DR.. poland's report which was SUD
mitted in response TO special request
made at recent meeting OF the com
rnittee on instruction gives in detail
The several strong features in the
Writ system 1t is as follows
"Pursuant to the action of your
committee requesting the supern-
tendent to make at this meeting 0
preliminary report on the Writ
schools already opened in New Aorh
CITY. | beg to state as follows:
eThe Writ plan of school organlza-
tion is somewhat familiar to me, since
have heard ii explained by MT. Wir1
on several occasions at the meetings
OF the department of superintendence
of the National Educational Asso'
citation and elsewhere. have also
visited the schools organized undei
this plan In New York city and have
carefully examined the various pro
grams submitted by Mr.. Wirt to the
New York City Board of Education.
s'rPhe Writ plan OF school organiza'
ton stripped of nonessential features
and reduced to lowest terms consists
of three things:
''Tlrst-An enriched curriculum b,
adding new activities having socia
and vocational content.
"Second-A somewhat heightened
school session. the hours to be de
termined by local needs and eondi
tions.
"Third-A plan OF alternating
classes. whereby one half of th'
school is being given regular elias
room instruction of the academic
type, while the other half is beinl
Systematically instructed in shops
Fairgrounds, eymnasums or othe
special activities.
Have System Now.
I'm general it may be said that al
the characteristic features of thi
plan already exist in our Newarl
schools Thus in our evening In
dustriar schools many of the so
called Writ activities are to b.
found developed to greater or les
extent.
"In our Boys Industrial School W
have heightened the day TO meet tn
needs of the work.
s.In two of our elementary schools
the Madison and the Cleveland, tn
alternating plan has been in success
ful operation for three years.
"These varied and characteristic
activities already in our schools, may
however, be further developed an
extended as our local needs may re
quire.
"Sueh extension should not b